everybody loves a dino

I was just looking at pictures on my camera and thought I'd post this to show you all that April and I are probably the coolest cats around. This is the birthday cake surprise we got for Karessa and Adam. The dinosaurs actually roared. We also got them each a grab bag for their respective genders. They are definitely lucky to have us around....

in a quiet moment...pray...

Gena Press is battling cancer, has been for quite some time. And it seems that her body is growing tired of the fight. She probably won't make it much longer. My heart selfishly hurts as I think about the void her death will create in so many people's lives, including my own. But it rejoices in knowing she will no longer suffer when her spirit is floating on a quaint little cloud on a corner lot in a fantastic neighborhood in Heaven. The angels will sing her Home, I'm sure. She has been a humble example of love, grace, hope, courage, strength, faith, family, acceptance, and more. I couldn't hope to be even half the woman she is, but I'd sure like to try. If you don't know Gena, you've really missed out on the gift of an angel with skin.

stupid is as stupid does

When I was an adorable little girl around the age of 5, I was brilliant! I mean it. I was super smart. I had been reading since I was 3 and I could count as high as anyone had time to listen. I credit my brother with this early development as he is two years older than me and he would teach me his lessons from school each day. (Thanks, Bubba!) I was immediately tagged for the GT / Honors track and began taking advanced classes at school. I have studied French, Spanish, Latin, and German in my short lifetime. Even in college, I entered the Honors Program and did quite well. This is not said to boast or brag. It's said to set the stage.

You see, the problem is my near idiocy today. How can it be that I have lost intelligence over the years? I never did drugs...unless the second-hand marijuana smoke at a DMB concert counts. (Could that be the cause??) So why is it that instead of continuing my "the sky's the limit" intellectual climb, I have regressed to a mental state comparable to that of an 8-year-old?

I don't know for sure, but I feel fairly certain that I haven't been challenged intellectually in quite some time. The only challenging thing about my master's degree has been completing my thesis, something that has far more to do with self-discipline and time management than my intellectual ability. I then began working with women who were, for the most part, uneducated and I found myself trying to relate. And now I work with children. So what's a girl to do?

I might start reading some more intellectual fare (after I wrap up the current installment of Harry Potter, of course) and perhaps I will venture into the realm of news once again. Maybe even politics. I don't know. If you have suggestions for regaining my higher cognitive functioning, by all means...let me know. Challenge me. I dare you! (Oops.....there's that 8-year-old again!)

Season 4!

Christmas comes early as Gilmore Girls Season 4 releases on DVD on September 27th. It was just a few months ago that the third season released. I remember it very vividly as it was right after I moved, and also my dad's birthday -- May 3rd. I initially thought GG3 would be my reward for unpacking. Good thing I caved, bought it anyway, and watched the season within a week. I'm still not unpacked!

Season 4 is full of highs and lows. It's kind of an awkward season as it starts, trying to figure out how to carry on the unique relationship of mother and daughter that is now almost completely relegated to phone calls. Each character faces change in this season. But it ends so dramatically...Luke and Lorelai finally kiss and Lorelai walks into her house to find that her sweet, innocent, naive daughter may not be so sweet, innocent, and naive after all.

Bottom line: I will be eagerly awaiting its release and will say goodbye to my nights of falling asleep to Golden Girls to watch instead this other GG.

As a brief aside: Season 6 premieres on Tuesday, September 13th, at 7:00 p.m. CST on The WB!

stop the insanity!

So on Monday, I had a proverbial bee in my bonnet. I got up at a reasonable time, I got productive, I made tremendous progress in my guest room. If you are one of the unfortunate few who saw it in its state of total chaos and confusion...you'd be proud. During this time, however, my downstairs neighbors seemed to have a problem with my noise. They came and knocked on my door. I wasn't dressed enough to answer but saw them through the peep hole, apologized through the door, and quieted down. But really, it was the afternoon and I think I was every bit entitled to make noise. I was unpacking for goodness' sake!

On Tuesday, I had a literal bee in my literal car. For those of you around a couple years ago when I got stung by a bee (I still blame you, Sara Raney) and the trip to the ER afterward because apparently I'm highly allergic...you can imagine the sheer terror on my face. I very carefully got out of my car and opened a second door (everyone likes choices, maybe bees do too), and prepared myself for a stand down. It was on! Me v. The Bee. It took some time, and I was much later to work than planned, but the bee flew off into the sunrise. Or maybe just across the fence toward the screaming kids at Kinder Care. I resumed my day.

And now it is Thursday morning and you know what? My downstairs neighbors are hammering away. Channeling my best Stephanie Tanner impression, I simply have to say: "HOW RUDE!" And no, I will not be going to knock on their door. Mark's "anger management" sermon series has paid off. (Because you know I'm such an angry, confrontative person and all...ha!)

safety first

I was watching The Upside of Anger earlier this week. It wasn't the greatest movie but the soundtrack was decent and that can have persuasive power over my judgment. Anyway, I loved this song that ran during the closing credits. It's written and sung by Marc Cohn.

Possibly in light of too many late nights recently or too much time spent in introspection following the events of this week, it really has been a constant thought in my contemplative mind this week: we seek safety, crave it even. It's a basic human need, no matter the context. I'm too tired to drone on and on in this post (aren't you lucky?!) so I'll simply close with the lyrics to this very mellow song.

One Safe Place

How many roads you’ve traveled
How many dreams you’ve chased
Across sand and sky and gravel
Looking for one safe place

Will you make a smoother landing
When you break your fall from grace
Into the arms of understanding
Looking for one safe place

Life is trial by fire
And love’s the sweetest taste
And I pray it lifts us higher
To one safe place

How many roads we’ve traveled
How many dreams we’ve chased
Across sand and sky and gravel
Looking for one safe place

sevens all around...

Because I am occasionally a people pleaser, I've decided to take my friend April's suggestion that I complete the following. And here we are:

7 Things

7 Things I Want to Do Before I Die:
- Return to Europe
- Teach college
- Write a book (and yes, at this point, finishing my thesis would count)
- Balance my checkbook
- Grow old gracefully
- Fall madly and deeply in love with the right person
- Be content with my life exactly as it is

7 Things I Can Do:
- Laugh at myself
- Find the bright side
- Praise my Creator
- Love unconditionally
- Appreciate the wisdom of children
- Eat ice cream any minute of the day
- Rationalize and justify almost any impulse buy

7 Things I Can't Do:
- Whistle on a consistent basis
- Get my laundry under control
- Give up hope
- Keep groceries stocked
- Eat spinach
- Go a day without music
- Reach high places without a ladder

7 Things That Attract Me to the Opposite Sex:
- Shared faith
- Sense of humor
- Quick wit and intelligence
- Musical ability
- Being pursued
- Playful eyes and smile
- Personal authenticity

7 Things I Say Most Often:
- Crap!
- Well....
- So....
- That's awesome!
- Oy with the poodles already!
- Okay....
- Who, me??

7 Celebrity Crushes:
- George Clooney (I joke that he's my Hollywood husband)
- Luke Wilson (way better than Owen any day of the week)
- Brad Pitt (before that whole Angelina scandal)
- That guy from Coyote Ugly (not that I'm endorsing that film)
- Zach Braff (proof that humor trumps looks)
- John Mayer (I like musicians, sue me)
- Scott Patterson (aka: Luke Danes on Gilmore Girls)

thoughtful musings

It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinions; it is easy in solitude to live after your own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude. -- R. W. Emerson....Self-Reliance, 1841

boo

You know what music video really annoys me right now? That stupid multi-part series from R. Kelly. I'm all about my ghetto funk jams. But this one wears me out! It's even more irritating as R. Kelly is performing the whole series on the Music Video Awards. Let me end as I started this post: boooooooo!

Marky Mark

So the preacher at my church is Mark. Let me start by saying, I LOVE HIM! He totally cracks me up. Today, whilst eating lunch with some of the staff, Mark shares that he wants to take his teenage son camping to see if he likes it or not before investing in a good tent...so naturally, he asked Doug (the adult ed. and involvement minister....aka: Mr. Boy Scouts of America himself) if he could borrow one. Mark then gets off on a jag about how "camping" is a cuss word to his wife and daughter. In order to illustrate his point a little further, he uses it in the following manner: "You son of a camper!" I don't know if this translates as well to someone who a) wasn't there, b) doesn't know Mark, or c) both a and b. But let me tell you, I laughed a good hearty laugh over it.