A few more moments from our day...

It's pretty white out there!




















This is a picture from INSIDE our house...our house has snow building up inside. That cannot be good for the gas bill...















Once again--this is from INSIDE the house. We have snow and frost on the INSIDE...
















I tried to do shoe posts....but I do not think my feet are fit for showing on the internet. But these--these are my favorite shoes. I love my pink fuzzy slippers, which are particuarly appropriate for a day like today. Plus, notice my way cute snowglobe PJ pants I bought for the season!

We're going crazy, don't you wanna come along?

As I often do, I'm shamelessly stealing blog ideas from Susan. Although, the only thing more boring than a snow day is a snow day at a home without children. John is going stir-crazy.

I took some pictures of our day....enjoy. For those of you that don't live here....it is FREEZING! Literally, we are under "blizzard condition" advisory. It is so cold you can't even breathe. I get chills just looking outside.

And if you visit Friday Play Date, you'll notice some very similar photographs. She is my blog inspiration... so I'm giving credit since I am not only boring, but unoriginal.


Faith has the right idea....it's so cold, all you really want to do is curl up under the covers!

Here is the new dresser....pretty nice, huh? Not bad for a Big Lots sale buy. I'm not ashamed to admit I bargain shop!

Guess snow days only mean lazy days when you're a kid. Grown ups have to keep working...but at least he gets to work in bed!

This is my temporary office for the day. The guest room is the only room in the house that doesn't have a TV where I could get distracted. So, I'm holed up in here for the day!

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas...too bad it's not even December yet!

Why is it that the ONLY good hair day I have in weeks takes place on a day when I don't have anywhere to go?

Yummm! My chocolate-covered, peanut butter ritz. They are almost all gone...the price you pay for being cooped up inside.

What a great present! I'd love to have this to open on Christmas morning! Love that cat...

Let it Snow!

Well, the Black Eyed Peas did not make a difference...it ended up being a combination of Gavin DeGraw and The Fray that got me motivated. And even then, it was not my best work...I'm working on the presentation tonight, hoping motivation will come from sitting in bed.

Guess what I get to do tomorrow? Well, I'm not sure but I can tell you I'm NOT going to work. Our office is closed due to bad weather. It better snow tonight, people, because if not I'm going to be VERY irritated with the weather hoopla. It drives me crazy that everyone freaks out about the weather. We live in Oklahoma....the National Weather Service is based here...we have severe weather half the year...you'd think we'd be better prepared.

Not that I'm complaining about working from home...it's nice to get out of the office every now and then!

In celebration of the first snow day of the season, I made one of my favorite holiday treats: peanut-butter Ritz crackers covered in chocolate. Yes, you can make those any time of year, but I tend to save them for Christmas. My grandma always makes them this time of year, but I couldn't wait until she arrived. Now I'll just have to make sure I don't eat them all in one sitting.

Well, I guess I'm headed to warm blankets and maybe some hot tea....

The soundtrack makes all the difference...

So, I'm more than a little stressed....I'm charged with a huge project at work, of which the bare bones are due today by 5:00. In typical fashion, my mind cannot stay in one place and my focus on the project is fading fast.

I thought a little Michael Buble would help relax me, get me focused, make me feel warm and cozy. But this situation is much bigger than that. Buble isn't going to cut it. This is a job for the big boys. That's right, I'm breaking out the Black Eyed Peas.

I'll update you later and let you know how it works out....

From Atlantic to Pacific, gee the traffic is terrific...

I almost didn't blog tonight, because after 27 days of blogging, I've run out of things to say....but, alas, Thursday is the last day I have to blog for November so I'll figure something out!

Couple of random thoughts for the day....

One of the things I love about my Christmas tree is that my ornaments usually mean something. They are ornaments from my childhood tree, or ones we've picked up at vacation spots, or ones I've carefully picked out. Last Saturday I picked up another ornament that seems to fit in perfectly with my tree....a mini Starbucks coffee cup. Can't get enough of those Grande non-fat, no-whip mochas.
--------------------------------------------------

I mentioned a few weeks ago about Big Lots going out of business. I don't know the whole story, but I do know everything is 20% off. I also know that we got a really nice dresser and mirror for dirt cheap...no, it's not the quality you would find at, say, Mathis Brothers (ha) but it is a nice piece, matches our bed, and I won't feel like I have to refinance my house to own it! I'll get John to take a picture....it really is nice!
--------------------------------------------------

I have to give myself a few props for the new playlist I spent all day yesterday putting together. I have a fantastic, well-organized Christmas music playlist with a wide array of tunes. From classic (Bing Crosby) to mellow (the Carpenters) to pop (Jessica Simpson) it's better than 96.9 or 104.1 all Christmas music stations! I love itunes....

???

Jessica went to bed and told me to blog something for her. So you are going to get her blog from a mans perspective.
Comment number one: I'm a guy...I don't talk that much. Sometimes Jessica and I will be riding in the car and she will say, "Why aren’t you talking?" My response is..."I have nothing to say right now." I honestly don't understand how women can sit and type about nothing (most of the time), and be so interested in everyone else's life.

Comment number two: I HATE TYPING. I type all day long and input stupid information into files for idiots in QA to read and still get mad that I am not typing enough.

Final comment: I am very glad that Jessica loves to blog and read about everyone. I enjoy reading Jessica's blog, and sometimes robin's blog. Although I could never keep a blog up, I think it is pretty cool that Jessica does it.
Random thoughts. Sleep tight.

O Christmas Tree

I took a bit of a Sunday afternoon nap this afternoon. When I woke up, it had started to get dark. Rather than turn on all the lights, I plugged in the Christmas tree. You know what's great about Christmas trees? It doesn't matter how old you are, there is still something magical about it. When a dark room is lit up with twinkling lights and sparkling ornaments, it just makes you feel like a kid again. I feel like munching on sugar cookies, sipping hot chocolate, and waiting for Santa to come.

I have to admit...Christmas seems to come earlier and earlier every year. And it feels like I haven't had time to prepare for this time of year and all the things that come with it. For a while, earlier this month, I even had what you would call a "bah-humbug" kind of attitude. Maybe because we start thinking about Christmas before trick-or-treaters come by...in any case, once the decorations were up, the after-Thanksgiving sales were on, and the baking began, I'm 100% ready. It would be nice to have a little snow to really top it off...I guess we still have 29 days to watch for a winter wonderland.

Not much else going on. Back to work tomorrow, but it's been a nice 4 days off. Off to fix dinner!

I'm Thankful for...: Saturday Edition

I am thankful for the Oklahoma Sooners! I can't believe after everything that's happened this year we're headed to the Big 12 Championship...I love those guys! It's so good to be a Sooner.

All I have to say is:

Boomer Sooner, Boomer Sooner, Boomer Sooner, Boomer Sooner, Boomer Sooner, Boomer Sooner, Boomer Sooner, O-K-U.

I'm Sooner born and Sooner bred and when I die I'll be Sooner dead. Rah-Oklahoma, Rah-Oklahoma, Rah-Oklahoma, O-K-U!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

I should also say Happy Birthday to my mom...I am always thankful for her, and she knows that. I've blogged about her a lot...

Happy Birthday, Mom. I love you!

I'm Thankful For...: Friday Edition

It is nearing the end of Thanksgiving week. I had a long, semi-productive day. I did a little Christmas shopping, but I didn't get nearly as much done as I'd hoped. Oh well....guess I still have one month to finish up!

Today I am just thankful for the many friends and wonderful family I have in my life. I couldn't list them all if I tried. As I was driving around this evening, a song came on the radio called "A Great Day to Be Alive" and it just really hit me. There is so much love, so much fun in my life. From my husband to my parents to my in-laws to my friends...it's hard to imagine it could get much better. Every day, even my "bad" days, are great days to be alive and I LOVE this time of year when everyone takes the time to recognize it.

I am headed for an early bedtime. All that shopping wore me out! Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and a productive "Black Friday".

Tune in for the Bedlam game tomorrow...go Sooners!

I'm Thankful for...: Thursday Edition (Happy Thanksgiving!)

I'm finding it hard to be thankful right now because I had a very nice entry about my dad today and stupid blogger just erased it.

Today I wanted to talk about my dad and how thankful I am for the relationship we have. We've had our ups and downs for a while, but recently it's taken a turn for the better. I had a fantastic trip to his house in March and things have seemed to get much easier and much better since spending a little one-on-one time.

One thing I really appreciate about my dad is that he is always so positive about things. He listens very thoroughly to my thoughts and decisions, and always provides a positive outlook to what I decide. I appreciate his genuine interest in my life, from the mundane trips to the grocery store to the big life-changing decisions. He keeps up with me on this blog, and I think he enjoys hearing everything I have to ramble about. Long-distance relationships are hard on everyone, even if the relationship is father-daughter. So keeping that thriving is important.

Another thing my dad is very good at is sending cards. Sending cards for birthdays, valentines, halloween, and for no reason at all. He sends them snail mail, and it always brightens my day. Between him being so great at cards, and my mom being such a great gift-giver, how did I end up so crappy at giving gifts and letting friends know I'm thinking of them?

I appreciate my dad for always being supportive of my decisions, without judging them. Even if he disagrees, his response often involves shedding positive light on the manner at hand. If there were only one thing he was good at it would be showing support. And he's always telling me how proud he is of me.

I am thankful to truly have two parents that love me unconditionally. Not every kid can say that, and certainly many kids that have been through a divorce can't say that. But I can, and it makes Thanksgiving Day that much more meaningful.

The Pilgrims must have had a day like today in mind when they celebrated the first Thanksgiving. A day full of feast, family, football and pie.....and I'm Thankful we can continue those traditions.

Happy Turkey Day!

I'm Thankful for...: Wednesday Edition

I have had a real lesson in listening this week. Mostly because I've lost my voice. It's starting to come back today, but still not enough to yell across the office to ask questions or interrupt people when they're talking....I think John's really enjoying the experience!

It's going to be a very long day....the day before a holiday off work always is!
---------------------------------------------

Today I am thankful for our neighbors, the Millers. John, Jennifer, Jordan, and Jesika. What a difference having wonderful neighbors makes! Sometimes it feels like something out of a 50's sitcom. We borrow ingredients from each other, we help with each others lawns and Christmas lights, we stand in our driveways and talk, we even have a gate in our backyard fence so we can easily move from yard-to-yard when playing with the girls. They bring us cookies all the time, especially at Christmas. When my John is out of town, John next door calls every night to make sure I'm doing ok and check if I need anything. It makes me feel very safe.

They like to tease us....they found this blog, and after I wrote about the spoiled milk in our fridge, a half gallon of fresh milk appeared on my doorstep.

Jordan and Jesika are a lot of fun, too. Mostly because they give my John a hard time, and are always challenging him to basketball tournaments and football games. Seems like every Saturday we hear the doorbell ring and little voices that say "can John come out and play?". Jesika can now ride a two-wheeler, so that's been the focus of the last several days.

We have found more than just neighbors, we have found friends and I'm very thankful for such great people just one house away!

I'm thankful for...: Tuesday Edition

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving lunch (brunch?) with Easton and Mason today at their school. After lunch, John had a "take your newphew to work" day, and he and Mason hit the road to Guthrie.

Apprently, John taught him many life lessons on this little adventure. One very important lesson went a little like this:

Mason: Uncle John, how did that car get dents in it?
John: Well, Mason, there was a lady that was driving the car and she hit a drunk man that was in the middle of the street.
Mason: Oh. Did he get hurt?
John: Well, yes he did. He died. Do you know what that means?
Mason: What?
John: Well, it means if you don't look both ways before you cross the street you will die.

I know that's how the conversation went, because then Mason called me to tell me that I should look both ways or I will die. Literally, those were his words.

John travels to see wrecked cars every day. Please give us a call if you'd like him to take your child out and teach him a lesson...
---------------------------------------------------------

Which brings me to my next day of thankfulness. Today I will talk about why I am thankful for Easton and Mason, our nephews.

Easton is 10 years old, which I think is his best age so far. He is a lot of fun to talk to, and it's fun to see him growing up so quickly. It's that age now where you can have real conversations. I've watched him for a while now, and he is so observant. He knows everything that's going on around him. Even if he's engaged in his Gameboy, if you look closely you can see him watching the rest of us. It's kind of like when you pretended you were asleep at a slumber party to hear what people would say....

Easton has a great sense of humor. Growing up watching his mom, Aunt Renee and Uncle John has taught him he wants to make people laugh. So he's always saying witty things or trying out sarcasm on us. He'll be class clown in no time, especially since he can quote movies now. Yes, following John's lead he has memorized "Napoleon Dynamite" and "Benchwarmers". If you have any suggestions of other funny movies appropriate for 10-year-olds, please pass along....we need them!

Easton does really well at whatever he sets his mind to. He's so smart, and not just in the usual way. The kid plays chess. He's 10 years old and is practically a chess master. He's in Boy Scouts, does LTC at church, and has been playing the coronet in band this year. His first concert is next month, so I'm excited to see what it will be like.

Mason is 5 and is hilarious, too. All he has to do is smile and everyone lights up. Today during his school program, he would not look at us in the audience, but he knew exactly where we were and you could tell he was showing off....just a little!

Mason loves to color, and does a great job of tracing and coloring in the lines. We have many a Mason masterpiece on our fridge. Lately he's been taking art lessons from his PaPa and I can't believe a 5-year-old can do that. He's so talented.

Mason is also very observant, and loves to be part of grown-up conversation. He always has a story to tell, and most of the time it's a story about Easton. He always backs Easton up (when they're not blaming each other for trouble!) and loves to follow him around.

All that, and I've only been their aunt for 3 1/2 years! Their mom, dad, Mimi, Papa, and more could tell you even more stories about their personalities...so much fun! I'm so thankful for the opportunity to have these boys close by!

I'm Thankful for...: Monday Edition

I thought this week I would talk a little about some people in my life I'm thankful for. There's no way in seven days I could mention EVERYONE I'm thankful for. And I've mentioned several people before on this blog. But I thought maybe I could mention a few others.

Monday's Thanksgiving is: my sister, Julia!

Julia is five years younger than I am, and about a hundred times more talented than me. She's pretty amazing--you should hear her sing. I don't think she sings much anymore, but when she does it's amazing. I think she's probably smarter than I am, too....even though she might not know it.

As you can imagine, five years is a pretty big difference. It basically means that from the time she was born, she annoyed me. I was old enough to realize when she was stealing my toys or hogging the attention or giving me chicken pox on my birthday (or was it the other way around?). Then she turned 8 months, started walking, started talking, and became the thorn in my side that existed until college. Harsh, I know....but ask her and she'll tell you it's true.

But the great thing about sisters is that you're blood related. So pretty much, you can't end your relationship over a guy or a fight, or a bad haircut. You're stuck with that person. The best thing, I found, was making the relationship grow. You can't just cut and run from your sister.

Our relationship began to change around the time of our parents divorce. There are few things that push siblings together more than experiencing such a drastic change in you home. So we stuck together and muddled our way through. We began to find things to talk about, things to relate to. We were only 13 and 8 but we recognized each other as the only other person in the entire world that felt the same way. And we still didn't get along 100% of the time. I still didn't want to, like, hang out with her all the time....but we found some middle ground for the relationship.

Then I moved down south to the motherland for college and things did a total 180 between us. We started hanging out, started talking more. It was amazing what a little distance could do to change us. Once I graduated, got married, and moved back to Edmond it got even better.

Now, she's one of my best friends. She will do anything for me, all I have to do is ask. She'll even come over when I'm at work to let the cable guy in. And every time we're out of town she stays over at our house so our cat, Faith, won't have to sleep alone. Now that is sisterly commitment.

But more than anything, she's a fantastic sounding board for ideas, random thoughts, tears, celebrations. When we put Max to sleep earlier this year, she came over almost every night leading up to that day just to spend time with him. Then she gave me cards and gifts and little things to make me feel better...all while reassuring me that I was making the right decision and that she admired me and that I was a loving person in spite of all that guilt I felt. And even better, she didn't do as much comforting for me as she did just playing with Max and making me feel like someone other than me appreciated him. Then, even though she was out of town on her vacation she spent hours on the phone with me, just letting me cry.

She indulges my random impulses, like taking pictures of every shoe I own so that I can NOT post them on my blog. She gets us free movie rentals. She brings cookies to my office after a rough week. She brings me food when I'm sick. She lets me cook, and then does a great job of lying about how great it was so I'll be encouraged to cook more. She goes shopping with me. She let's me sing Carrie Underwood in the car, even though she hates Carrie Underwood. She's a great gift giver: she gave me tickets to Josh Groban last year, and I think the only other concert in my life that was better was New Kids on the Block when I was 9.

And those are just a FEW things I am thankful for when it comes to Julia. I couldn't ask for a better sister, I really couldn't. And hopefully one day I'll be able to support her and be there for her as much as she is for me. We're kind of an anomaly--it's really more of the little sister taking care of the big sister in our family!

Did I mention the free movie rentals?

Cruisin' to Marriage

You know, there are so many things that happen in the world today that can bring you down. Horrible things happening every day in our own backyard.

But then, something like the TomKat wedding comes along and makes everything in the world seem glamorous, glitzy, and luxurious. I can't think of anything more newsworthy and more exciting than hundreds of photos of Victoria Beckham posing in Rome on her way to the wedding. Or Brooke Shields in the car with really bad lighting. Or Katie Holmes staring out the window of a castle, looking pretty unhappy and forlorn.

Seriously....it's the most newsworthy thing of the day. Well, for me. That's why they create those slideshows of ridiculous paparazzi photos because people like me look at them. I can't wait to see the ceremony photos. As Jenny pointed out several posts ago, it's an addiction. I need a 12-step program for Celeb Gossip obsession.

In other news from around the world (namely Edmond USA) John lit the house up today in Christmas lights. It was the perfect weather to do it, and we're not sure on our plans for the next few weekends. We also brought in all the Christmas decorations (6 boxes total) and the Christmas tree. I think we're going to work on that tomorrow...'tis the season!

How, at 25, do I end up with 6 boxes worth of Christmas decorations? I'm not even sure what all is in there, especially since I end up buying a lot of things on sale after the season. I'm sure 6 boxes is minimal compared to what many people have, but it seems so excessive...I can't wait to see where I put it all!

Other headlines include: Big Lots is closing in Edmond! I'm not a huge Big Lots fan, but every once in a while I can find something....I hear everything in the store is 20% off so grab it while you can.

Back to School...

Today I went back to school. I went to hear a DECA class in Mustang present ideas for a restaurant grand opening, which was a lot of fun. But I have never felt so old. At one point, I had to head down the hallway to the bathroom. Of course, I went between class presentations so I joined several hundred high schoolers switching classes. I suddenly became very aware of the visitors pass stuck on my cardigan, and the loud sound my heels made as I trekked past the lockers and classrooms in my slacks. I felt really out of place among the holey jeans and t-shirts the students were wearing!

But then again, I should have expected the casual wear. When I was in high school we wore pajama pants and overalls to school all the time. Still, I felt very much like a teacher today!

Well, my week is over and I am beyond relieved. I love this time of year, and I love being busy at work. I always say I work better under stress....but I can't believe how much it takes out of me. My plan for the weekend is to sleep as much as possible and avoid e-mail and Power Point at all costs!

Soul Food

You thought I would forget to post today, didn't you? Ha! I made it just in time.

John and I were driving around this evening and came across this restaurant. If you grew up in the OKC metro area you probably remember Big Ed's Hamburgers. There used to be several around town. There was one in Edmond, and I remember going there a lot as a little girl. It was my dad's favorite place. I always tell people about how good the burgers were and how much I miss eating there. Needless to say when we ran across this location (not too far from our house even!) I was so excited. We had the best burgers and fries we'd had in a long time, and it tasted just like I remembered it. The service was outstanding. We walked in and felt like part of their family.

Do you have a restaurant from your childhood that holds a lot of memories? It's funny how our lives revolve so much around food. And not always in a bad way, like the news is always saying. But think about the dinner table, whether at home or at a restaurant, and how it can usually holds your favorite memories. Tonight as we sat in Big Ed's and ate, we noticed how the owner of the restaurant was sitting at another table, working fractions homework with his daughter. Just imagine the kind of memories that restaurant will hold for her as she gets older. I wonder if she'll look back and roll her eyes and sigh about how her parents MADE her sit at the restaurant every night slaving over homework. Or if there will be a point in time where she looks back and remembers how great it was to have a fun place to go and how her dad sat and did homework with her every night, always putting her education first. Even before his customers.

So, can you believe a burger joint can make someone so reflective? Like I said...sometimes fond memories of munching french fries with Mom and Dad after church on Wednesdays comes at the strangest times.

I should also mention that another restaurant that holds many Sunday lunch memories for both me and John was Ken's Pizza. It left Edmond a long time ago, but a while back we heard there was still a location in Eufaula. So we took a road trip and had great Ken's Pizza and chocolate pudding and told each other stories of our time growing up.

Food has such a way of bonding people! I personally would like to invite all of you to bond with me over chocolate cake anytime. Just give me a call!

Lovin' the new cell phone camera!

Our seats on Saturday were AWESOME as you can tell!

Mmmm...Pie

Chocolate Cream pie, to be exact. To be even more exact....chocolate cream pie from Nonna's. Yum...

It's going to be another short entry...it's a busy week!

Live on University...

Ah the smell of cigars, propane grills and beer...smells like Sooner Spirit to me!

I hadn't been to a football game in over a year when we headed to Norman on Saturday. WOW! I forgot how much fun it is. Is that even possible? To forget the feeling of happiness, wonder, excitement, and history in the air? To forget the sound of hundreds of fans randomly screaming "Boomer" and "Sooner", the sound of the drum show in front of the student union, the glorious sea of crimson, and hundreds of fans in line to get Brian Bosworth's autograph...to forget the essence of Sooner spirit. I don't ever want to forget that feeling!

I'm hooked, all over again!

We got to Norman in the afternoon, and I made John walk around campus with me while I pointed out every building I'd had class in, every tree on the grounds I'd sat under to study, every place I'd had coffee and plotted plans for the weekend. He listened intently, because I always listen to him when we drive through southeast Edmond neighborhoods and he points out every house an ex-girlfriend lived in.

Then I drug him to Campus Corner, made him wade through the thousands of drunks, I mean fans, and we even stopped to look at the three living Heisman winners signing autographs. Why the Boz had more people in his line than Owens, Sims, and White I'll never understand.

Then...we headed to the stadium. This was a great feeling, but strange for several reasons. This was the first game I'd ever been to where I didn't sit in the student section. So, it was strange to be able to arrive right before the game, rather than fight for a seat 2 hours before kick off! We sat on the west side of the stadium, so we entered in a totally new world. They sell FUNNEL CAKES on the donor side! Funnel cakes, people....we did not get that on the student side.

The stadium was so loud, everyone was so energized, and the weather was perfect football weather. Some people were cold, but sweatshirts and gloves are PERFECT for catching a game! We sang the chant, rocked to Boomer Sooner, and watched the pre-game video that gets the entire crowd pumped up.

Anyway...it was the best night I'd had in a long time. And we won...can't beat that! What a great evening! Here's to a Big 12 Championship appearance (good riddance, Texas!), here's to a BCS appearance, here's to an awesome 2007 season....one can only hope!

Excuses, Excuses...

I am pretty disappointed in myself...I did not meet the goal of posting every day in November. I missed yesterday...darn it!

In my defense, it was a pretty bad day. We didn't get home from the football game until after midnight Saturday...which is about 3 hours past my bedtime! After church, I spent the entire afternoon at the urgent care center because I've done something to my wrist and won't have time to go to the doctor this week. So, we spent several hours waiting for a doctor to tell me it's an inflamed tendon (that keeps popping and grinding and hurting), talk OU football with us for 15 minutes and send me to Walgreens for an anti-inflammatory. Not IBuprofen.

After that we headed back to church because, as I mentioned before, we're directing Children's Bible Hour. What a night...60 kids, very few adults, and a service that lasted an hour and 20 minutes. I sang every single children's song I know...by the time we got the last kid out, I was completely worn out and, to be honest, in a pretty bad mood. Maybe that's not the right thing to say....but I was and the last thing I wanted to do was blog.

So there....there's your excuse. I will do my best to blog every day this week to make up for it!

Guess where we're headed?!

We're packing our gloves and scarves and headed to Norman. First time this season...I'm so excited!

TGIF...Even though I have to work tomorrow!

These shoes are my current favorites. I bought them at Dress Barn, of all places, for $6 on sale. Can't beat that! They are also quite comfortable.

I'm headed to Tulsa for the night, and we're working at the Tulsa Run tomorrow morning. I should be back by the afternoon tomorrow....plenty of time to get in a nap before OU/Texas Tech game!

That's about all you're going to get out of me today....

Don't cry over...spoiled milk

Thanks to my sister, Julia, for being a good sport and taking pictures of all of my shoes last night. Now I have a library I can refer to even when I'm at work and wearing ugly shoes!

I resisted the temptation of posting another picture, that Julia really felt I needed to post. But I have trouble deciding whether it would be more embarrassing to me, or disgusting to everyone else.

Last night Julia went to get a drink out of our fridge. She went for the milk (which expired November 10, so it should not have been bad yet) but it was "bad". So she began looking for other options. And she found another 1/2 gallon of milk in the fridge door.

Well, John and I don't drink milk very often, and you all know how often we cook. We clean out our fridge even less often than we cook. Julia politely, actually rather loudly, declined to drink milk that expired on August 18th. I don't know why. It didn't look too terrible. And I should say that she was the idiot who opened the lid and took a big whiff. HELLO! It expired August 18th....probably doesn't smell too good. Geez, even I know that.

Then she made me take a picture of the carton, but I'm not posting it. That's just gross.

I'm also not apologizing for it. Anytime we use milk, we always look at the expiration date before pouring, because we know it takes us a while to get through even a 1/2 gallon. So it's not like we were ever going to use it. I didn't even know it was there. And I don't see anyone else standing up and volunteering to clean out my fridge, so I'll leave anything I want in there, as long as I want.

So there. If you come to my house and want something to drink, read the expiration date. The only thing that would have been funnier than finding the expired milk was if Julia had tried to drink the expired milk....

In all seriousness, Julia has been a great help this week. Between the shoe fashion parade and bringing cookies to my office to cheer everyone up after this sad week, she's been awesome. It's nice to have her so close...

Writer's Block

When I decided I was going to blog every day in November, I made a list of 30 things I could talk about. That way, when it came to a brain-dead day, I could just look at the list and have things to talk about. Well, actually it was only 23 things I could come up with at the time. And so far, Halloween is the only thing on the list that has made it to the blog.

And then today I couldn't think of anything fun to write about. I mean, who wants to hear my thoughts on Rumsfeld resigning or election results or even my meeting with John Ratzenberger this morning. So, I went to my handy dandy list to decide what to talk about. Of course, I couldn't find it. Made a 30-day list just so I could have fun and witty things to say and now it's gone. There goes my plan for an interesting and amusing blog. I think the whole point of being fun and witty is that it comes natural to people, but not me. I plan plan plan.

But then, some days a story comes along that's like an early Christmas present to bloggers and celebrity-obsessed gossipers (you know...like me). Geez, I thought Ryan and Reese were a big deal. But Hollywood was just biding it's time. The Federline break-up was inevitable. I have to comment on it, though I've seen many things that do a much better job of summing it up than I ever could. I read a story today that made me laugh out loud...check it out here. It's a real eye-opener on what went wrong with the Federlines. Why do I care? Because I love 90s pop. And Britney is the essence of that great moment in American musical history.
-------------------------------------------

Unless something crazy like Tim McGraw and Faith Hill break up, I'll have to come up with something else to talk about over the next few days. Maybe I'll make lists of things....iPod playlists, grocery lists, lists of all my bad habits, lists of good habits.

Or maybe I'll just take more pictures of shoes...

Nothing Like Waiting Until 6:56 p.m. to Vote...

See that sticker--I voted! And John voted, too. Everyone should vote. It's a privilege. And if you don't vote, you shouldn't complain. If you let other people make decisions without even offering your opinion you should not have the right to complain.

I am one of those dorky people who love voting. And I enjoy politics to a certain degree. Maybe not all the dirty, crooked stuff. Or the stupid people that often end up in office. But, I do enjoy the idea and enjoy the history. Believe it or not, voting and the freedom to vote used to be something people died for...

Luckily, I'm pretty sure my grandfather doesn't read the blog. So I figure it's ok to admit I voted for a democrat on my ballot. Ssshhh...don't tell! Gotta mix it up now and then, right?

Also, inspired my many blogs of people I don't know, I am posting shoes. See Susan's blog where she posts her shoes. I don't have very many cute shoes, so I won't post them every day....I might have 4 cute pairs of shoes.

These are my favorite sneakers. I bought them two years ago when I was really starting to get into Race for the Cure and breast cancer awareness. These, you'll notice, have a little pink ribbon on them--a portion of the proceeds went to the Komen Foundation. And, seeing as how half my wardrobe is pink and black the shoes have proved to be an excellent buy.

Also--John says this picture of my shoes is a great example of how bowlegged I am. Which is really unfortunate, since that has caused many joint problems and also makes it hard to wear shorts without feeling self-conscious. But cute shoes!

So that's my day. Hope you all voted!

When Tragedy Hits Home...

Normally when I watch the news, tragedy goes in one ear and out the other. Car accidents, plane crashes, shootings, random acts of violence...unless it affects me it really doesn't make an impact. Sometimes, most of the time, I don't feel a thing. There is so much bad that goes on nowadays I don't even stop to sympathize for people I don't know or the families they leave behind.

Then, last night, I'm drifting off to sleep when a report comes on the news about a small plane crash in Arkansas. And a name echoes from the anchor's mouth: Justin Whitefield. I sit up straight in my bed and watch in horror as his picture is flashed across the screen, as a teary Bob Funk begins to talk about what a great friend and talented young man he was. And my heart just sinks.

Justin was the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Youth Expo, and since my client is a huge sponsor of that program I have worked very closely with Justin for the last 4 years. He was brilliant, energized, and one of the nicest men I have worked with in the Oklahoma community. We are blown away in our little office, and we are very sad.

I just think it's interesting how we don't really let tragedy affect us until it's personal. But it is an eerie feeling to hear the name of someone you are close to come across the TV. It's strange to think about how you just talked to that person, just saw them at lunch last week, how you have an appointment to meet with them on your calendar that won't take place.

Every time the news reports on a tragedy, they are reporting on a life that mattered. They all leave behind parents and spouses and children and friends and colleagues--and even though we may not know them we should be reminded that someone did know them.

We are sad for the OYE office, sad for Justin's family, sad for his children. It's a gloomy day outside, and in our little office world that fits today.

Raging headache, so this will be quick...

Faith and I are very tired tonight. We have big headaches and have had a long day of trying to remember the words to every children's Bible song we know. How bad is it to forget the words to "Roll the Gospel Chariot Along"? It's a standard....it's like forgetting the words to "Jesus Loves Me".

John and I are "directing" Children's Bible Hour this month. And when I say directing, really it's coordinating. The scripts and lesson plans are already created--we just have to find people to carry them out. Luckily, this week went GREAT! The kids were very attentive, and we had awesome volunteers. I'll try to take pictures next week. It's funny....you run back and forth and stress about making sure everything runs perfect. And then you listen to all these tiny kids say memory verses in front of everyone and everything just melts away. Forget puppets--the real stars of the show are the kids!

Alright, Faith and I are headed to bed early. I also forgot to mention I planted about 100 bulbs yesterday for spring flowers. It better pay off big time with daffodils and tulips in 6 months because I'm not moving very well today--every muscle in my body aches!

What a Mess...

What is the messiest room in your house? For us, it's the master bathroom. For some reason, I have a very hard time keeping it clean. Ok, maybe I have a hard time WANTING to keep it clean. I always feel like it's very dingy and dusty and messy. But do I do anything about it? Nope...I wait until it could possibly be a health hazard before I dive in and deep clean it. Which, if you know me at all or have seen my house, you know that is VERY unlike me.

You know how some people have a real fear of dying in a freak accident, or meeting some horrifying, homicidal demise? The kind where no one knows what happened to you and they have to dig through your house and your things to find out more about you and what could have happened. Well, that's not my fear...no, my fear is that if I did die in some freak accident or meet a homicidal maniac, the CSI team that comes to investigate my house will see my bathroom.

Fear not....it is clean now.

'Tis the Season...

Do you know what's been playing in our house for the past few weeks? Christmas movies. That's right, Christmas movies. "Christmas Vacation", "Elf", "The Santa Clause", "Christmas with the Krank's", "A Christmas Story"....all of them. John loves Christmas movies almost as much as he loves golf, and that's not an exaggeration.

One of the best parts of the holiday season (if you can call July a holiday season because that's when John starts watching holiday movies), is watching John watch "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation". He knows every word of the movie. Every word. He could put the movie on mute, and quote it from top to bottom. And even funnier, is that he laughs every time. Years and years of watching the movie, knowing exactly what's coming next and he still cracks up when Cousin Eddie is drinking egg nog wearing a white sweater with a black dickie underneath.

Last night he was watching "Christmas with the Krank's" for the 10th time this season. It's his new favorite, I think. The great thing about Christmas movies is that they are, for the most part, hopeful and cheery. It's hard to have a bad day when you end it with Christmas movies...

What if....

When I was a sophomore in college, I traveled to New York City with Pam and the OU Ad Club to visit several New York advertising agencies. This was a time in my life when I had no idea what I wanted to do, what I wanted to major in. I started out as a print journalism major, and I think by the time I traveled to the Big Apple I was on the 5th major and it was Interior Design.

Anyway, on a whim I headed east. Advertising had never appealed to me, I'd never thought about majoring in it. I just knew I did NOT want to work in newspapers, and after years of excelling in the craft--I didn't want to write. Pam was an advertising major, and had been talking to me about it for some time.

I remember a lot about that trip, not the least of which was the thrill of traveling on my own (without the parents) and feeling like a complete adult. But what I remember most was a visit to one of the agencies. I could not even tell you now what the name of it was, or who their clients were, or what they said. But I remember stepping off the elevator on the 50th floor of this Madison Avenue sky rise, and my eyes falling on the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Manhattan. I remember it was slightly overcast, which gave the entire view a purple haze. I remember feeling completely and totally entranced. And I remember feeling like that was it. I had found the place I wanted to call home--a place where I wanted to BE Somebody.

New York does that to you. I'm sure once you actually live there, you might feel differently. But there is nothing like that feeling you get when you're in New York. You feel important, just walking on the street. It feels like you've traveled to a different planet, like nothing else in the world matters except what's going on in New York. As a visitor, you can spend your entire time feeling like you're living a "Sex and the City" episode...but eventually you come home, or you move there and can only afford a roach-infested 300 square foot studio and you probably come off that high. But New York will always be magical to me.

I decided then and there that I was going to major in advertising and move to New York after I graduated to work for some major agency. And that was the goal I worked toward over the next two years. My major changed slightly (again) to public relations, but the goal was always the same. Having a dream like that helps pass those long nights cramming for midterms.

I often wonder--what if I had gone to New York? What if I packed up everything, risked everything, and just did it. Would I have made it? Would I have been happy? Would I even have found a job? I am convinced that the answers are yes, yes, and yes. I'm sure that if I moved out there I would have made it. I might still be there. I would have found great friends, and I'd probably be working 18-hour days and loving every minute of it. At least I like to think that!

But I made a choice in February of 2002. I made a choice after I got an instant message from an ex-boyfriend, just saying hi. I made a choice after we started talking again, after I broke up with the current boyfriend, after we went out on our second "first date". I knew then and there that my heart belonged to him. I felt as strongly in that moment on that date as I did when I was standing in the middle of New York. It didn't matter where I went--I would never be "home", I would never "make it" unless I was with him.

It's a true testament to God knowing so much better than any 20-year-old ever could. If I had gone to New York, how different life would be. I would have been happy, yes, but I wouldn't be able to do the things I do here every day. I wouldn't be able to stop by my sister's work and visit anytime I want. I wouldn't discuss books and husbands and life with a group of girlfriends once a month over fancy new recipes. I wouldn't go out to dinner with my mom, or take weekend trips to Missouri. I wouldn't listen to my nephew hum "Camptown Races" and play "air trumpet" in the middle of Texas Road House. I wouldn't watch the nephews play YMCA-league basketball. I wouldn't get to hold one of my best friend's babies 5 hours after she was born. I wouldn't get to see every Sooner football game on TV, or be able to head to Owen Field for the day. And I wouldn't have simple nights at home watching "Everybody Loves Raymond" with that ex-boyfriend who, luckily, turned into my husband. I would be somebody, I would be somewhere--but I wouldn't be here. I wouldn't be 10 minutes from everything in the world that really matters.

How exciting life would be had I gone to NYC. But, oh, how glad I am that I didn't.

P.S.--welcome to the world, Riley Haws!

And the funniest costume is....a Sooner fan!

I have to say, this was the funniest costume I saw all day. This is a photo of a guy we work with at another company (which will remain anonymous b/c I don't know if he would want to be on the internet). He is a Texas fan in real life (must be like living a nightmare every day). So, for Halloween he dressed up like a Sooner fan. My favorite parts of the costume included the tattooed arms. My favorite tattoo is not featured in this picture--it was a giant heart on his other arm with the word "Stoops" in the middle".


Notice the mullet, too. Nice touch. All in all, it is a pretty fair depiction of many of our faithful Sooner fans. But, I would be remiss if I didn't say he should take a close look at the Mack Brown-lovers he is surrounded by. It seems to me that Longhorn fans look an awful lot like the rest of us, but perhaps just a little uglier...

Halloween

So, Halloween Night was in full force at our house. Plenty of fun costumes stopped by...including these scary guys. We usually know them as Easton and Mason, but last night we only knew them as fear.
John didn't realize the grim reaper wore Chuck Taylors....
This is Jesika and Jordan, our next door neighbors that pretty much keep John in line and tell him how it is. That's John's life, pretty much....a bunch of girls ordering him around! Jordan, especially, gives him a run for his money. If she's not schooling him in basketball, she's figuring out ways to take his money. He bets her on everything! She's made more money off us (especially with school fundraisers)....we just can't say no!
And, with all that scariness going on outside, Faith decided it was a good night to hide away. She stayed hidden most of the night deep under the covers in the back bedroom. Smart girl....