Big Dreams, Write City

Shut up and Save a Life

2010-05-02T23:54:00.000-07:00

Today I came across an article that was posted in The Seattle Times about drivers ignoring a law for hands-free cell phone devices.

The article struck my heart for many reasons and got me thinking. The first reason is that Seattle Pacific University and one of its many brilliant professors is mentioned. Another is that Ravensdale, a place very close to where I live, is mentioned too. But, perhaps one of the bigger reasons this article resonated with me, is that many people I know are constantly distracted by their cell phones while driving.

I have one friend in particular, who consistantly multi-tasks while on her cell phone.

When she calls me, I hear her distributing fast food she's just purchased for her children in the back seat, as she switches on the DVD player so her kids have something to watch while they eat, while also reading to me the latest text message she just received - ALL WHILE DRIVING HER CAR!

I can't tell you how many times I've suggested we continue chatting later so that she can focus on the road. There have been countless breathless moments when our conversation has been suddenly cut short and my mind's eye imagines that she's crashed into someone or something and caused a horrific accident. (Fortunately it's usually a crappy service connection, but still.)

I'm a human being, I've certainly been tempted to review a text when I'm going too fast on the freeway. Or if I'm bored in traffic I often think of tweeting that I'm bored in traffic. But the bottom line is, there are other people on the road with me. Those people are someone's sister, wife, mother, husband, child or friend. As that human being, who is frought with imperfections and yet strives to be a good Christian, I work to try and do things I would want others to do to me - one of which involves shutting up and shutting down my cell phone. Instead I try to listen to the radio, watch for a yellow slugbug or even roll down the window to feel the breeze on my face and by doing so, maybe, just maybe I can save a life.

Moving Forward

2010-04-29T09:39:00.000-07:00

In the next few months I'll be working towards re-entering the employment realm. The idea of this is both exciting and terrifying.

On the one hand, I'll be making money again. In fact, I'll be making more money than I ever have before. At my last job, my income was below poverty level - after six years with the company. Now, armed with the proper education, I can apply for jobs previously unavailable to me. Also, I've got all my years of experience in the workforce, which gives me more options for advancement sooner, rather than later.

However, all those years in survival employment scarred me. I remember countless hours of overtime, Saturday's sacrificed to achieve goals, lunches worked through to make sure the job was done. I remember working with people who refused to adhere to corporate policies and procedures and made life for the rest of us a living hell. I remember the animosity people aimed towards me as I received promotions and accolades. I remember the lack of resources to stop people from creating negative space in the work place. These environments often times created a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. The idea of returning to work brings that feeling back in a flood of emotion.

Fortunately, God blessed me with a very wise and very blunt husband. He continuously reminds me that I'm not going back to those environments and to stop being a baby. I'm in possession of a different skill set that has opened up new doors, new possibilities, and new environments for me.

I'm trying to branch out more, to be a little more positive. I've even applied for jobs in South Carolina recently, hoping to achieve a literal fresh start. But this is going to be a process. I've got to change my thinking - a hard thing to do at 34 years of age. Perhaps the hardest thing about changing my life at a later stage in the game, is getting my head back into it. But hey, at least I'm willing to try.

Because I'm not gushing enough...

2010-04-07T21:27:00.000-07:00

Here's my second fan-girl post for Jen Lancaster. She recently released her new book trailer video. I found it so awesome I had to share it with all of you! So here you are people...Jen Lancaster in the flesh:

If you'd like to see Jen's take on the video go here .

So tell me, after seeing the trailer, will you be buying the book?

Holla back Chicago!

2010-03-26T09:13:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to give a shout out to a great author (and dreamy would-be-BFF), Jen Lancaster. She has recently added to her list of accomplishments by becoming Chicago's newest syndicated columnist. Click here for the goods. Her first official column was released this week, and if you ain't reading it you're missing out! Click here for "Don't blame Mii, Japan" and prepare to laugh your ass off! If you'd like to learn more about Jen or her books you can find her listed under "links I frequent".
Ciao for now!

Just call me DESPERATE

2010-03-12T21:04:00.000-08:00

Has it been too long since last I wrote? Yes. Am I feeling the economic crunch as all others are? Yes. How am I coping? Desperately.

Recently I treated myself to a new Dark Cherry mocha at Starbuck’s. I loved every last drip of it! However, now I found myself in a dilemma: how the hell was I going to afford this new addiction every damn day?
I like to consider myself a pretty clever woman, so I wandered through my kitchen and pantry waiting for inspiration to strike. And ya know what? It did!
A few Christmases ago I purchased a Moka pot for my husband. It’s a small European style percolator that brews delicious espresso on your stove top. I also enrolled us in “the program” so that we receive two containers of ground Italian espresso every few months. It’s a great way to start the day and we have used these products so much that they have more than paid for themselves. That meant I had the coffee portion of my experiment down. Now I had to think flavoring.
I didn’t own a bottle of chocolate or fudge sauce. I had no powdered cocoa that’s less than five years old. I did have a container of International coffee Suisse Mocha, but that would be sinful to use with the tasty Italian espresso. In my pantry was my special box that I keep for baking goods, such as butterscotch chips and marshmallows. I foraged that and found (to my ultimate delight) a very small amount of Ghirardelli milk chocolate chips. HOORAH!!
Finally, I pillaged the back of my spice cabinet and found a bottle of Cherry extract. Yes! All the pieces were in place.
I made sure to add boiling water to my coffee mug so that it would be nice and hot for the coffee concoction it would be receiving. Once the mug was too hot too hold (Hey, my microwave is currently out of commission, gimme a break.) I dropped in seven chocolate chips and poured the espresso over them, stirring to blend. Once the chocolate was all gooey, I added about two teaspoons of the Cherry extract. To top it off I added a smidge of half and half.
A little ingenuity and I was looking at a Cherry Mocha (sort of), and thus,
V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!!

“Was it worth it”, you ask.
“Did it taste amazing”, you ask.
“Honestly?” I say.

“Hell to the N – O.”

Y’all, life is a bitch, and her name is Cherry Mocha.

"Friends" Taught Me True Selflessness

2009-06-29T19:23:00.000-07:00

Recently I was watching the TV show "Friends". The episode was entitled, "The One where Phoebe hates PBS". The story that struck me was the one between Phoebe and Joey, where he told her that there was no such thing as a selfless good deed. Joey believed that by doing something for someone else, one is essentially doing something for themselves. You help out a friend and feel good about it, so everybody wins. Phoebe spent the entire episode trying to find a deed that proved Joey wrong. She believed that there can be a deed done where only the receiving party benefits. By the episode's end Phoebe is never any closer to finding one.
The first time I watched this episode I thought long and hard, and, finally had to agree with Joey. If I help out a neighbor, I feel good and they do too. If I send someone a card to tell them their in my thoughts, they feel better and so do I. Even bringing in the garbage can from the curb (something I loathe doing) lets my husband know I'm trying to do something nice for him, and I end up feeling dirty, but satisfied.
But recently life has taught me lesson: there can be something as profound as a selfless good deed. One of my bulldogs, who turned 12-years-old in April, got extremely ill this spring. In years past, she's often battled illness and, being the fighter that she is, always won. Then one day, shortly after her birthday, she lost a lot of weight, started having difficulty eating and breathing, and the next thing we knew, she was on dialysis for doggies. Her condition improved for a little while, and we were naively hopeful. My bullies are my babies - we have no people-kids of our own. As we prayed for her recovery every free moment I had I spent nursing one dog, and trying to appease the other with what little energy I had left. School work, house work, and just plain work went to the wayside as we sought solutions. We made homemade "super"-food, administered intravenous fluids, and gave "lovies" every chance we got. Unfortunately, it seems our hopeful hearts and persist ant hard work was all for naught. Two weeks ago it became desperately evident that she was at the end. She wouldn't even lift her head to eat her favorite candy: a Dot. I made the call and the vet was gracious enough to come out to the house to take down this piece of our heart. I read to my little love from "Anne of Green Gables" while we counted down to the minute the last bits of time we'd ever have with our girl. We went through the motions of being gracious hosts when the vet arrived, we made small talk as the instruments were made ready, and we fought to control our emotions so we could succinctly say our very final good-bye.
Even now the tears are fresh, and the pain may never subside. But as we laid our girl to rest and placed a beautiful butterfly bush in her memory, we have the gift of knowing we performed a selfless good deed. It hurts like hell, and I'd give anything in the world to have it reversed, but it was what was best for her, not us. After all the love, loyalty, and joy she gave us, and the way she made our little family complete, it certainly was the last gift we could give her - peace.
Our hearts will miss you forever and always Dixie Girl...
We wuf u,
"Mama" & "Papa"

Privacy? We don't need no stinkin' privacy!

2009-05-20T22:18:00.000-07:00

Just finished reading an interesting book called
"The Future of Reputation: Gossip, Rumor, and Privacy on the Internet". I think this is a great book for anyone who has a blog. It really opened my eyes to what is protected, what should be protected, and where you can really get caught with your pants around your ankles!
Even if you don't have a blog, the "dog poop girl" story is well worth the cost of the book.
Daniel J. Solove explores the realm of privacy and how little we have left in the age of the internet. Solove is considered an "expert in privacy law" and it shows in his writing. There were so many things I hadn't thought about until he addressed them in this book. It's a quick but informative read, and one that all of us should remember the next time we're posting last Saturday's party pix online.
Enjoy!

Friend or Fossil?

2009-05-09T12:52:00.000-07:00

One of the great things about going back to school is getting to see life through the fresh perspective of my "peers". One of the drawbacks is seeing myself through the same perspective.
I knew going into this that I was usually going to be one of, if not the, oldest student in the room. Typically I can blend in fairly well. I try not to dress like a soccer mom, but I also try not to dress like a teenager. I keep it simple. Of course, there's been a few awkward moments that have given me away. Ther's been a few times where a professor has asked "Does anyone remember..." and I've been the only person to raise my hand. There was the time I wore a t-shirt that was emblazoned with The Breakfast Club crew. When I was asked by several students if the group on my tee were friends of mine and did I meet them for breakfast before class, I tried not to cry in front of them. Then there was the time when I couldn't get in to see my hair dresser for two weeks. My roots looked like they'd been streaked with cream cheese frosting, and every kid I had to talk to in my classes only talked to my scalp as they tried to figure out what the hell I was doing with so much white hair.
But perhaps the most recent indcident is the one that has really damaged my chances of ever blending in again. While sitting in a class, discussing the ins and outs of privacy and the media, the subject of the internet came up. Everyone around me is 19-years-old and chatting about posting pix to their blank-space/book/itter pages and how they've handled privacy. Before I can stop my mouth to engage my brain I decide to pipe in my two cents about life and the internet. Acting cool as a cucumber (that phrase alone should keep me out of the club), I blurt out:
"Man, I'm so glad the internet wasn't around when I was in school!"
"Why?" one kid asks. "Did your school not have access to it or something?"
"No." I respond with a laugh. "The internet wasn't even available yet."
And yes, their reaction was as terrible as you might imagine.
They recoiled as if in horror, which actually surprised me. Then they all instantly looked at the roots on my head and saw the patches of gray. After that, no one was even looking me in the eye. I had revealed my secret - I'm A THIRTY-SOMETHING GROWN-UP!! GASP!!
I'm so glad that I have enough maturity to laugh about this - and that I can buy a house, rent a car, and still believe in Ferris.

The Preppies are coming! The Preppies are coming!!

2009-05-05T01:55:00.000-07:00

I was hoping to get something all fancy and official up here...BUT I CAN'T WAIT!! Today is the day JEN LANCASTER'S new book "PRETTY IN PLAID" hits stores!! The time? 1980's. The crime? Jen in a college sorority. Lord help us all! Between the hair spray and the "preppy wear" this should be a non-stop-pee-in-your-pants laugh fest!
For those of you who've been under a rock for the last couple of years, she's a fantastic author who doesn't hold back. Her books are typically memior-style, and they'll have you snorting chardonay out your nose in no time (which is a good thing, trust me).
I haven't much time for more, but click on her name above and check it out for yourself, or click on the link to the left of this post ("Land of the Free, Home of the Bitter"). It'll be well worth the price of admission (or the book, anyway).

Love on the outside

2009-03-11T22:58:00.000-07:00

When my husband and I were first married we agreed to a more traditional type of relationship. He would do the typical "man" things, such as washing the cars, mowing the lawn, and taking out the garbage. I agreed to perform the more "female" jobs like laundry, cooking, and staying as sexy as the day he first met me. Ah, youth.
As he and I approach our eighth wedding anniversary the luster has worn off of this dog and pony show. Love has ceased to be about the demonstrative actions we used to take. About two years ago he decided that he no longer had time for most of his duties. Now the car is washed by high school kids at the Super Elephant car wash, the lawn is mowed (very badly) by moi, and the garbage? All done by me. Only now, it also includes taking out the recycle. Oh joy.
I suppose I can't blame the poor guy, I haven't exactly held up to my end either. As my last post shared laundry isn't my forte, and my cooking turned out to be almost deadly (I swear I followed the recipe!), and as far as maintaing my sex appeal? Let's just say J.T. won't be singing about me bringing "sexy back".
Most of these realizations have taken place over a period of time. But I was slapped in the face with one of them. I truly thought I still had the sexy thing down. I go tanning (every six weeks so really, it sort of a moot point), I try to keep my make-up on until he gets home (does runny mascara count?), and I shave my legs...sort of.
This week has been particularly cold and I decided to wear knee high socks under my jeans to keep me warm. I couldn't figure out why my legs felt so irritated and scratchy while I wore them. The socks were cotton so it couldn't be a fabric issue; the jeans weren't tight so my legs weren't constrained. And then it dawned on me - it had been not one, not two, but THREE WEEKS since I'd last shaved my legs! The worst part? My husband didn't even notice! AAGGHH!! The thrill is gone people, the thrill is gone.
Maybe instead of getting each other bronze or pottery for our anniversary, I should look into a leg wax. Ah, l'amour.
TTFN from your favorite housewife!
P.S. - He isn't pasty, he's just requested to remain "mysterious". Yeah, no wonder I'm not shaving my legs more often. He's damn lucky he's cute!

A.D.H.D. and Laundry

2009-01-28T23:21:00.000-08:00

Greetings All!
Today I'd like to share one of my techniques that helps me with my A.D.H.D. (Attention Deficit Housewife Disorder).
The fact that I start one housekeeping project in the middle of performing another has frequently come to bite me in the butt. Fortunately, when it comes to laundry, I've learned a way to master the situation!
My husband is a metro-sexual (VERY particular about fashion, hygiene, etc.). As such, it is always a fuss and a worry come laundry day that I may ruin something precious to him. (read: I have ruined something precious to him.) When it comes to washing his jeans the stress factor goes up a notch because they fit him just right. If the jeans spend too long in the dryer I'm done for. (Okay he's not an OGRE about it, but he does get a little testy.)
Unfortunately the buzzer on our dryer recently stopped working so I now have to listen for the tumbling to stop. The problem? I never really listen. Which means his jeans sit in there for hours. Getting wrinkle-y. And cold. And u.g.l.y.!
The solution? (I'm terribly proud of myself for this idea, by the way.) I remove all clothing besides his dainty denim treasures, I take a spray bottle that contains clean water and spray it inside the dryer all over the jeans. Then I run the dryer again on a quick "fluff". This seems to create enough steam (without too much heat) to create a fresh-out-of-the-dryer-the-first-time-it-stopped look.
And he's none the wiser - man, I love me!

Hugs from the ADD Housewife!!

Things I Learned This Week

2009-01-10T16:27:00.000-08:00

The biggest benefit of going to school is that, everyday, one learns a multitude of interesting things. This week, my first week back, I've learned several...
In the writing world I am considered a "plunger", there's a difference between an adjectival prepositional phrase and an adverbial prepositional phrase. I've also learned that paying attention in the grammar classes I took back in elementary school would've been very beneficial to me now. sigh. And finally, I learned that public speaking will not actually kill me. (Although someone should tell my heart that every time I have to give a speech.)
Perhaps the most valuable lesson that I've come to realize is that school is a blessing and not a curse. I've spent many a day fuming because I chose college over motherhood. In moments of extreme pressure and stress that can accompany an academic life, I've often wondered why I chose books over bottles. But the further along this scholastic career goes, the more I've learned about myself and what I'm really about. I have come to discover where my true gifts are, what I can achieve when I actually do apply myself, and I've been fortunate to make some really amazing friends along the way. Years ago if someone would've told me I'd be able to speak French and have the honor of an actual francophone as a very dear friend I'd have thought they were crazy! But look at what this amazing gift has given me! I have the blessing of a reality beyond my imagination and a chance to never have to say..."what if?”
Of course motherhood is still in the distance. Only now I can come to the mat with a full sense of self, and a little “savoir-faire” too.

Change in Priorities

2008-11-26T17:20:00.001-08:00

I noticed something strange today. My husband and I had a rare day off to prepare for tomorrows festivities. Luckily we were able to get most things under control fairly early in the day so we've had most of the afternoon to enjoy time together. So what, you ask, did we do to reconnect? Perhaps watch a romantic movie snuggled in close or go for a leisurely stroll through the neighborhood hand in hand? No. Instead we allowed technology to take over. My recent birthday present of an iPod Nano occupied my ears and a new voice command video game occupied his. We were sitting RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER and didn't even know the other existed. I flipped through the latest delicious edition of Vogue and he saved the world.
I think it's time to rethink technology and the amount of control it has in our lives. If we aren't on a computer we're on a TV or an MP3 player or even a cell phone. What a waste of a day that we could've been using to really cherish each other. Sigh. But I see hope in the future. We agreed to play a game of dominoes tonight and hopefully a little more over the holiday weekend.
I think tomorrow I'll be thankful for recognizing that, while these little gadgets are handy and fun, they certainly don't beat a cozy day at home with my first and foremost family: my honey.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!

Congratulations Allison!

2008-10-29T21:52:00.001-07:00

Just have a quick second to share with you all the good news about one of my latest fave authors, Allison Winn Scotch. Her second novel, "Time of my Life" just hit the New York Times Best Seller list! Let's all show her continued support by purchasing her book here.
I'm working my way through it and from what I've been able to get to so far (one last midterm this week - woohoo!!) this book ROCKS!
While we've all seen or read something about the age old "What if?" question, Allison takes it to another level! For a lot of women we've grown up dreaming of that ideal life: a loving husband, financial stability, and beautiful babies. Or do we? It's a great read to get the imagination flowing and lose yourself in a fascinating world!
Enjoy!

Damn You FaceBook!!

2008-10-26T21:42:00.000-07:00

I remember being in a sociology class and the instructor asking how much time people spent on their FaceBook pages. "Ha!" I snorted. "What kind of idiots wastes precious time on a web based party scene?" I felt I was a real intellectual, I wasn't sucked into that ridiculous kid stuff.
Well, here we are two years later and I can't even begin to calculate how much time I've spent on FaceBook. Once I discovered that I could claim one of my fave authors as a pal, AND members of my distant family I was hooked! We can communicate without spending money on long distance or taking time away from our families (okay time other than what we normally spend on the computer). It seems that FaceBook has allowed us to share birthday parties, family vacations, and (yes, I'll admit it) even eye injuries. It. Is. Awesome!!
I've even been able to claim one of my best professors as a FaceBook Friend - how cool is that? Uh..wait..is being friends with a professor a cool kid thing or a nerdy thing? Sigh. Maybe one of these days I'll outgrow my geek-dom. Or maybe not.
Chow for now! And FaceBookers ROCK ON!

WARNING - SIDE EFFECTS MAY OCCUR!!

2008-10-22T22:43:00.000-07:00

People, I have learned the hard way why one should NOT wear make-up to bed. I decided to be lazy because I wasn't feeling well and crawled into bed wearing my full "face". When I woke up the next morning my day old mascara had caked my eyes together so I rubbed them. My left eye got more treatment than the right and hence, the injury. Some eyelash/mascara/gook in my eye combo created the perfect storm for a broken blood vessel. Ain't it pretty?
Luckily a cold compress and eye drops are supposed to help. In the meantime it's terribly difficult to read, making studying for mid-terms extra fun! I don't even know how long it will take to go away. My husband had one years ago and said it took a couple of weeks - yikes! The wedding is in a couple of weeks and I cannot be a matron of honor with a jacked up eye!!
Anyway, I hope you all can learn from my lesson. There's a reason our mothers told us to wash our faces before bed, and this photo is living proof.
Take care all!

So in Awe!

2008-10-12T23:48:00.000-07:00

I have to say that when all my sisters and girlfriends started having babies, I knew life was gonna change. But what I wasn't prepared for is the lack of time I would have to chat with them one-to-one. Yes, we talk on the phone, but only if I'm willing to accept them playing "mommy" at the same time. I really do understand, it comes with the territory. But the reason I'm talking about it is because I am on my knees bending over saying "I'm not worthy".
I can't figure out how these ladies do it all. Here it is almost midnight and I've just finished up a very busy day. My sister's wedding is quickly approaching and with that comes showers, etc. Since I'm the Matron-of-Honor I have to get this stuff figured out pronto. Plus, I'm back in school so that has me hopping (thus the late night - two papers due tomorrow YIKES!). And the piece de resistance? The house looks like it has bulemia and has purged everything in it, all while my poor husband wrestles with strep throat and one of the dogs is terribly ill. I'm about to lose my mind and there isn't even a kid in the mix!
So Mommys out there who deal with sick kids, deadlines, laundry demons and grocery stores - know that you have my utmost respect and that I salute you!!

Where's the effing Ham??

2008-09-30T12:53:00.001-07:00

When I was a kid "Where's the Beef?" was all the rage. But after a tragically dissaspointing visit to Starbuck's today I'm left saying, "Where's the ham?". They told me that they have now discontinued the ham and egg breakfast sandwich in lieu of their new nasty sausage panini-ish thing. You are officially on my list Strbx!
I was able to find something unique and original to enjoy with the one shining light still at Starbucks (Salted Carmel Hot Chocolate!!). Check out this exotic link and tell me what you think.

My Summer Vacation

2008-09-22T17:30:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that summer is over. Today marked the official first day of fall which forced me to reflect on all that I accomplished this summer season past.
I managed to complete an intense four week summer quarter at my alternate university. That felt like quite an accomplishment. I even received a 3.9 total GPA from it.
I was fortunate enough to visit family for an extended period of time. That was probably one of my favorite memories made. I was able to experience a part of the world I otherwise would have never known. As well as getting to know how to handle a gun and make pinecones (aka: "grouse") dance. Thanks Uncle Ron!!
We put our house on the market. That was a brave act of craziness. The icing on that cake was seeing how creative my husband can be with a crockpot and outdoor flowers. Ah, memories.
And now we are working on the joyful occassion when my sister will be married. I have a feeling that the wedding, the sale of our house, and midterms will all come together in one perfect storm to drive me even closer to the 200 mark on the scale. Or at least that much closer to a Sloe Gin Fizz (two shots of Sloe Gin, topped off with collins mix equals theraputic goodness!).
Stay posted folks for updates on all the above, not too mention the exciting new quarter at school that starts on Monday.
Happy Fall!!

The Great Purge of '08

2008-08-04T00:15:00.000-07:00

Finally got around to cleaning out my closet after seven years of neglect. I somehow managed to purge most of what I needed to in one day. The craziest thing I came across while sorting through the pack-rat mess? Bird feathers. No, not cute-pink-bachelorette-party-feather-boa feathers. Actual real live bird feathers. They were in a handbag. I was prepared to dig into an old purse and find a stick of gum older than my dog, but bird feathers? WTF??
I wish I could remember the night they got in there. Ah, youth.

Hopeless Housewife Strikes Again

2008-07-22T17:48:00.000-07:00

How do you know it's been too long since you last pulled out your Dyson and/or actually did some housework?

When you discover before bed that you've been walking around with a dead bug on your foot all damn day.

EEWWWW!

'nuf said.

Satisfactory Expectations

2008-07-09T18:12:00.001-07:00

Since I am working towards a creative writing minor I have enrolled myself in literature classes this summer. Unfortunately I am pretty much clueless when it comes to knowing anything of "the classics". I started reading Anna Karinnina two years ago and have yet to complete even half of the novel. But I was pleasantly surprised when, on a hot sunny day last week, I picked up the Charles Dickens book assigned to us, Great Expectations. Most people know Dickens from his story, A Christmas Carol with Uncle Scrooge, etc. or perhaps you may remember the movie based on Great Expectations with Gwenyth Paltrow and Ethan Hawke. Either way, if you want to at least say you've read a classic piece of literature without having to gouge your eyes out trying to figure out what's going on, check out G.E. The link will lead you to the Amazon site where you can read a brief excerpt to find out for yourself.
The thing that impressed me the most about this book, was the quick pace of the story. Things were always moving forward at a rate that had me devouring pages. There were enough twists and turns and moments that left me with my mouth gaping open, but not so much that I couldn't keep up. Drama, intrigue, suspense, and mystery were all main characters in this masterpiece.
I highly recommend purchasing this book and letting yourself fall into it. If for no other reason than it makes you look especially smart while working on your tan at the beach. ;0)
Happy reading!

2008-07-02T21:13:00.000-07:00

Okay, so it's only been about a hundred years since I've posted last. I am happy to report that I'm feeling much better, but I'm the only one in my house who is. Sigh.
The weather out here has been crrraaazzyy!! We had one of the longest electrical/thunder/just-plain-nuts kind of storm I've ever seen. The cool part? My husband stood in his skivvies on our front porch to watch it. Ah, l'amour.
I've also been attending another University for the summer. It's a huge and beautiful old campus. It stressed me out the first week and a half. Not only is the place enormous, but it's right in the heart of one of the busiest districts in the city. I, my dears, am SO not a city mouse. I'm a proud and simple country mouse who likes her one-way streets right where she can see them! However, once I figured out where the closest Starbuck's was located, I knew the world was right again.
Unfortunately, that's all the time I have for updates. I have an entire Shakepearean play to get through and 57 pages of John Ruskin after that. Plus, I have to try and squeeze sleep in there somewhere so I'll be refreshed and ready for my two-hour morning commute! I'm not worried though, it's only 9 o'clock, after all. Heh.
Have a great and safe Fourth of July people! And if you need a little something to get you through the day before a holiday, check out this link and laugh your tookis off yer chair!

Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired

2008-06-21T13:08:00.000-07:00

Finally finished my first quarter at University and how do I get to spend my two weeks off? By spending 90% of it sick. Luckily, my old man got the same bug and we were able to curl up in blankets and watch almost every movie we own. While it sucked to be two snotty messes, it was nice to snuggle up together whenever a chill over took us. Sigh. Hopefully the next school break will be a lot more productive.
I do get to start a 16 day intensive quarter at another University for summer classes. I was able to get up there to purchase books and see where my classrooms were. The good news? It's a beautiful and historic campus. The bad news? My classes are ten minutes apart but it's a fifteen minute walk to get there. I suppose the run will be good for me and my ass.
Now it's back to antibioctics and chicken soup.

Something Quick and Sweet

2008-06-03T18:56:00.000-07:00

The quality is pretty poor, but this is what I have looking back at me as I'm studying for finals this week. I thought it might bring a smile to those who gaze upon it. God bless bulldogs!

Learning from Angels

2008-05-31T16:54:00.001-07:00

I currently belong to a Bible study made up of seven other women. They've been a great source of inspiration and education over the last year or so that I've known them. Recently one of the ladies had both her knees replaced. When the other women in the group started talking about taking over meals until our friend had recovered I thought, "How nice." But I never offered to do so myself. Until about the second week of recovery when again, the group discussed who would bring a meal on what day. This time, I volunteered for one. I must admit I was a little shocked and very nervous. What the heck was I going to make? How does one go about dropping off a casserole dish full of food I'm not even sure my husband would eat? However, all these other women were doing it, I figured I could too. I'm certainly glad I did. The lovely lady who had her knees redone gave me rave reviews and I felt like a million bucks for helping out someone who needed it.

So when the opportunity came to do it again, I jumped at it. Again, I was faced with the same fear and intimidation. I couldn't believe that doing something nice for someone else was making me feel this way. But I was determined to get over it and make sure I performed a good deed. I got up early today and ran to the gym, the grocery store, the car wash, post office and bookstore. I made it home in time to prepare a quick and hearty meal, complete with dessert. I ran it over to the new "patients" house only to find she didn't answer her door. A little concerned I called, rang the doorbell and even tentatively peered inside her windows, all to no avail. Finally, I left the meal on the doorstep and a message on the machine and left praying that she was okay.

Later I received a call from her. She had actually been taken to the Urgent Care clinic in town because her pain was so bad. But she was extremely grateful to come home to a comforting and stick-to-your-ribs meal to digest with her stronger meds. Hearing how much she appreciated my simple offering made me feel like the Queen of the World. I can't remember the last time I felt like I had really made a difference in someones life. Today changed that.

I will forever be grateful to these women for teaching me, not just through talk, but through action.

Thank you Ladies, you are truly a blessing!!

Working off a Big One

2008-05-24T10:14:00.000-07:00

I finally found a good use for the Body Ball I told myself I had to have. Check out this video and see why at least somebody's getting excersize in our house. Also, please don't mind all the mismatched furniture or the Costco size box of DVD's. We're trying to find our "decorating style". Although honestly, the box of DVD's is just because we're lazy.

Bon Week-end!

Such a Pretty Author

2008-05-21T12:22:00.000-07:00

Last night I had the pleasure of meeting one of my favorite authors, Jen Lancaster. She was in town promoting her new book, Such a Pretty Fat. I've only read the first two chapters and I've already had to change into dry pants. You will laugh your ass off when you read her creations.

The great part about Jen, and why I think she has such a HUGE following (they had to keep adding chairs before the reading last night), is because she is 100% honest. She doesn't pull any punches and she doesn't have anything to hide. Jen Lancaster is the master of saying the things we all wish we had the big brass ones to say. So thank you J.L. for standing up and being such a beautiful addition to this crazy world.

On a side note, I was so damn gobsmacked to be in her presence (not too mention trying to hold in all my crazy so that she didn't run away from me screaming) that I forgot to ask her a few things. So on the off chance that you actually do get/take time to check out my blog Ms. L., here are some things I'd like to know (or share with you):

1) Please don't think your hair was anything but FAB last night. With blonde streaks done that well, there is never such a thing as a bad hair day!

2) Can you please advise as to when/where and if ever we'll see your books on tape? Also, I know people who are available for the cheap fee of being your new BFF if you need a "voice" for said books on tape.

3) While you've been on tour, have you actually had time to check out all the cool bookstores you've been to? I'm a HUGE book junkie, being in a b.s. without actually buying something seems like a crime.

4) I totally think that you should've made the man-kilt purchase. No man thinks he wants to wear one until he actually gets it on and can feel the wind in his hair, if you know what I mean. ;0)

5) And finally, have you been doing the Mike Rowe (Dirty Jobs) trick in your hotel rooms? Ya know, where you throw water on your bed so that housekeeping will give you fresh sheets and then you wipe down everything with antiseptic wipes? My girlfriend stayed in a hotel once where she found - brace yourself - toenails (!!) in her bed!!! EEEWWW!!! Just an FYI.

I hope you are now home and safely tucked in your own bed, sans toenails.

If you'd like to respond to anything you see Jen, you can E-mail me at jennings.abigail@yahoo.com I'd love to hear from you!

In the meantime, enjoy the wine and pearl "resistance bands"! We can't wait to have you back again!!

2008-05-14T14:27:00.000-07:00

Bonjour mon amies ! J’espère vous est bien ! Moi, j’adore au jour d’hui ! J’étais déjeuner avec mon professer de français. C’était super !

Hello my friends! I hope you are well! Me, I adore today! I just had lunch with my french professor. It was great!

She is a lovely woman with a fantastic story that starts off in Conneticut and ends up in France - c'est manifique!! That was the highlight of my day!

School itself however, has been a very precarious ride lately. The system at this institution sucks for transfer students. So, as a result, I will be attending a completely different university for summer classes. Normally, I'm a pretty relaxed person whose game for anything. But this is making me nuts. Now my commute will be longer, I have to learn a totally different (and much larger) campus, AND I'll have to spend at least fifty bucks on buying a new sweatshirt to support my new-secondary-other-soon-to-be-alma-mater. (Okay, really I'd buy just about anything to spend fifty bucks. You should see some of the shoes I've brought home, but I digress.)

But the silver lining (because there always is one people!) is that the quarter is only four weeks long - woohoo!! It's a bit more work than a normal quarter because they have to cram a lot of information into those four weeks, but totally worth it!

So that's the latest. I'll keep ya'll posted.

Au revoir et bon journee!!

Share a Little Love

2008-04-30T13:03:00.000-07:00

(My bulldog puppy in flight at nine weeks old)
Obviously I'm a sucker for all things bulldog. I suppose I was born into it. My mother attended a high school whose mascot was a bully so the loyalty was in my blood. As an adult I have acquired a 15 pound bronze bulldog by my front door, a bulldog mug from England and, let's be honest, if I could tolerate the pain I would have a bulldog tattooed on my ass. But recently I became even more of a bully-lover, nay, a bully advocate.
Bulldogs are a very misunderstood breed. Most people think of them as junkyard dogs that hang around old cars ready to attack and eat the trousers off anyone who crosses their path. But bullies are actually meant to be indoor dogs. They have the biggest hearts and could be classified as "lumps of love". However, their senstivity doesn't stop with their hearts, they also have very sensitive skin and eyes. They require frequent baths and, sometimes, daily wrinkle cleanings. Because most of the public has the wrong perception of how to accomodate this breed a lot of these dogs end up with several medical problems that their owners either don't want to or can't afford to address.
Bulldog rescues across America are designed to take these dogs off the hands of those who can't care for them. We recently donated to help out a pretty bully girl at http://www.cascadebulldogrescue.org/ This organization offers help for english and french bulldogs (mine are of the english persuasion, hence the mug mentioned above). They start out by rehabilitating the dogs and getting them the medical help they need before even considering putting them up for adoption. Health comes first.
I can't believe, that as a dog owner, I haven't donated some form of help to a rescue facility before. But I am hooked. My man and I agreed that we'd donate to these pups in need every year in lou of buying each other gifts for holidays, etc. What a nice feeling to know that we can make a difference by helping out God's creatures AND we don't have to worry about getting each other a card!!
To find out how you can donate to a breed of your choosing, click here

2008-04-28T12:22:00.001-07:00

Only have time for a quick post. It's midterms people!! AAAGGGHH!!

I wanted to share an artist I discovered. This little lady and her music has a very soothing (but still motivational!) effect.

The artist is Natalie Grant and her voice is AMAZING!! Check out her website here. Or check out her MySpace page where you can listen to the music and watch a couple of videos. My personal favorite? "In Better Hands".

Enjoy!!

Heaven awaits change

2008-04-25T13:49:00.000-07:00

I read a great article today by Chi-Dooh Li of the Seattle P-I. He spoke about change. It's certainly something we're all hearing about with politics flooding the airwaves. But how many of us actually do change?

I know a lot of people who changed their garbage cans. They now have one specified for recycleable materials and another for waste. Some people have even changed their cars or the way they get to work. These folks do deserve kudos. Change in any form is never easy. Heck, I can't even manage to floss regularly. But how do we go from wanting to change to actually doing it?

I suppose it all comes down to baby steps. One day at a time. Look at how quickly the organic market took off. Why? Because people were willing to change the way they saw milk, eggs and soap.

Education is another the key. As Li said in his article, "change begins with you and me, our own desires and our own pocketbooks." Do we even know what that means anymore? How about finding out where more than just your dairy products come from? Where do your clothes come from (Singapore?), your long distance service (Bangladesh?) or even (yikes!) your make-up (baby rabbits?).

Of course we all know Rome wasn't built in a day. I haven't even got a clue what's in my make-up, let alone know where it comes from. But maybe, by drawing attention to it in this post, I've started change, one letter at a time.

frustration knows no bounds

2008-04-23T13:10:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe I just spent 45 minutes (!!!) trying to log onto to the wireless network here at school. The problem? One, my computer kept defaulting to the wrong password and two, four other people around me were already on line. I have no idea how things were corrected (divine intervention maybe??) but THANK GOD they were. I was about to throw this laptop through the window next to me. But that's just the beginning...

I have also been spending way too much time working on my resume, financial aid and registration for summer quarter. What a joke. The limited amount of guidance I've received here has done nothing more than frustrate me beyond measure. It's a good thing this is a dry campus, otherwise they'd be dragging my totally drunk ass out of here naked and singing the Star Spangled Banner at the top of my lungs.

I'm starting to think my frustration is contagious. My poor husband, sick and tired of listening to my whine, came home the other day with a NorthFace backpack for me. "So you can fit in." he said. He had a look on his face like a big boy who just learned to use the potty. How could I refuse his offering of limited social acceptance? It's not as large as my "yellow submarine" backpack, but I think one of the "cool kids" actually smiled at me today. (The power of material goods is amazing!)

Now if I could just work on my gray hair...

another day in the life...

2008-04-21T11:57:00.000-07:00

Time for another daily post about life here on campus. But before I begin that I'd like to say that I will be attempting to blog more frequently now that I have FINALLY got the hang of the wireless network here at school.

And now...

A day in the life - April 7, 2008

Realized today that I am officially a "nerd". I have noticed that "geek" has recently gained notoriety in the public eye and thus is considered "cool". I, however, couldn't be further from it - at least here on campus anyway.

I noticed as I sit here in this sunshine-streaming-books-laying-dormant-as-a-thing-of-the-past-world that the younger crowd all have little teeny Apple notebooks. They sit here for hours seeking out the latest message left on their MySpace page and taking up the only good tables with a view of the city. The only people in here with out one is me, some 75 year-old man in the corner who (I think) is asleep and the librarians (who have their own PC's to play on).

I'm guessing that these kids have to swear on Coach bags that they use Apple-light-as-an-effing-feather notebooks to gain access to the cool crowd. Not too mention be able to demonstrate wicked fast typing abilities so that it sounds like the three blind mice scurrying around on their keyboard. This ability is clearly meant to serve two purposes: one, to annoy and distract the hell out of me and two, to wake the dead(??) guy in the corner. Whew, thought I was going to have to ignore him all day!
But I'm not bitter about it. Let them have Apple, let them have Coach. I'm a home-owner bitches!

Keep it Hoppin' Yo

2008-04-07T22:11:00.001-07:00

Wanna see how we roll on a rockin' Saturday night?

And that's just the dogs. God bless 'em - this is their (and my) favorite activity.

Tales of School Daze

2008-04-07T21:50:00.000-07:00

I've decided to keep a running log on my time at my new school. I had NO IDEA what I was in for and I need to share with others as a form of therapy. So here ya go world, share in my craziness that is now my "school daze".

Entry One

4/2/08

Right now I am completely sweat soaked. I dressed for being outside (35 degrees) not for the ovens they call classrooms (hotter than hell). To make matters worse, I'm toting around 35lbs of books on my back. Yeah, spinal injuries rock!
Today I feel like I must really show my age. I feel like all these kids (literally - they're all 19!!) can see straight through my Seven jeans and North Face jacket (the prefered uniform of 'the tribe'). My wrinkles and my wedding band betray me. I'm 32. Thirty-two. Trente-deux. ouch. I have no children. ouch. I must apply lotion daily to old saggy scaley parts that I never used to have. double ouch. I was just rejected in french class by two 19 year-old rich (ie-mean) girls. super hurtful ouch.
I'm really feeling the gap between who I was and who I want to be. I was an insecure pea brain who had no faith in herself. I want to be an intellegent mature woman whose competent & proficient in all she sets her mind to. What I am is an insecure "mature" (read 'old' by university standards) woman whose semi-competent at a lot of incredibly non-proficient things. sigh.
I've always struggled with the balance of trying to "fit in" and trying not to care about it. I could manage it at junior college because I could relate to the material being studied, sound smart and relate to the teachers. But here at university I feel like everyone is brilliant - but me.
I have to shake this if I'm going to get anything out of this experience. I know this new tribe can sense fear. Or maybe it's my dorky yellow backpack.

Making it Through the Rain

2008-04-01T14:52:00.000-07:00

Well, I did it! I managed to complete my AA degree with a 3.8 GPA. Yes folks, count that as a graduation with HIGH HONORS! High honors was not what I initially set out to procure, but considering the final quarter I had, I'll take what I can get! So many heartfelt thanks and hugs are going out today to those who shared a shoulder or an ear when I needed one. Now? ON TO THE NEXT GREAT ADVENTURE. What shall it be? A trip to France or perhaps an African safari? Maybe a week in New York shopping at Barney's. Um, no. Instead I am choosing to celebrate by... more schooling. I will now be working to achieve my BA at a fabulous private school in our great metropolis.

I started last week at my new ritzy school and it proved to be an interesting one. I cannot get over how smart (and I might mention, well dressed) the students are here! I feel like the nerdy kid with the wrong shoes all over again. I think I need to do some shopping. Oh, and maybe brush up on my latin. Ha!

It has been a very surreal experience so far. But I keep reminding myself, I am here for one purpose - to figure out a way to make words into money baby!!! One day at a time.

I'll make sure and keep you posted. That is, if I don't get beat up by the Ralph Lauren biker crew for wearing espadrilles before Labor Day.

Take care all, and God Bless!!!

Just something funny

2008-02-29T09:23:00.000-08:00

(In case you can't tell: That's Jennifer Aniston, David and Victoria Beckham, and Sarah Jessica Parker)

I was recently sent this as a PowerPoint presentation in an email. Apparently it's a photoshop free-for-all where all the celebrities involved moved to Ohio.

The credit for these fabulous laughs goes to Planet-Hiltron.com courtesy of D.A.J. - Thanks for the smile!

If you're interested in viewing the whole P.P. presentation please email me at jennings.abigail@yahoo.com with the subject line "Ohio" and I'll send it to you. Otherwise you can probably get it from the creators website above.

Enjoy your weekend folks!

Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition!!

2008-02-12T17:50:00.000-08:00

Some of you might remember that line from a Dixie Chicks song about a hundred years ago. I have to make this a quick post, but that line about sums it all up.
Had a real roller-coaster of a ride these last 24 hours. A profe*sor at school tried to shake me down, I feel, because I have a talent with the written word. Luckily, the crisis has been averted thanks to some heavy duty prayer and my organizational skills. But it has certainly turned me off from sharing my talent with too many people. I don't want to become bitter from this whole thing, but it sure has left an awfully bad taste in my mouth.
The bright side of this dark cloud has been a letter of acceptance to the University I wanted. Hallelujah!! I cannot be happier. I am really looking forward to leaving the basics of an AA degree behind and starting on my major - writing!
The last day has taught me that God is great and will always hold you in a time of need. I hope that's a lesson that we can all remember. And to always organize your ammunition.

Laugh Out Loud, you "asshat"

2008-01-31T12:27:00.000-08:00

Whew, sorry for the delay in postings! School this quarter has really sucked the life out of me. It's a miracle I can produce anything of a creative nature at this point. Science, God help me, is NOT my fortay. Neither, is thinking about it or understanding it. I was all for dropping raisins into a glass full of water (solvent) and baking soda (solute) and watching the shrivled little fellas float around. But this cell stuff sucks.
Luckily astonomy ain't so bad. It's still pretty tricky, learning all the math involved with how hot a star actually burns based on its hydrogen lines. Booorrrriinnnggg. I just wanted to know how to find the libra (my sign for those wondering)symbol in the stars, guess that was another "AS"-something class.;0)
But the real reason for this posting is to inform my readers (yes, all two of you) about a blog I came across. This gal can make me laugh out loud and pee my pants like no other! I'm girl enough to admit to that. Her name is Jen Lancaster and she has a series of books that will make you laugh about as hard as her blog does (bladder control products sold seperately). If you're looking for a quick smile check out the blog at: http://www.jennsylvania.com/ Or you can get perma-grin by purchasing her books through one of the links on said blog. SO worth the money folks!! And if you get hooked, she's got another book coming out this spring, "Such a Pretty Fat Or, Why Pie Is Not The Answer".

Seriously people, don't be an "asshat", support the ladies that keep us laughing. Lord knows we need it!

The Glory of Survival

2007-12-13T11:06:00.000-08:00

I finally made it through another quarter. One more down and I'll have an Associate in Arts degree. I can't believe I'm so close to obtaining a college degree. Everyone kept telling me through out this quarter that if something is easy to do, everyone would do it. I can understand that! Taking 20 credits (four classes) has been absolutely draining. However, I learned a lot from the classes I took, and I've made a few new friends and even got to see my name in print - holla!! Somehow, I think I even managed to bring my GPA back up along the way. It's looking like I might be back at a 3.9, which will qualify me for some great scholarships once I head off to University. But that's a whole other ball of paperwork and time.
Luckily, I get to have the next two weeks of concentrated time with my husband at DisneyWorld, the happiest place on Earth. Although, I'm not so sure that's always a good idea. We do great for about a week if we're on a vacation, but after that things start to get a little testy. We each turn into a grumpy bear and each bear loves to poke the other bear with a big (verbal) stick, just to see what happens. While this juvenile behavior is truly entertaining, it isn't exactly harmonious to a marriage. By the time these two weeks are up, I think I'm going to be really looking forward to going back to school.
Merry Christmas everyone, and have a Happy New Year too!!

Please see photo above for why you should never set the camera up to take your picture automatically when you've just finished getting drunk in Epcot.

A.D.H.D.

2007-12-05T12:39:00.000-08:00

I have decided that I suffer from A.D.H.D.: Attention Deficit Housewife Disorder. It's the only explanation for the sad state of affairs going on in my house right now. It seems that every time I get started on one housekeeping project I get totally distracted by another and by the end of the day I have two dozen projects going and not one that's finished!

For example, I pulled out the vacuum cleaner with the obvious intention to vacuum. But once I got started on that I realized that the carpet needed to be cleaned in a few places. So, before I continued vacuuming the rest of the house I started shampooing carpet in the family room and left the v.c. in the living room. But then I decided that since I wasn't in the kitchen, now might be a good time to mop the floor so that it could be dry by the time I was done with the carpets. So out comes the mop and pine-sol. Once that's done the mop has to go into the powder room so that it can drip in the sink instead of all over the now partial shampooed carpets. On the way back from the powder room I notice that the living room really needs a good dusting and why wouldn't I do that before I vacuum so that I can suck up all the dust that I just wiped down off the furniture? Do you see where I'm going with all of this? It just snowballs into the most amazing mess of cleaning products and pink rubber gloves (which I got to help keep me on task and why shouldn't I feel pretty when cleaning?).

Somewhere in this world I know there is someone suffering too. I want to create global awareness of this situation (Hello, Oprah?!). No one woman should have to suffer alone! But perhaps there is an answer:

I'm envisioning a cure for this debilitating and time consuming disease that involves a day at the spa for me and a great cleaning lady for my house!

But wait, who's going to take care of the cleaning ladies house, what do we do when she needs a day at the spa?

Oh crap.

Well, so much for hope. I guess the toilets can wait.

Pure Stupidity

2007-11-13T18:17:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately, already this week, my pure stupidity is catching up with me. I'd like to believe I'm a well organized person who can keep it all together. But the sad reality is I'm hopelessly lost right now.
When I had a job I had a small workspace where I had post-it notes and a calendar right in my face to keep me constantly on top of all the little things. Now, my kitchen table is my desk and the refrigerator (which my husband forbids to be the housing development for my plethera of post-its) is my bulletin board. Let me just state the obvious - this system ain't kickin' it.
I have a Treo which should keep me on task, but only if I remember to put the details in the Treo in the first place.
I was supposed to do so much today and half of it completely slipped my mind and the other half was screwed up because of time conflicts.
Every year I tell myself I'm going to do better. I'm dying to be like my sister, she can remember everyone's birthdays, anniverseries, and even your shoe size! I'm lucky if I can even remember my french homework!
On one good note, as a result of my recent mind loss I gained ten pages with the ol' novela.
I couldn't believe how easily it came to me. I had been struggling FOREVER with trying to get through a crucial part of the plot. I'm pretty sure most hair loss this month was from the tugging I did trying to piece that part together. But once I let that part go and opened my mind to new possibilities with the story, it all started to flow. The only reason I stopped was because my exhausted mind and fingers wouldn't work together anymore. I am very pleased with the work that came out of that late night session though. However, I am a little disturbed that the only time creativity wants to spread it's wings is at 11 o'clock at night. Anyone else have to deal with that little late night monster?
Now it's back to work: french, geology, and university admittance essays - oh joy!

Good Reads

2007-11-06T20:19:00.000-08:00

I just finished reading a fantastic book by Shanna Swendson entitled, Damsel Under Stress.
This book was the third in Shanna’s Enchanted, Inc. series. I had originally started this series back in May while on vacation. The good news was that I fell in love with the story. The bad news was I had only purchased the first book and read through it in the first three days!
I’m very impressed with the way Ms. Swendson has managed to create a strong leading man without making him a total cliché for a hero. He’s sensitive but still sadly oblivious, as most men are to what makes a woman tick. It’s been great fun being along for the ride as Owen and Katie learn about how to be human in a magical world.
I’m really looking forward to the fourth book in the series which will be released in April 2008. There was talk for a fifth book but the publisher dropped the option.
I am pleading with you people, go and purchase every book in this series perhaps once the publishers see a jump in sales they'll see how wrong they were. I MUST KNOW MORE and book number five must be released!!

As for the rest of the day it’s been a total wash. I was supposed to whip through the rest of my French homework, along with getting ahead in my geology work. However, after waking from a lovely two hour nap (how the heck did that happen?), spending some cuddle time with my husband, then finishing this book, well let’s just say tomorrow is going to have to be extra busy to make up for it. It was fun while it lasted. C’est la vie.

Mass Marketing for Oreos

2007-11-05T19:57:00.000-08:00

I recently ran across an article that chatted about new ways to pay for your cell phone bill. Could it be true, a cell phone company that wants to help me reduce my bill?
But hold on there cowpokes, there’s a catch. You have to be willing to pay for those minutes and text messages through advertising.
Is this what it’s come down to people? The mass market out in our great big world is charging an arm and a leg for everything they can, yet they still need more?
Another attempt to hit us upside the head with advertising has to do with commercials on television. For some reason the networks don’t understand that we don’t want to watch another sexy person selling us a car or rice for dinner. Yet this article tells us all about the “interruption” process.
Is it asking so much to go back to the way things were, when a nice smiling face simply told you about the product and how to use it in your home/garage/yard/life. I know it sounds boring, but I can’t handle seeing another singing Pomeranian selling Oreos.

Trying something new

2007-11-03T13:39:00.000-07:00

Hello out there! This is my first ever blog/post. Welcome!
I am a small town girl hoping to jump into the big city and make some noise with my fabulous new novel. Well, once I have the damn thing written anyway.
In the mean time I'll focus some of that hopeful energy on writing about my life here.

I'm a married thirty-something college student desperately hoping to make it in the world with my writing. At the moment I am facing the dreaded transfer to a university, which should make me happy. But I'm completely terrified! So in hopes of gaining some semblance of control, I cut six inches off my hair!

Now most people (meaning men in particular) don't really see what the big deal is about a haircut. But to me (and most of the women I know) a haircut is a REALLY BIG DEAL!!!
Typically, hours and hours are spent looking at photographs (mine was Katie Holmes), talking to girlfriends, and pinning your long locks up to see how you'd look with short hair, all with the hopes that you'll find a way to feel comfortable about changing something major in your appearance.
I have to admit I felt very confident going into the salon with my photo. I knew it was time for a change, I'm getting older and my hair was getting younger (think Laura Ingalls braids). I tried not to listen to the little voice screaming inside my head "You'll look like a boy if you cut it!!". Luckily, my stylist is my sister and I trust her with all my heart. She calmed me down (what was in that tea?) and started to cut.
I had nothing to worry about, that girl ROCKS!!! She made me look even better than Katie Holmes and now I not only look better, I feel better too.
Women of the world, don't let your hair dictate who you are!! Cut it, shave it, let your gray grow out (whoa! I wouldn't really go that far.) don't be afraid to try something new!! Embrace a little bit of change, who knows where it might take you!