Tuesday, July 31, 2012

The back of my head is famous!

CLICK HERE

See if you can spot me.  The back of my head and my bright blue shirt makes an appearance several times!  haha

In case you need a laugh

I love my son Tyler - he's got the best sense of humor and he loves making faces and seeing himself on my iPhone.  I took this video on Sunday morning and it makes me laugh.  I thought I would share.


Thought for the day


True Confession Tuesday

I am so overwhelmed with work right now that I just want to go back to bed.

Monday, July 30, 2012

Truth.


For the Lead Foot in Texas

Song lyrics of the day

What's with these homies, dissing my girl?
Why do they gotta front?
What did we ever do to these guys
That made them so violent?
Woo-hoo, but you know I'm yours
Woo-hoo, and I know you're mine
Woo-hoo, and that's for all time

-"Buddy Holly", Weezer

My life is whole again

My 7 year old came home from visiting my father in Miami last night.  All is right with the world.

Photo of the day

I have no idea where this photo was taken, but WOW, how cool is that?!

Friday, July 27, 2012

USA! USA! USA!

A friend sent me this today and I laughed.  Do they know me well or what?!

Song lyrics of the day

(Its a K-Love kind of day!)

The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes

"10,000 reasons (Bless the Lord)", Matt Redman

I love stalkers

Just a simple "HELLO and thanks for stopping by!" to all of my blog stalkers out there.  I love you and I'm glad you make the effort to come to my little corner of the internet.  Please comment from time to time because I really enjoy seeing what other people have to say.

Happy Friday!

This is where I work

So I've posted before about what exactly it is that I "do".  When I say I work for a health care technology start up, what does that actually mean?  Watch this and learn more!


Ps- That's Amanda Cobb, Vanessa's sister. Cool huh?

Whew!

I lost my hard drive three weeks ago.  I also lost every single piece of copy, template, marketing piece and article I have written or produced in the last 2 years.  This morning, in the span of an hour I managed to bang out:

1.  a generic article
2.  a mental health article
3.  two email templates
4.  two website descriptions
5.  banner copy for three products
6.  FAQs

I am the epitome of writing under pressure! 

(oh, and I think my head is going to explode now...)

You decide


Thursday, July 26, 2012

Song lyrics of the day

Got a picture of you I carry in my heart
Close my eyes to see it when the world gets dark
Got a memory of you I carry in my soul
I wrap it close around me when the nights get cold
If you asked me how I'm doin' I'd say just fine
But the truth is baby, if you could read my mind

Not a day goes by that I don't think of you
After all this time you're still with me it's true
Somehow you remain locked so deep inside
Baby, baby, oh baby, not a day goes by

-"Not a day goes by", Lonestar

Late night love notes

A text conversation between my SEESTER and I at 1:00am.


Jenn is my adopted sister, or SEESTER, as we call each other.  She was my sister Heather's best friend and partner in crime, and she is my favorite link to my redhead - especially since she passed away almost 8 years ago.  There are many reasons why I love Jenn, but my favorite is because she hasn't let my sister's memory die.  The inside jokes between Heather and I, and the inside jokes between Jenn and Heather will forever live on between the two of us. 

Case in point, see above.  (When Heather and I would talk on the AOL instant messenger back in the day, we had a code word that we would say when we were finally signing off and shutting down.  We picked the word spaghetti - random, I know!  I believe I have only typed it out in its entirety once.  It was always "spag".  And Jenn knows this.) 

I'm so thankful to have Jenn in my life.  She's not a replacement for my sister, but she does a damn good job of filling in.  Love you SEESTER!

My love for JT is solidified

Song lyrics for tonight

Come with me
Don't you worry
I'm gonna make you crazy
I'll give you the time of your life

I'm gonna take you places
You've never been before and
You'll be so happy that you came

-"That's the way love goes", Janet Jackson

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Brrrrrr

So I work at night downstairs in my office. Granted, my office isn't in the basement of my house or anything - it's actually the first room when you walk into the house. But it's COLD down here!

So I decided to bring out my friends - Fake UGGS!

Welcome back friends. I've missed you! Fake UGGS in the summer are only allowed in this situation. NOT with shorts, and NOT with dresses. Take note teenagers!

Nostalgia

My friend Patrick is AWESOME!

True Story


I've got the POWER

So there was some sort of freak thing going on in Durham County today and we lost power at the house.  My whole neighborhood is out of power, as well as the surrounding areas.  There has been no indication of what happened or what caused it and the power company seems to think they will have everything back on by 6pm.  Yeah right, I call bullshit.

So I did what any good employee would have done.  I sought out a Starbucks or a Panera Bread that had power and wi-fi. 

Apparently so did everyone else.


Every single table is full of someone with a laptop.

Texas Country!

I've been listening to some Texas-style country music today, by way of recommendations from a good friend.  I have decided that I a) need a trip to Texas again soon, b) that trip better involve a trip to Floores Country Store, and c) I miss Country music.  I haven't listened in so long.  I have no idea why.  So WQDR... you and I are about to become besties again.  OK?

Song Lyrics of the Day

I made a 2 hour drive to stay one night.
A kiss on the lips made it all feel right.
Hands through my hair and her head on my chest.
The whole day we stayed in bed.
Thats okay, I don't mind.
A Texas boy just might find something in an Oklahoma girl

-"Oklahoma girl", Eli Young Band

Real Text Conversations

Jayson:  There's a surprise for you in the office!

Me:  If it's a severed head, I'm going to be very upset.

Jayson:  Huh?

Me: ....  :-/


Please tell me someone else in the world knows that quote from Wayne's World??

HAHAHA

I needed a good laugh this afternoon and I got an email from my friend Leah just in the nick of time.  She sent me the link to a blog post about America's baby names and how out of control they are.  You can check it out here.

My favorite highlights (with my two cents thrown in):

Blayde The extra Y in there makes it 10 percent sharper. And don't fuck with Blayde's brother, Nyfe.
this one is kind of cool

Draven Please note that if you name your baby Draven, you must dress him up like the Crow at all times.
I immediately thought this child would be a serial killer

Kierson Straight from the "Invented Irish name for Boston-area steakheads" file
So many Irish names, so little time

Zaiden Of course Zaiden is here. It takes Jayden and throws a Z in front, which makes it SO STRONG. God, I just wanna slap a loincloth on little Zaiden and club dragons with him. Be on the lookout for Drayden, Fayden, Waiden, Strayden, and Klayden coming to your hood.
My son actually goes to school with someone with this name


Brook'Lynn The abuse of apostrophes in names has to end. A reasonable person should be able to know, by looking at a name, when one syllable ends and another begins. But no, dumbfucks all over the country have to be like "I'll name him Raw'Bert." You stop that. Give me some credit for being able to read even if you can't.
My friend's daughter is named this.  Sorry Bryce! (thankfully, no apostrophe)

Sharpay This is a character from High School Musical. It's also a breed of dog. Why stop there? Name your child Dobyrman.
I'm ashamed to admit I knew who Sharpay was.


*Disclaimer:  I am 100% ok with making fun of baby names because my firstborn has one of the weirdest names I've ever heard.  Brier is not common.  I know this.  He will always have it misspelled and mistaken for the name Brian.  He will never find his name on a pen or a bicycle license plate.  

His name is special because it means "Heather" and we named him after my sister, who passed away while I was pregnant with him.  I couldn't go with Heath.  Heath Griffin sounds like a portly linebacker's name.  Ugh.

I miss home


My friend Ann Marie posted this picture this morning of the inlet at Emerald Isle.  I'm assuming she was driving to work when she took it.  Man, I miss this place.  I miss the serenity and the laid back attitudes of living at the coast.  What I wouldn't give to move back home...

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

HA!

This never gets old...



True Confession Tuesday

There's a lot of impromptu chair dancing happening today.

Toadies
Jimmy Wayne
Digital Underground
Kaze
NKOTBSB
Van Halen
U2
Antheneum
The Script
Dave Matthews Band


I'm taking requests and recommendations!  What songs get you moving?  Please share!

The South


NERD ALERT


I just bought these... not because they are my favorite pens ever and I won't write with anything else... but because they were PINK.

Well played, Pentel.

Go Marty!

So, for the record, I do not watch this show.  But, my friend Marty was on it and so I'm sharing here.




(Marty is the one who comes running off the bus with the bottle of Jack in his hand.  HILARIOUS!)

Monday, July 23, 2012

Song lyrics of the late night

So do you believe me now?
I guess I really wasn't that crazy
and I knew what I was talkin' about
Everytime the sun goes down
he's the one that's holdin' you baby
yeah me I'm missin' you way 'cross town
so do you believe me now?

-"So do you believe me now", Jimmy Wayne

*I haven't heard this song in a few years - it came on tonight while I was cooking dinner and I forgot how much I loved belting it out.  You should try it!*

RANT

I hate google apps.  I hate their email, I hate their google drive thingy and I hate the fact that my company uses them.  I can't find anything, I can't file things where I want them, when I do my boss can't find them again and it's just a big ol' mess.  GRRRRRRR....



OK rant over.

Flexible

My boss loves to ask me to make a presentation on our monthly company calls 15 minutes before the call is supposed to start.  He's done this at least 6 times in the last 8 months, so today I just laughed and said "Of course!  I'd love to share my engagement strategy with the Team!" because I knew he was going to do it again.  I'm on to you, buddy!

God Bless him... he is a great boss but man, a little warning is appreciated.

Aw yeah!

Your 90s video of the day is:

Photo of the day

I know this is probably photoshopped, but it's so cool!


Song lyrics of the day

If only I'd thought of the right words
I could've held on to your heart
If only I'd thought of the right words
I wouldn't be breaking apart all my pictures of you

-"Pictures of you", The Cure

Thought for the day

There are seven days in the week and someday isn't one of them.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Apparently I mumble?


Check out the name the guy at Noodles and Company put on my to-go order on Friday.  Instead of hearing "Carrie", he apparently thought I said Perry.  Um ok?

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Friday, July 20, 2012

Sandpaper


Lord forgive me for the times where *I* have been the sandpaper...

Deep thoughts


Confession

I love Bob Ross. 

I legitimately enjoyed watching him in the land of happy trees when I was a kid.  There was something mesmerizing about the way he painted.  He would literally make an entire world come to life in less than 5 minutes on PBS.  And THAT is talent!

As Bob would say, "We don't make mistakes, we have happy accidents.  Okay, there.  I know you are sitting at home saying boy, that sure is a weird looking cloud Bob's making today..." 

:)

To all the happy accidents in my life, cheers!

Thought for the day (en Francais)

M'aimer pour qui je suis


(Love me for who I am)

Clients From Hell

Clientsfromhell.net has to be one of my favorite websites.  For those of us in client management, you will totally get this next post:




From Clients from Hell on July 19th:


On the phone with a client:
ME: Can you tell me the password?
CLIENT: Oh, shoot. I forgot. Hold on…
I hear typing. 
CLIENT: Got it?
ME: Uh, no.
CLIENT: Okay, listen.
I hear typing again.  
CLIENT: Did you get it?
ME: I don’t hear you. Did you cut out?
CLIENT: Just listen.
ME: I don’t understand what you are saying. Can you tell me the password?
CLIENT: Don’t listen to what I say, listen to what I type.
ME: That doesn’t make any sense.
CLIENT: How else would you get it?
ME: Using your voice! 
CLIENT: That doesn’t seem very safe. Here, we’ll try again…
Eventually, the client ended up emailing me the password. 

It's official!

My blog has surpassed 10,000 page views!  WOW!  That's awesome!  Keep reading, folks!

Ouch

I think I have turf toe.  No seriously, I have no idea what turf toe feels like, but I keep getting a shooting pain up my big toe when I walk.  It's very bizarre.  Have you had turf toe?  What does it feel like?

I lub you!

How can you not love this little face?  This was my conversation with my 3 year old this morning at breakfast.  He just melts my heart.  I lub you too, Tyler!


Photo of the Day

This picture was taken when my cousin Joseph got married last November - that is at Villanova University, isn't it gorgeous there?  I just happened to see this photo again this morning and I noticed something that I hadn't seen before...


That dude all the way to the right is my cousin Seamus.  How freaking HIGH off the ground is he? 

A friend had commented on this picture, asking Joseph if Seamus was a cheerleader.   His response?  "Nope, he's a MARINE."  Hoorah Seamus!  Hooooorah!

Song lyrics of the day

Hey, hey, hey

Your lipstick stains on the front lobe of my left side brains
I knew I wouldn't forget you, and so I went and let you blow my mind
Your sweet moonbeam, the smell of you in every single dream I dream
I knew when we collided, you're the one I have decided who's one of my kind

Hey soul sister, ain't that Mr. Mister on the radio, stereo, the way you move ain't fair, you know!
Hey soul sister, I don't want to miss a single thing you do...tonight
Hey, hey,hey

-"Hey Soul Sister", Train

*this was the first song I heard this morning - and I'm going to be singing this ridiculously catchy song ALL DAY LONG.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Now THAT was a storm

You know those "super cells" they always talk about on the Weather Channel these days?  Well I had the chance to experience one for the first time yesterday and it was SCARY.

I'm not a huge fan of storms to begin with.  Lightning terrifies me.  And yesterday was no exception.

I could hear the thunder in the distance and this is what was on the radar.  And this came out of NOWHERE.  It was sunny and hot one minute, and then this:


Yep, that was me, right where the red was the most intense.  No sooner did I look at this on my phone, all of the power went out in the house.  And then I heard what sounded like *knocking* on the back door of the house.  What on earth could that be?

It was PINE CONES flying out of the pine trees about 30 yards back in the woods behind our house.  There were pine needles and branches and pine cones flying through the air everywhere!  It was like being inside a hurricane or a tornado or something.


At this point I took the dogs and decided to go hide in my bed, under the covers, where the lightning couldn't get me!

After the storm, this is what we saw in my neighborhood.  Crazy huh?


This trampoline was swept up and carried halfway down the street!  Thank God no one was hurt and this didn't land on top of someone's house.

Song lyric of the day

I looked out this morning and the sun was gone
Turned on some music to start my day
I lost myself in a familiar song
I closed my eyes and I slipped away

-"More than a feeling", Boston

Oh hell yeah!  It's an 80s ROCK kind of morning!

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

More lyrics

(Help me)
I broke apart my insides
(Help me)
I've got no soul to sell
(Help me)
The only thing that works for me
Help me get away from myself

"Closer", Nine Inch Nails


(*it's a 90's shock rock kind of day)

My family is awesome!

My cousin is a pretty amazing soccer player.  I have to brag on her for just a minute...

GRACE ROCKS!







I only wish I had a tenth of her athletic ability!

It's hot as heck outside

Top three things I learned on my "walk" today...

1.  Baby ducks don't hold still long enough for you to take their picture






2.  The lake is a beautiful place, but one mile out and one mile in is a long way in 95 degree heat.





3.  I sweat like a sinner in church.


Song lyrics of the day

I was standin' at the counter
I was waitin' for the change
When I heard that old familiar music start
It was like a lighted match
Had been tossed into my soul
It was like a dam had broken in my heart

After taking ev'ry detour
Gettin' lost and losin' track
So that even if I wanted
I could not find my way back
After drivin' out the mem'ry
Of the way things might have been
After I'd forgotten all about us
The song remembers when

-"The song remembers when", Tricia Yearwood

Truth

It's a good thing I work from home and not in an office with other people.  Between cursing at my new laptop (because I can't find anything on it - Macs are so different than a PC!) and spontaneously singing along with the music at varying intervals, I would be considered certifiably insane.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Totally Random Tuesday

Ten Totally Random Things about Me.  Just because!

1.  I love to sing in the car at the top of my lungs and I never care if someone is watching.  I usually smile and wink and serenade them if I get caught.

2.  My three biggest fears are losing a child, being widowed, and dying before my children are grown.  YES, I totally have a fear of death.  I've seen what happens to a family when you lose someone too early.  I can't handle the pain and couldn't imagine my children dealing with that.

3.  I say I love you more than most people I know.  My sons hear it multiple times a day.  I tell my friends as often as I can, and my husband will never doubt how I feel.  I made the mistake of not saying it enough in the past and I won't ever let that happen again.

4.  I can recite Paul Revere from the Beastie Boys, in its entirety.  There was this episode on SouthPark years ago where Cartman wasn't able to hear the first line of Come Sail Away without having to sing the entire song.  I suffer from the same problem, but with a rap song.  Yeah, I know I'm weird.

5.  I love sending people unexpected gifts in the mail.  A card, a mix CD, regional favorites you can't find wherever they are...  I love unexpected surprises and I wish more people understood how amazing this can make someone else feel.

6.  I have a wrist tattoo that I got last October, on probably the worst day of my life.  It says "This too shall pass" and it was the only thing that got me through that night.  I love the daily reminder and people ask me about it all the time. 

7.  I cry.  A lot.  I cry when I'm angry, when I'm frustrated, when I'm sad, when I'm scared, when I'm lonely, when I'm stressed and when I am deeply moved.  As you can imagine, it's always the waterworks when I'm around.  I wish sometimes I could take a pill to make that stop.  I would love to know what it's like not to completely fall apart.

8.  I had some health issues over the last few months.  I am ok but the gravity of the situation is finally starting to settle in.  WOW. 

9.  Most of my close friends are guys.  I've always been that way.  That being said, if you are a woman and you are in my inner circle, you must be fucking awesome!  I am dead serious - I don't trust very many women.  I think they are crazy and thrive on drama and I don't have time for it.  The women in my life are like sisters to me and I am fiercely loyal to them.  So watch out, haters!  ;)

10.  I'm impressed you have made it to the bottom of the list.  For those of you who read my blog, I am grateful you are interested and you care.  Thanks for giving me an outlet to share the innermost ramblings in my head.  If you blog yourself, what's the link?  I'd love to follow you back.

The proof

By request, I am posting a picture of my "bombshell" hair today.  Pretty hot huh?  (insert sarcasm here!)




Truth #2


I know this sounds bizarre, but if this resonates with you, feel very blessed.  Many never get to have this kind of connection with someone, and even fewer are wise enough to recognize it's magnitude.

I treasure mine and I am thankful for experiencing it, even when it seemingly knocks me on my ass 12 years later. 

After some much needed perspective, I realize what a true blessing it was in my life.   That journey led me to where I am... And I choose to smile at the memory.

The (Wo)Man in the Mirror

Today, I celebrate the 2 year sobriety anniversary of one of my dearest and most amazing friends, Rahul.  I'm so insanely proud of him and how far he has come in that short amount of time.  He's a motivation for me and is living proof of the positive things that can happen in your life with the right focus and ambitions.  I'm raising my proverbially empty glass in his honor, and toasting his continued success and happiness!

And at the same time, I see the (wo)man in the mirror and I wonder when I'm finally going to make the serious commitment to join him in that venture.  I think I'm too selfish to do it.

Eat your heart out, VS

I just got told by the girl behind the counter at Panera Bread that I had "bombshell hair".  Bombshell, as in Victoria Secret model bombshell (her words, not mine!).

My mood is officially back to normal.

Eat your heart out, Victoria Secret!  Rich hair 4-everrrrr!

Words of wisdom

I've spent the last 12 hours in overly emotional nostalgia-land.  Admittedly, I feel like I'm torturing myself...  Why why WHY does it still hurt this many years later?  Knowing that I'm the one that messed up doesn't help the situation either - it only makes the pain of regret that much more excruciating. 

I glanced up from my computer just now,  frantically searching my "wall of wisdom" in my office for a much needed pep talk when my eyes landed on this:



Oh fuck.  THANK YOU to the universe for making me feel worse.

Song Lyrics of the Day

There you go, midnight promises again, yeah
But they're broken by the dawn
You wanna go further, faster every day, baby
But in the morning you'll be gone, and I'm alone

Why save your kisses for a rainy day
Baby let the moment take your heart away

Have you ever needed someone so bad, yeah
Have you ever wanted someone who you just couldn't have
Did you ever try so hard that your world just fell apart
Have you ever needed someone so bad

Every dream I dream
Is like some kinda rash 'n' reckless scene
To give up such crazy love
You must be some kinda drug
And if my time don't ever come
For me you're still the one
Damned if I don't, damned if I do
I gotta get a fix on you

Have you ever needed someone so bad, yeah
Have you ever wanted someone who you just couldn't have
Did you ever try so hard that your world just fell apart
Have you ever needed someone so bad, so bad

-"Have you ever needed someone so bad", Def Leppard

Photo of the day


Truth


Monday, July 16, 2012

Awww

Want to know the fastest way to make me cry?  Send me a card! 


Love Notes: Vol 3


I found this in the bathroom when I got up this morning. Jayson is out of town until Friday.  Sigh...

Song lyrics of the day

Here I am Lord and I'm drowning in your sea of forgetfulness
The chains of yesterday surround me, I yearn for peace and rest
I don't wanna end up where you found me
And it echos in my mind
Keeps me awake tonight

I know you've cast my sin as far as the east is from the west
And I stand before you now as though I've never sinned
But today I feel like I'm just one mistake away from you leaving me this way...

"East to West", Casting Crowns

Sigh...

I'm in a foul mood this morning.  There's no one reason for my bad mood and it's driving me crazy.  I'm annoyed with work, I'm annoyed with a friend, I'm sad about a situation I have no control over, and I am having to keep my mouth shut when I want to tell someone my honest opinion.  This is SO DIFFICULT today.  I just feel like going back to bed.

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

More Song lyrics

Have you ever made out in dark hallways
Displayed a kiss that made your day or say
Played a track from your record collection
It's you rmix, congratulations

We've changed a lot and then some - some
You know that we have always been down - down
And if I ever didn't thank you - you
Then just let me do it now
-"Down", 311

*It's a 90s grunge rock kind of day

Song lyrics of the day

She said I don't know if I've ever been good enough
I'm a little bit rusty, and I think my head is caving in
And I don't know if I've ever been really loved
By a hand that's touched me, well I feel like something's
Gonna give
And I'm a little bit angry, well

This ain't over, no not here, not while I still need you
Around
You don't owe me, we might change
Yeah we just might feel good

-"Push", Matchbox 20

Quote of the day

God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain.  But He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tear, and a light for the way.

Monday, July 9, 2012

Enjoy!

This is the greatest movie score playlist - I love listening to it while I'm studying and I've posted about it several times before. I thought I would share for all of my music nerds out there...

My Ultimate Study Playlist from TheGirlNamedJedrzejko on 8tracks.

TRUTH


Ugh

Stupid 90s playlist and too many memories!  This one hit me like a ton of bricks today...


But in a good way.  The nostalgia sneaks up on me when I least expect it. 

Song lyrics of the day

You know I never meant to see you again
and I only passed by as a friend
All this time I stayed out of sight
I started wondering why

Now I, I wish it would rain down, down on me
Yes I wish it would rain, rain down on me now
 
-"I wish it would rain down", Phil Collins 

True story


Saturday, July 7, 2012

Voluntary simplicity

Voluntary simplicity:  a consumer's efforts to reduce their reliance on consumption and material possessions.  It can span the continuum from minor life adjustments and reduced spending to drastic lifestyle adjustments, including down-sized jobs, incomes, houses and spending. 

I think I'd like to try this.

Friday, July 6, 2012

90s music

I had a conversation with my friend Derek on Wednesday about why there were no 90s music cover bands.  We spent an hour talking about what songs they would have to cover to be considered a true 90s band.  We determined there were too many good ones.

I spent the last 45 minutes creating 90s playlists on iTunes.  I have one for rap, R&B, pop, rock and alternative.  And they are all completely FULL.  And of course I was listening to the songs while I was messing around in there and it just made me so nostalgic.

Dammit I'm getting old!

Song lyrics of the day

If you want to destroy my sweater. Woah woah a woah.
Pull this thread as I walk away. As I walk away!
Watch me unravel, I'll soon be naked.
Lying on the floor, Lying on the floor! I've come undone.

-Undone (The Sweater Song), Weezer

Vote 2012

I think I've made it pretty obvious who I won't be voting for come November. If you haven't made up your mind yet, maybe you should read this

Excellent advice!


Or live a little and don't wear ANY.

Quote of the day

Ad astra per alia porci.



Translated loosely as "To the stars on the wings of a pig."

Thought for the day


Thursday, July 5, 2012

That's really dumb

It is common practice in Muslim countries for McDonalds to provide a section for both family and singles to accommodate the cultural norms governing interactions between men and women.  The single section is for men only.

Um... hello?  Men... get a clue.  If you can't control yourself in the presence of women, you shouldn't be allowed in public.

Yeah I said that!  Get over yourself.  That's retarded.

Excerpts from my book

"In the United States, a high value is places on cleanliness, where germ-fighting liquid soaps alone are a $16 billion market."


As Wayne says, "I was not aware of that."

Real conversations

Me:  (with a graphic from someecards.com)
Lesson One: Only trust people who like big butts... they cannot lie.

AJ:  However, Bell Biv and Devoe tell to "never trust a big butt and a smile". So I believe there is some cognitive dissonance in effect here.  It is vexing.

Me:  You have a very good point there.  BBD were very wise.  Sir Mix A Lot?  Not so much... But "even white boys got to shout Baby Got Back..."  Our conversations could be a blog in themselves.  :-) very very amusing.

AJ:  One cannot predict from whence wisdom will come, one must only be open to acknowledging and accepting it upon its arrival.
"Take that and rewind it back!"
Them boys be droppin' knowledge!

Me:  Are you quoting Lil John?  O.  M.  G.

In reference to my previous post

How is it that music can MOVE us like it can?  I have a playlist that I listen to when I'm studying and I have found that am I almost in tears when I hear some of the songs on this list.  I know that sounds ridiculous to people who aren't musically inclined. Music was such a big part of my young adulthood.

I started playing the flute when I was 9 years old.  At the time, I signed up because I had just moved to California and I thought it would be a good way to meet new friends.  Those special ties were made year after year, in place after place.  In elementary school, middle school, high school, college.  I honestly think part of the reason I have such strong ties to Carolina is because of being involved in the Marching Tar Heels and knowing the music and words to all the fight songs.

But this feeling I'm referring to right now... it's different.  For example, I was listening to the music from the Balcony Scene in Romeo+Juliet.  It's like I could picture the exact scene in the movie.  I could FEEL what they were feeling in that moment in the movie.  It's such a deeper level than just hearing a song on the radio.  I don't know how to describe it.

Yeah, I know it sounds bizarre.  I can't be the only one who has this reaction to music.

Or maybe I do?

Fact

Listening to movie scores adds much-needed drama to boring marketing reading.  Want to listen too?  Click here!

HA!

In response to a coworker getting engaged over the weekend, this was another coworker's words of wisdom.  He chose to quote Ogden Nash's "A Word to Husbands":

To keep your marriage brimming
With love in the loving cup,
Whenever you’re wrong, admit it;
Whenever you’re right, shut up.


Wise words, my friend.  Wise words.

Grrrr

There is a housefly that has somehow gotten into my office and has been dive-bombing my head for the last 30 minutes.  I'm about to go postal if I can't swat this thing and kill it very soon!  Grrrr!!!

GPOYT

Just a few pictures of our adventures last night!  We went and watched the fireworks in Brier Creek - it was a good time all around!

 Waiting for the show to start

Baby you're a firework!

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Happy 4th of July!


"Independence Day, commonly known as the 4th of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain."  (Wikipedia)

I have thought a lot lately about what it means to be an American.  I am a very proud American, the daughter of a Naval Submariner, married to a government employee who was also raised a military brat, his father serving in the Air Force.  It makes me sad to think about the acts of patriotism I witness just 10 short years ago in the wake of 9/11, and know that the feeling isn't there anymore. 

People are complacent.  Sure, they hem and haw about the President and what's going on in Congress, but do they really understand how amazing it is to be an American?  Do they realize why families would leave everything behind to come here and start a new life?

I was fortunate to have been born here and raised here.  I've never wanted to become a citizen of another country.  And I don't take what I have for granted.  EVER.  I may not agree with the continuing "war".  I may not agree with the legislation being passed and the politics being played and the impending joke we call a presidential election.  But I will always be proud of where I'm from and where I CHOOSE to continue to raise my family.  I will always respect those in the military.  I will always stand up for what I believe in.  I will speak my mind when I see things I don't agree with.  Many people fought and died to give me those rights. 

And on that note, my lyrics of the day:

I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free,
And I won't forget the men who died who gave that right to me,
And I gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today,
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land God Bless the U.S.A.

-Lee Greenwood, "GOD Bless the U.S.A"


Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Playing with Photoshop today

This is my eye.  Cool huh?


I never realized I had all the gold flecks until I blew it up REALLY CLOSE.

True story

I had a coworker tell me this the other day.  It made me laugh - I never really think I have an accent until I speak with someone from the North.


Monday, July 2, 2012

Reason #477...

That I know I'm old: I actually LIKE listening to the John Tesh radio show.

Truth

Getting a check for selling a textbook is as exciting when I'm 34 as it was when I was 19.  Hooray!  I'm going shopping!

Geez

The frequency with which I run over curbs is astounding.

Thought for the day


Sunday, July 1, 2012

Weekend Update

I don't usually blog over the weekend, so I thought I would try just doing a simple weekend update from now on.  Here goes!

My weekend began when I dropped Brier off at the airport with my stepmom Donna, and sent them on their merry way down to Miami.  Brier hasn't looked back and appears to be having a good time.  We did a FaceTime chat with them yesterday and he has already scraped his face on the bottom of their pool.  D'oh!

I managed to get some free time on Friday afternoon and I went in to have my hair cut and colored.  I'm much darker again (yay!) and I got 4 inches cut off my hair.  You can hardly even tell but it feels so much lighter already.



We spent most of the weekend at the pool with Tyler!  He's doing well with learning to swim and we had a great time getting some REAL sun.  The temperatures have been insane here for the last three days.  Over 100 degrees and super duper hot.  This picture is from Friday.  It reached 106 again yesterday and 102 today.



This morning I got up early and went for a run at Lake Lynn.  I managed 2.73 miles!  Go me!  I had to go first thing in the morning because of the heat, but the flipside is that I got to see this sight during my run.  The sunrise was beautiful today.

After some time spent cleaning out the garage (wow, was that a sweaty task!) we headed back to the pool again.  I can't believe the weekend has flown by as quickly as it has.  I hope you had a good one too!