random thoughts from a random mind

Jacey Plays Colonial

2009-11-19T08:29:00.006-06:00

Jacey (along with three other students from The First Tee of Fort Worth) was recently invited to play Colonial in a charity event for the United Community Centers. It was an experience watching them play such a historical course. The tournament was a four person scramble and they did very well! They shot 6 under par and had a great time playing! I was really proud of them. They conducted themselves as excellent representatives of The First Tee program. Great job guys!

Here are some pics:

They're Having A Baby!

2009-09-09T14:16:00.001-05:00

Woohoo! I am going to be an aunt!! Not that I don't already have two nieces, but this is my other brother!!!

One Tough Job

2009-08-24T22:42:00.000-05:00

I’ve been thinking lately about how difficult it is to be a mom. We spend our time encouraging our kids in everything, whether it’s trying to get those cute little baby smiles, trying to get them to reach for us when they take their first steps or a “discussion” of how the word can’t does not exist in their vocabulary. We spend so much time encouraging and cheering and saying, “You can do it!” and then they step out on their own and we have to trust that God will see them through. Being a complete control freak, this is something I really struggle with. The only thing I know to do is pray for God’s will and remind myself the entire time that I have to let it go…God is in control.

Fun and Sun at Colonial

2009-06-02T08:04:00.010-05:00

What an experience! We started the week with the Nike Youth Clinic and Radio Disney concert with Savannah Outen. Jacey and Jordan went to both. I will post some pics later as I do not have them on this computer.

On Wednesday morning, Jacey, Mom and I worked the short game area. What a job! It was a lot of hard work, but also a great experience for Jacey. She got to watch the pros practicing their short game and she watched Dave Pelz (the short game guru as I am told) filiming an instructional spot. That afternoon we headed to the 13th hole for Jacey to participate in Caddy Day through The First Tee. She caddied for Hunter Mahan and then decided that she wanted to follow him throughout the tournament. That was a lot of walking over 4 days. My wonderful mom made sure she was able to go all four days. Dad even joined in for three. Here are some pictures of her caddy day experience:

Meeting Hunter Mahan:

The official pose:

Waiting for the group in front to finish:

This is when the city decided to test the tornado alarm:

Teeing off:

Heading for the green:

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-10T19:24:00.009-05:00

We started our day at church and then went to eat lunch. After we got home from eating, Mom and I went to DSW so I could look at purses and shoes. I have a $20 coupon and so far have been unable to find anything I like enough to use the darn thing. We also went to Macy's and Dillard's and left empty handed. Complete waste of time. Oh well!

We did spend part of the afternoon in the back yard with Jacey and the puppy, Valentine. Here are a few pictures of Val's total cuteness!

I know she looks very scruffy, but we have to wait until a week after she has her booster shot to get her groomed. I think she kind of looks like an Ewok right now. What do you think?

And here is a picture of my presents from my sweet daughter! I got a nightshirt, a necklace and a bracelet! Isn't she sweet?!?!

So that was basically my day. How was your's?

Who knew Texas History could be fun?!?!

2009-04-19T20:51:00.017-05:00

On Friday, Jacey's class took a field trip to Fort Richardson in Jacksboro. They were having a re-enactment. Fort Richardson was established after the Civil War (an oxymoron if ever there was one) to try to protect settlers in the region. The coolest display was a quilt that was made up of blocks that were used to communicate on the Underground Railroad. My education when it comes to this area is sorely lacking. How cool is it that they communicated with quilt blocks?

Anyway, here are some pictures that were taken during the day:

This is a picture of the school teacher. She would teach the children at the fort. Did you know that the kids were required to take dictation every day? They also began Algebra in 5th grade.

These guys were set up to make rope. They let each group make a rope sample and take it back to school with them.

These were the school kids eating their lunch outside.

This is a picture of the hospital. This is one of the original buildings.

This is the small cannon they had on site. The large cannon is the one they fired for the re-enactment.

I just thought these kids were so cute in their costumes!

The Texas Camel Corps.

The ruins of the Guard House.

These are soldiers for the re-enactment.

Loading and firing the cannon.

From Tween to Teen

2009-04-04T01:10:00.011-05:00

Jacey turned 13 on March 11th. In honor of her 13 years, she got a total of 13 gifts. No, they were not all large gifts - she got some tees, some ponytail holders and things like that. Mom and I took Jacey and her good friend, KayLeigh, to North Park Mall for a day of shopping. We ate lunch at The Cheesecake Factory and had a great time! Here are some pics from the big day!

Arriving at the mall:

Lunch at The Cheesecake Factory:

The birthday cheesecake:

The serenade:

Mortified:

The cake:

First 18

2009-04-04T00:51:00.006-05:00

These are some pics from Jacey's first game of golf.

Warning: This Post May Cause Envy

2009-02-17T10:52:00.003-06:00

According to Jacey, she got the best Valentine's Day present ever – a miniature schnauzer puppy!!! She named her Valentine and calls her Val. She is absolutely adorable!

And here she is:

Quote for the Day

2009-02-06T07:32:00.002-06:00

"The American people will never knowingly adopt Socialism. But under the name of 'liberalism' they will adopt every fragment of the Socialist program, until one day America will be a Socialist nation, without knowing how it happened." – Norman Thomas (six time U.S. Presidential candidate for the Socialist Party of America)

Who would you be?

2009-02-02T11:44:00.001-06:00

If you could be any person from the Bible (other than Jesus), who would you choose to be and why?

Dedication

2009-01-24T21:13:00.003-06:00

As some of you know, Jacey fell in love with golf this summer when she started taking lessons at The First Tee. They are not having classes for the winter, but they are playing on Saturdays. Today, she and a group of five other kids played four holes in 31 degree weather!! I am so impressed with the dedication they showed. According to their coach, they not only played, but they played without complaining!! Apparently they had a great time! Most of the other parents walked with the kids, but Jacey being Jacey (and this being her first time to really play) told me, "Bye!" Afterwards, one of the dads (thanks Wade!) bought the kids hot chocolate in the club house.

Nothing to Say

2009-01-20T20:42:00.000-06:00

I really have nothing to say right now, but since I haven't blogged in a long time, I thought I might as well write something.

I watched the inauguration at work today and thought it was very interesting. It is a great accomplishment for our country that we finally have an African-American (in the truest sense of the word) as our president. Unfortunately, I disagree with the vast majority of his politics. I have also been pondering the idea of "unity" and I believe this is an impossible task. We are all individuals with varying ideals and beliefs. The only way you can have true unity is if we all believe the same things.

Confession

2008-12-04T12:09:00.000-06:00

In a perfect world I would spend all my free time reading the Bible or talking to people about Jesus and furthering my relationship with Him. Unfortunately, I don’t live in a perfect world. So I plod along and make myself feel better by “doing the best I can.” In actuality, I am not doing my best and I think most times I’m not really trying. When I have time, I spend it in front of the television, reading for entertainment purposes, or occasionally surfing the net. Though it pains me to admit, I devote very little of my “free time” to God. This term alone shows how arrogant we humans are. Our time is not free. Our time belongs to God. Our freedom was purchased at a price. Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice for our gain. His death was the most selfless act ever to occur on this planet. It burdens my heart that we take it for granted.

Food For Thought

2008-12-04T09:57:00.000-06:00

"A prison cell, in which one waits, hopes - and is completely dependent on the fact that the door of freedom has to be opened from the outside, is not a bad picture of Advent." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Quote for the Day

2008-11-26T07:54:00.000-06:00

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. - Winston Churchill

Results :(

2008-09-11T21:26:00.000-05:00

Well, Jacey's tests came back and she has thyroid problems. We have an appointment with the pediatric endocrinologist at the end of October. Her pediatrician has started her on Synthroid. She is not very happy about having to have her blood checked at the end of the month. She doesn't like being stuck with needles. (I can't blame her for that one!)

According to the doctor, she has Hashimoto's Disease. From what I have been able to read, it is an auto-immune disease that beings producing antibodies that attack the thyroid. I would think that maybe this had caused some of her problems this past spring, but her thyroid test was normal in February.

Hopefully after she has been taking the medicine for a while she will not be quite so tired!

More Tests

2008-09-06T12:02:00.001-05:00

Last weekend we were at a family reunion and with the way Jacey was sitting I noticed that her neck looked a little weird. Since this was during our church service, I couldn't just get up and start poking on her neck, so I had to wait until we got back to the hotel room. When I felt her neck, you can trace the outline of her thyroid. So, when the doctor's office opened Tuesday, we made an appointment for her to go see her doctor. He thinks she has a goiter. We were afraid that is what the diagnosis would be. It is possible it could just be inflammation, but I'm not sure how much I think that is possible. And quite honestly, I don't know if that is better or not. Dr. K sent her for blood work (which she loves - can you hear the sarcasm?!?!) to test her thyroid. It was tested in February and it was normal, but so was her neck at that point. So....in the spring we were at the Oncology office at Cooks and this fall we will be at the Endocrinology/Nephrology office at Cooks. Did I mention that I don't enjoy hospitals, especially children's hospitals? If her thyroid is messed up she will probably have to start taking medicine. If not, Dr. K wants her to see an Endocrinologist at least once anyway. This will be the second time we have been through this in my family. My cousin Melanie has thyroid issues and has been through all sorts of testing. I am really not looking forward to this.

Who or What is the God in your life?

2008-08-13T23:02:00.000-05:00

I started working in a Bible Study book tonight called No Other Gods Confronting Your Modern Day Idols. It was written by Kelly Minter. I know absolutely nothing about her, except that this book is hard-core in a very nonchalant way. I actually kind of thought this would be just an interesting and light-hearted look at where we truly put our focus. If I had really thought that through I might not have bought this book. Session One, Day One ends with a note to jot down “any penetrating or new realizations you had.”

Here is what I just wrote in my journal:

The First Commandment is the most important. God is the ultimate power. Everything comes from Him. If our focus in life is not God, then we are only living on the surface. Everything is shallow. There’s no deep meaning because ultimately we are serving ourselves. We have become our own god. (I think I use the term we because it makes me feel like I am not alone in this.)

It’s the last sentence that has really brought me low. To come to the realization that we become so self-absorbed we essentially begin to function as a god in our life. We think we know best – not just for ourselves but for our children as well.

It’s hard to think that what I deem best for my child may not be what God has in store for her. I can say that I want what’s best, but what I am saying is that I really want what I want. I want what I think is best, not what God thinks is best. I am a control freak! I know that and it makes it extremely difficult to turn life over to God.

A Truly Beautiful Love Story

2008-08-05T22:38:00.000-05:00

I printed some information from www.desiringgod.org and was reading it at lunch today. Anyway, I was reading a few verses and became caught up in one in particular. It is 1 Samuel 2:2. The English Standard Version says, “There is none holy like the Lord; there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.” I flipped back a page to read the first verse and noticed the heading is entitled Hannah’s Prayer.

Sidenote – I am always amazed at how much I can remember from some book of fiction that I read a long time ago, but the fact that I have read 1 Samuel before and I don’t remember this prayer really bothered me today.

Anyway, I went to chapter 1 and started reading a beautiful love story. Here’s how it goes:

Hannah was married to Elkanah, but they had no children together. Elkanah had children from another wife named Peninnah. Each year they would go to make their sacrifice to God and each year Elkanah would give portions to Peninnah and her children. But because of his love for Hannah he gave her twice as much. (I’m thinking at least a five pound box of chocolates here!)

Now, Peninnah was not very nice. She made Hanna’s life miserable. She would provoke Hannah and cause her to cry. But Elkanah loved Hannah and would try to cheer her up. (You just have to set aside how you feel about polygamy. I thought this was incredibly sweet.)

So this one time, Hannah went to pray and the priest, Eli, was there and thought that she was drunk because she was praying fervently to herself. Verse 13 says that “…only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard.” Hannah asked God to remember her and give her a son and she would give him to God. Eli actually blesses Hannah in verse 17. He says, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.” (English Standard Version once again.)

And yes, Hannah became pregnant and had a son and named him Samuel. Hannah followed through on the vow she made when she prayed for a son. She took Samuel to Eli where he stayed and ministered. Obviously Hannah being a mom, she never forgot her son. She would take him a robe every year they went to sacrifice. 1 Samuel 2:20 tells us that Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife. He asked God to give Elkanah and Hannah children because of her petition to God. Hannah ended up having three sons and two daughters.(Bet Peninnah didn't pick on her anymore!)

I love this story. Hannah had the courage to pick herself up after being bullied by Peninnah and petition God for what she wanted most – a child. But, the most impressive thing she did was to willingly promise to give her son back to God. Now, here is where I come full circle to what we have been studying at church. We have been talking about prayer. I know that most of my prayers seem to center around what I want or need or think I need. But here is a woman who desperately wants a child and rather than keeping him, she gives him up. Not only does Hannah give up her son, she goes on to say this beautiful prayer in Chapter 2 praising God. Hannah didn’t ask for more children, but she was blessed with them.

In a nutshell:

Hannah longed for a child and asked God to bless her with a son. She asked him for what she truly needed and wanted most and then she willingly returned that gift to God. She gave up the very thing she had most longed for to serve the Lord. And then, instead of railing against God she praised God for who He is and what He does.

I think that is a truly beautiful love story.

Peggy Noonan

2008-08-04T16:20:00.000-05:00

I occasionally read the op ed pieces in The Wall Street Journal. By far my favorite writer is Peggy Noonan. If you have never read anything she has written, you are sorely deprived. She has a very eloquent way of writing. Some people sound pompous and arrogant, but not Ms. Noonan. She has the true gift of being able to paint a picture with words. If you get a chance, read the op ed piece about the Omaha Beach landing that was posted on July 5, 2008, or just go to her website - www.peggynoonan.com.

I Have An Itch

2008-08-04T10:38:00.001-05:00

This is my favorite picture from my trip to the zoo last Wednesday.

A Few Things I've Learned From 10 Hour Days

2008-07-28T21:21:00.001-05:00

These are just a random sampling of some things I have learned from working ten hour days.

1. I don't hate mornings as much as I used to.
2. I love to drink a large cup of coffee on the way to work.
3. I no longer think of needing to get up at 5:00 a.m. as a curse.
4. I really should get up at 4:45 a.m., but I just can't bring myself to.
5. Getting up earlier has not changed the fact that my eyes pop open every morning at 3 a.m. (This is why I can't get out of bed at 4:45. By the time I go back to sleep - forget it!)
6. It's very quiet when I walk outside to get in my car.
7. People aren't usually walking that early in the morning.
8. It is possible to become somewhat of a morning person.
9. It's no longer necessary to get up at 5 a.m. on the weekends to be able to get up during the week.
10. 183 is still backed up with traffic.

But, I think the most amazing thing I have learned is:

11. Sunrise is beautiful! When I leave the house I am driving east and when the sun starts coming up it's like God has taken a paintbrush and painted the most beautiful combination of colors across the sky. And no two days are the same!! It is exquisite and I am truly blessed to see it!

Things I Am Looking Forward To

2008-07-24T22:16:00.000-05:00

These are a few of the things I am looking forward to in the near future:

1. Tomorrow - It's Friday!!!
2. Spending time with Jacey this weekend.
3. Sleeping past 5 a.m.
4. The fall television season. (Particularly Pushing Daisies and CSI)
5. Fall break.
6. Jacey starting back to school.
7. Our family reunion.
8. Reading my Bible. (It's been hard to read at lunch lately!)
9. Wipeout next week. (I'm hoping for Celebrity Wipeout but I don't think it will happen!)
10. Disney World with family and friends!!!
11. Sleeping.
12. The Olympics.
13. Christmas!!
14. Church.

Not necessarily in the above order!!

Golf Lessons

2008-07-10T22:25:00.000-05:00

Jacey went to her first golf camp two weeks ago and fell in love with golf. She called me after the first day and asked me to get her into the actual classes. She has now attended two camps and is in the process of her first set of ten week lessons. She has already asked about attending the Girl's Golf program when it starts. I am so glad that she has found a sport she enjoys. I know that dance is a lot of hard work and is very intense, but I consider it more of an art than a sport. Here are a few pictures that a friend of mine took and sent to me. (Thanks Paula!)

Top 7 Ways To Tell You Are Having A Bad Week

2008-07-01T21:29:00.000-05:00

7. Monday morning you're running late. (It's after a weekend - does this really count?)

6. Your car won't pass inspection because the check engine light is on.

5. You borrow your mom's car to meet your fellow carpooler and leave the lights on and run down the battery. (Thankfully Travis was very nice and came over and jumpstarted the car!)

4. It costs $722.68 to get your car to pass inspection.

3. Your fellow carpooler goes to lunch and has an accident. (The good news is the car was not damaged that badly and noone was hurt!!)

2. You fall down the stairs when leaving the office. (I left purple nail polish skid marks on the stairs!)

and

1. IT'S ONLY TUESDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You can pray I survive the week. I know I will!

High Gas Prices = 40 Hours in 4 Days or I’m Not Sure What Day It Is

2008-06-19T07:43:00.000-05:00

Thanks to high gas prices, one of my co-workers and I started working 10 hours a day this week so that we only have to commute four days. We are alternating driving to help save even more $$ on gas. We meet at 6:15, jump in the other person’s car and off to work we go. We are at the office by 7 a.m. We stay until 6 or if we only take 30 minutes for lunch, 5:30 p.m. It really hasn't been too bad yet. (I think my body may still be in shock as I have always been a night owl!!!)

I always admired (when I didn’t want to strangle them) the people who can get up early in the morning and be happy and chipper and to some of us - annoying. That has never been me! I always tended to be more of a quiet, reflective person in the morning. In fact, sometimes English seems like a foreign language before I have had some caffeine.

However, this week has been different. I haven't minded talking in the morning. I have actually enjoyed getting to work early. I can get things done when it's quiet.

I hope I still feel this way next week and that I am not hating life. I am planning on sticking with the routine on my day off during the week and on the weekends. I think that will make my life easier in the long run.

A Day At The Hospital

2008-05-06T21:27:00.000-05:00

Today was a very long day! This is what I did:

1. Got up and got ready
2. Took Jacey to school
3. Came home and then Mom and I took my car to have the oil changed
4. Came home and got our stuff
5. Took my car to get new tires
6. After leaving my car, I drove Mom and Dad to the hospital
7. Went to two banks
8. Picked Jacey up from school at 1:00 p.m.
9. Went to the hospital to see Dad before his procedure
10. Waited at the hospital

For those of you who don't know, and most of you probably don't, Dad had a heart cath done today. He was scheduled for 3, but got bumped up to 2. I am not the most patient person in the world and it is especially disturbing to sit and wait at the hospital. My younger brother, Kristian, made it to the hospital while Dad was having the procedure done.

We actually received excellent news. Excellent news being relative to the overall picture and what we were afraid we might hear. My dad's heart looks good. He has 20-30% blockages, but nothing to worry about right now. The bad news is that the artery in his leg (the one that is not 100% blocked) is now 70-80% blocked. He will need to have a stint procedure done in a couple of weeks. The exciting news is that they have new technology to try and feed a wire into the blocked artery and attempt to open it up. If that works, he will have major improvement with blood flow! Now, the doctor did say that it was a longshot, but he is going to try. Jerrod and I were talking tonight and we are going to be praying specifically for one little wire to find a way through. The doctor says that if he can get a way in, he can open it up and get it stinted. This should help with Dad's leg pain.

It Was a Beautiful Day

2008-05-03T22:12:00.004-05:00

Today we went to the Dallas Arboretum. I took lots of pictures of Jacey and a few of some flowers. I have to admit that I was disappointed this time. The last time we went was in March several years ago and the tulips were gorgeous! They have just changed out their flowers for their May Flowers exhibit and so everything looked a little dull. But, it was gorgeous weather and the day was spent with family. What could be better? Here are some of the pictures. Let me know what you think.

No trip to the garden would be complete without the serpent. (You will have to click on the picture to actually see the snake.)

Speed Test

2008-05-01T22:33:00.000-05:00

80 words

Speedtest

So, how fast can you type?

The Other 6 Days

2008-04-29T13:43:00.000-05:00

I just found a cool site! It’s www.other6.net. Its premise is that some people find God in church one day a week, but where do you find God the other 6 days? The site lets you post a bubble saying where you have found God today and/or a bubble saying where you need to find God today. It is pretty interesting to read some of the bubbles and see where others find God. So, if you are reading this, you should check it out. They even have a reminder clock you can download to remind you to take time to reflect on finding God.

Happily Frustrated

2008-04-16T16:56:00.000-05:00

The good news is that Jacey's blood tests are normal! The frustration comes from not knowing what is causing her joint pain and breaking out. Dr. K wants to wait until she is better and then proceed with allergy testing. He thinks she either has a hypersensitivity to a virus that she was exposed to that will eventually clear out of her system or she is having some type of allergic reaction. I am leaning towards a food allergy. We know she's allergic to red dye. However, this time she has not had anything that contained red dye. I'm thinking she has developed some kind of sensitivity to something else. So....now we wait for her to get over this outbreak and then do the allergy testing. I hate waiting! Maybe God is trying to teach me patience!

I Hate To Wait!

2008-04-16T14:43:00.000-05:00

I used to rub Jacey’s hands when she was little and she loved it. I started rubbing her left hand last night and she started crying because it was hurting her joints.

We’ve been waiting since Monday for the lab results. When I called the doctor’s office about 2 p.m. I was told that they came in at lunch and they are on Dr. K’s desk. So, now it is just sitting and waiting until he calls. I am hoping they are normal. If they are, we get to do allergy testing. Jacey is just ready to find out what’s wrong. She is tired of hurting and itching and very frustrated.

Here We Go Again

2008-04-14T15:55:00.000-05:00

Jacey went to the doctor today for pain in her left elbow. I know she was in a lot of pain because she kept moaning in her sleep. By the time she got to the doctor’s office she had started breaking out in a rash and her joints were aching. Dr. K sent her for some additional blood tests today. She had not had anything with red dye to cause her to break out. He seems to be focused on the possibility of rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. I hate waiting for test results. He said that if everything looks normal, he will probably do allergy testing. I'm sure she will love that since she hates needles!

New Look & Family Vacation

2008-03-27T10:43:00.001-05:00

I changed the look of the blog in honor of our family vacation. Yes, we have decided to go back to Disney World this year. Jacey is very excited. If everything goes according to plan, we will have a group of nine! We have some friends that are planning to go at the same time and they are taking their three kids. I think Disney is the ultimate place to spend time with family and friends! It is so cool! We are going to try to make an ADR (Disney speak for advanced dining reservation) for breakfast or lunch at Cinderella's Castle this time. Jacey wants to go back to Chef Mickey's again, so we will probably do that. We are going to go in the fall this year, so we are going to attend Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. It's like Boo at the Zoo at the Disney level. They have special decorations and lighting and a parade and trick-or-treating in the park. I have almost finished The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2008. I am about to work my way through Hidden Mickeys. Jacey gave me Hidden Mickeys for my birthday this morning. I will get my new laptop carry-on from Mom and Dad tonight. (Yes, I know what it is, because I picked it out.)

Good Friday

2008-03-20T12:01:00.000-05:00

This picture leaves me speechless.

Life Can Change in a Second - Thankfully Our's Did Not

2008-03-08T19:51:00.000-06:00

I honestly don't think I had ever been as scared as I was from last Tuesday to Friday morning. Jacey's doctor called on Tuesday and said that her white blood cell count had dropped to 2500. He thought it was probably caused by a virus, but wanted to refer her to a specialist for a second opinion and to make sure he wasn't missing something. Of course, the first thing I did was look up low white blood cell count on the Mayoclinic's website. According to the website, it can be caused by viral infections, lupus, some meds, radiation therapy, leukemia, and myelodysplastic syndromes. It also said that a dangerously low white blood cell count is below 2500. Since her level was 2500, I decided to keep her pretty much isolated at home because I did not want her to be exposed to anything else.

Dr. Bowman at the Cook's Hematology and Oncology Clinic worked her in at 8:15 Friday morning. After filling out a very in depth questionnaire, we were taken back and placed in a room where we had more questions from the nurse before we saw the doctor. After examining her, Dr. Bowman said that she appeared healthy, but he wanted to do a blood test so that he could look at her cells under the microscope to make sure they looked okay. He said it would take 30-45 minutes before he had the results and we could wait there or go to Starbucks at the hospital. Of course Jacey chose Starbucks. When we got back we were told to go back to the room she had been in before we left. We probably waited about ten minutes before Dr. Bowman came in and told us that everything looked fine. She did not have leukemia or any cancer and that she was basically a healthy girl. Her white blood cell count was now within the normal range and we did not need to return to the clinic. I was so relieved!!

I hadn't told anyone that I was worried about her having leukemia. When I called my aunt, she said she and my grandmother had both been worried about it and since I hadn't said anything, she didn't want to worry me. She actually teared up after I told her. My grandmother told me that she had been praying about it all week. I don't know think I have ever asked so many people to pray for something before.

I am very thankful that everything was fine. I just can't help but think about the families that aren't given good news. I can't imagine the helpless feeling of being told your child has some terrible disease. How do you hold it together so your child doesn't know how terrified you are? After all, you're the adult and you're supposed to be the strong one. Do you wait to get home and then fall apart in private? I know that everyone deals with things differently, I just thank God that I did not have to find out.

Coolest Gift Ever

2008-02-12T09:51:00.000-06:00

My aunt gave me a digital picture keychain for Christmas. It’s pretty lame that it has taken me almost two months to finally open it and put some photos on it, but I have been busy. (I could continue to whine about how busy I am, but I won’t since everyone else has the same problem!) Anyway, this thing will hold over 60 pictures and it is totally cool! No more feeling like a loser mom because I don’t carry photos in my purse. I just have to remember to keep the battery charged!

Missed It By That Much

2008-02-04T13:45:00.001-06:00

At my latest weigh-in, I had lost a total of 9.4 pounds. I know it's great, but I have to admit I was a little disappointed that I did not get that extra .6 for an even 10 pounds. It's actually very good considering that I did not do that great while waiting for test results. I tend to eat when I'm stressed!

Bad News Can Be Good News

2008-02-04T13:43:00.000-06:00

I have been having some health issues recently. I even had to have my mom drive me to a doctor’s appointment because I was in so much pain!!! I had to have some testing done, which included a sonogram. The sonogram actually showed something. I would normally consider this to be bad news, but considering that if it was negative I would have had to be cut on and scoped, it is actually good news. So, I have started on some medicine and I am hoping to start feeling better soon!

Weight Watch

2008-01-22T09:45:00.000-06:00

I kept up the losing streak last week with a 1.8 pound weight loss. That brings my total for January to 7 pounds!!!

Hannah Montana Concert

2008-01-13T22:42:00.000-06:00

I had not posted anything about this, but Jacey and I had a great time at the Hannah Montana concert. We enjoyed The Jonas Brothers, Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus. It was a great experience! Everywhere you looked were moms and daughters. It was interesting that a lot of the parents with little girls left after Hannah Montana. The tweens and teens stayed through the entire concert.

I have to admit that Miley Cyrus's love of the '80s came through. The neon colors were very prominent. Here are some pictures.

Return to Weight Watchers

2008-01-13T22:36:00.000-06:00

Mom and I started back at Weight Watchers last Sunday. We had our second meeting and first weigh in today. I won't tell you how Mom did, except to say that she definitely had a loss! (Good job!) I actually had a great week. I lost 5.2 pounds!!! (For perspective, that is the equivalent of a bag of sugar!) I think I did great considering I was on Prednisone and trying to make sure I did not eat too much!

So Many Pictures, So Much Memory

2008-01-09T01:41:00.001-06:00

For me, the digital camera is both a blessing and a curse. Some things I love about the digital camera:

1. small enough to fit in my purse and take up little space
2. always ready to use (as long as I remember to check the battery)
3. never worrying about having film
4. a 2GB memory card that holds way more than 48 pictures

Some things I don’t like about the digital camera:

1. it’s so small it gets lost if I’m carrying a big purse
2. forgetting to charge the battery
3. never having the photos printed
4. a 2GB memory card that holds so many pictures that I now have over 500 pictures that have not been printed.

I am having a case of insomnia and decided to make use of my time by downloading the enormous amount of photos from my camera. Then I will need to copy them to a disc, label them and try to get them printed at intervals in the future so that I don’t go broke trying to print all my photos.

I Sometimes Feel Like I Am Repeating School

2007-12-05T10:50:00.000-06:00

I am currently reading The Hound of the Baskervilles. Jacey has a book report that is due next week and this is the book she chose. I am reading the book so that I can make sure she knows what she’s talking about when she writes her report. I know I have read this book before, but it was a VERY LONG TIME AGO as I am now ancient!! It’s a good thing we have kids. It gives us a chance to go back and re-learn everything we have forgotten.

Love-Hate Relationship

2007-10-24T10:07:00.000-05:00

I have this love-hate relationship with DVR. I love that I don’t have to re-program it repeatedly. I love that I don’t have to put in a tape or DVD to record. I love that I can fast forward through the commercials. I love that I can watch something on DVR while I am recording something else. BUT I ABSOLUTELY HATE WHEN IT CUTS OFF AND DOES NOT RECORD ALL OF MY SHOW!!! There is nothing worse than sitting through a television show and then not getting to see the end!! OK, I know that is extremely melodramatic and there are tons of worse things in the world. It just frustrates me!!! Thank you God for giving us the internet! Now I can watch the episode of Samantha Who? on the web!

Prayer Request

2007-10-14T22:21:00.000-05:00

Please pray for my brother, Kristian. He is having surgery tomorrow morning.

Pathetic Blogger Award and Random Things

2007-10-14T22:01:00.000-05:00

I would say I am definitely in the running for the Most Pathetic Blogger Award. I can't believe it's been over two months since I last blogged!!!!

I have a new favorite television show. I absolutely love Pushing Daisies!! If you have not seen this show, you need to watch it this Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. on ABC. If you are not home, set your recorder. I think this show is brilliant! It has the feel of a British comedy, but it's American. The color is great. Sometimes it's dark and sometimes it looks cartoonish -- almost like Edward Scissorhands or Beetlejuice. It is also a new and exciting idea. I love the fact that Ned took his ability to re-animate the dead and used it for monetary gain. This was done in a matter-of-fact manner with absolutely no apology. It cracks me up. I also like watching Kristen Chenoweth. After all, she was in one of my favorite musicals -Wicked.

We are coming up on some busy times at the dance studio. The girls may be perfroming on Saturday, November 3rd, but we are not confirmed yet. After that, we have the Time of Thanks performance on November 10th at Grace. Then we have a dance convention the weekend of November 15th. After that it is time off for Thanksgiving and then time to prepare for Christmas shows. Then it's time to get ready for competition and recital. Sometimes I feel like I have an extremely full plate!

I am definitely in the running for coolest mom. I managed to get tickets to the Hannah Montana concert! Needless to say, my child is thrilled!

We took the girls to the Revolve Tour again this year. I really enjoy going to this with my daughter. There are great messages, drama and music. We got to see Hawk Nelson this year. We saw them in concert last year with Jeremy Camp the Saturday after Revolve. They are a lot of fun.

Remarkable People

2007-08-07T13:28:00.000-05:00

Sometimes it takes a great tragedy in life to discover a truly remarkable person. Our secretary at work is such a person. I've always admired her quick wit and perspective in life. I love to be around happy people and people that make me laugh. She falls into both categories.

You know when the telephone rings after midnight that it is not good news. When I saw her cell phone number, I automatically assumed her mother had fallen or passed away since she has Alzheimer's. Nothing prepares you for the death of a child. As a parent, you are supposed to die first -- at least that's how we all think it will happen. She found out yesterday evening that is not always the case. Her twenty-two year old son had been found dead. There are simply no words of comfort at a time like this. All I could do was tell her how sorry I was, that I love her and that if she needs anything, just let me know. So, I pray for her to find peace and comfort in a time of unbelieveable sorrow.

When I called to check on her this morning, she actually made a few jokes. She also says that she knows he's in a better place. I only hope that if faced with such a tragedy, I could be half as strong as she has been.

Finally Finished!!!

2007-07-27T16:51:00.000-05:00

I just finished the 7th and final Harry Potter book. I was very pleased with the way the series wrapped up. I had been concerned that I might feel let down at the end, but I loved it! Now it is time to go back, start the series over, and read from Book 1 to Book 7 without waiting years between books! I also need to see the 5th movie. I normally see it on opening day, but I have not seen it yet. Hopefully things will slow down a little and Jacey and I can go see it.

Mom Update

2007-07-27T16:40:00.001-05:00

Mom came home from the hospital today. She is still feeling under the weather, but all in all things went okay.

Prayer Request

2007-07-18T18:02:00.001-05:00

OK. Keeping it short today. Mom is scheduled for surgery next Wednesday, so please keep her in your prayers.

You can also keep the company party in your prayers. 15 girls in close quarters for 15 hours can result in problems. Although, they will probably be so busy they won't have issues.

No Rain Today - Just Praise

2007-07-07T21:20:00.001-05:00

I have tried not to complain about all the rain. I keep thinking about how bad it was last summer. I have even tried not to complain when it takes two hours to get from my office in Carrollton to the studio in River Oaks. I have to admit that I was sick of the rain, but I really enjoyed the cooler weather.

I also have to lift up some praise because we were not in Las Vegas when the man started shooting in New York New York. Mom, Jacey and I hung out on the midway while Jacey played games, so we would not have been in the line of fire. However, I would not have wanted to be in the complete pandemonium of trying to get out of that casino. Thank God for off-duty police officers and soldiers!!

Vegas Vacation

2007-06-24T22:38:00.000-05:00

We are back home from Vegas. We had a great trip. Jacey is officially a Junior Ranger at Red Rock Canyon. She has the certificate and badge to prove it. This is a picture of her swearing in ceremony.

Jacey took some great pictures of the volcano erupting at The Mirage. Here is one that she took:

We visited the Hard Rock Cafe and Jacey got a really cool shirt and some guitar picks. She also got some guitar picks at Toby Keith's I Love This Bar and Grill. We watched the fountains at Bellagio a couple of times - one time to Sinatra. That was pretty cool! Old school Vegas music!

Jacey's favorite things were the lazy river and wave pool at the Monte Carlo, playing on the midway at New York New York and riding around in the convertible with the top down. We saw the Masquerade in the Sky at The Rio and between all of us we caught 8 sets of beads. We also saw Lance Burton. He was fantastic! I highly recommend seeing his show. A great magician!

Jacey's ultimate souvenir this time was a purse she bought from Juicy Couture. She spent her birthday money on the purse. She had been saving for a laptop, but decided to splurge on a purse instead. I think it had something to do with me saying she can't access the internet in her room. She has to be in the room with an adult if she is online. Here's a picture of her with her bags from Juicy.

Tomorrow I go back to work and I am actually looking forward to it. That's kind of weird! Especially since it's two jobs. What a life!

Recital Accomplished

2007-06-13T23:14:00.001-05:00

We made it through recital and I have to say that our dancers were fabulous!!! They looked relaxed and like they were having a great time! It's so much fun to watch them perform when they are not stressed out and they are just having a good time! It's neat to see how much they have come to care for one another. They cheered and yelled from backstage while their friends were dancing. It makes you realize how important it is for them to develop good relationships and be able to truly fellowship with one another. Jennifer and I were talking today about trying to plan more outings with the girls. We want all of the company members to mix and mingle and develop closer relationships. We also want the older girls to develop more mentoring abilities in relation to the younger girls. We are also thinking of asking some of the parents to start a prayer team so they can pray for specific areas of the dance ministry. That's something that we need desperately!!!

Now that I've survived recital, I am moving on to planning for vacation. I am so excited to be going. I plan to do a lot of relaxing. (I probably just jinxed myself!)

Total Exhaustion

2007-06-11T15:24:00.001-05:00

I finally reached my breaking point at 12:30 last night. After surviving on just a few hours of sleep each night, I could not take it anymore. I have been working feverishly on editing a video to run during each of our recital performances. I have finished the first (unless I find mistakes or make more work for myself and decide to add music or make more edits) and I only have a few minor changes to the second video. I can honestly say that I don’t remember ever being this tired in my life. One of my co-workers asked me if I was sick today. I hope that everyone enjoys the video and the work is worth it. My goal is to make someone need tissue.

Randomly Thinking

2007-05-29T16:43:00.000-05:00

I haven't blogged in so long, I'm not sure I remember how. We are now in the homestretch for finishing out the "takeover in the middle of the year" at the dance studio. We have recital coming up and then we get to take a week off. I have to get started on the video to play before and during recital. I am very excited about it. We have downloaded some really cool videos from sermonspice.com.

We have decided to go to Las Vegas for vacation this summer. We are staying at a hotel that has a swimming pool, wave pool, and lazy river. I am planning to take Jacey to Red Rock Canyon and Valley of Fire this time around. It should be a fun drive since we are renting a convertible! We may go see Lance Burton. Mom and Dad have seen him before and they think he is a fabulous magician! I have talked Jacey into going to the Liberace museum. I think it will be hysterical to go look at all of the sparkly stuff in the museum! We will be eating at In-N-Out Burger. I love that place. They have the best french fries!! I think it has to do with them being cut fresh everyday. I also think it's interesting that they have Bible verses on some of their containers.

Fabulously Wicked

2007-05-01T09:17:00.000-05:00

We went to see the musical Wicked on Sunday night at Fair Park Music Hall. It was AWESOME!!! Jacey and I both loved it. I love to see creativity and this is such a clever idea. It is the back story of the witches from The Wizard of Oz. You learn why Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) is green, why the shoes are so important to her, why the lion is cowardly, the scarecrow has no brain and the tin man has no heart, how and why the monkeys came to fly, and lots of other tidbits of information. I think Gregory Maguire is a creative genius and I will have to read some of his books. He has a sequel to Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (the book the musical is based on) entitled Son of A Witch and a book based on Cinderella called Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister. We had to listen to the soundtrack on the way home from the dance studio lastnight so that Jacey could sing along with her favorite songs.

Step One - Admit You Have a Problem

2007-04-28T22:59:00.002-05:00

I admit it. I am a wootaholic!! This is an epidemic spreading throughout my office. We love woot.com. One of the first questions asked in our office is, "What's on woot?" Granted we don't love all of their products, in fact we don't even understand what some of the products are (we're not techies) - but we love to read the copy these guys write about the product being sold. They crack us up!

Heaven forbid they start having woot-offs every day. I don't think we got much done Thursday or Friday because we kept having to see what the next product in the woot-off would be. It is driving me insane!!!

Hunger 101 Class

2007-04-15T23:34:00.000-05:00

We had the Hunger 101 class at the studio Saturday morning. I hope it made an impression on the girls. The class is taught through role playing. The older girls led the younger girls. They were given a sheet telling them about their family and how much money they made each month and their total expenses. They had to fill out a budget sheet and figure out how much money (if any) they had for food per day. They each had to decide where to go to seek help. There were five different stations: a food stamp office, a bus stop, a food pantry, a community kitchen, and a grocery store. The goal was to provide 1600 calories per person for each family. Needless to say, the majority of the families were not able to make it to the goal.

Do you think there is ever a good reason not to help someone by giving them food? My daughter says no and I happen to agree with her. It is an interesting question because one of the scenarios was a family that made a lot of money, but spent well beyond their means. Obviously they needed a budget overhaul, but does that mean they don't deserve help?

Easter Sunday Services

2007-04-10T22:35:00.000-05:00

Below are some pictures from the Easter Sunday services at Grace.

These pictures are from the drama performed by Dale, Sherri, George, Jacey, Cheryl, and Valerie.

Snow in April?!?!?!

2007-04-10T22:07:00.000-05:00

Here are some pics from Blum, Texas on Saturday, April 7, 2007. Can you believe there was actually snow on the ground?

Grace Performance

2007-04-04T09:26:00.000-05:00

The girls danced at Grace Baptist Church this Sunday. The seniors danced to a live version of Labor of Love sung by Sarah and Clayton. Here are a few of the pics:

Ramblings

2007-04-03T16:39:00.000-05:00

I saw Blades of Glory this weekend. The movie was hysterical!!! The lady next to me actually snorted. I was relieved, because I didn’t think Talladega Nights was very funny. Maybe it was the Nascar aspect. I want to see Meet the Robinsons - love the T-Rex in the commercial. I can’t wait for Pirates 3 and the next Harry Potter installment (movie and book). When the last Harry Potter movie came out, Jacey thought I was the coolest mom ever. I pre-purchased our tickets online, picked her up early from school but late enough she was not counted absent and then we went to see the movie. She thought that was awesome. I racked up some serious points in the mom department that day. Too bad she doesn’t remember that when she wants something and I say No!

Home Improvement

2007-03-26T23:52:00.001-05:00

I actually amazed myself this weekend. I repaired a hole in the bathroom wall. This was no small accomplishment considering that it involved making a corner. (Special thanks to the gentleman at Home Depot that gave me some pointers!!!) I repaired the hole and then painted the bathroom. I used Marmalade (a light orange) and Aurora Orange (a deep orange). Most of the bathroom is the light orange. The area behind the toilet and above the bathtub are painted the darker orange. It looks really cool! The paint made a huge difference in the lighting. It went from being a bright white light to looking more amber. I still need to paint the trim and the door (they will be Polar Bear - a fancy name for white) and then decide if I want to paint the cabinets. I am going to paint magnetic paint on the door and then paint over it in the white. That way I can use little metal containers on the door. (This is a great idea for a kid's room).

Giving Back

2007-03-14T20:49:00.000-05:00

I have to say how proud I am of all the students at the dance studio. We had a canned food drive for the month of February and they donated a total of 401 non-perishable food items!!!! How awesome is that?!?!

We are in the process of trying to partner with an organization on a long-term basis. We are just waiting on the woman to return from vacation and get back with Jennifer. We both want to give back to the community. We have been amazingly blessed and want to spread those blessings to others. We also want the company members to learn to volunteer and help out in the community. We want them to learn what it means to truly serve others from your heart. After all, spending money on a gift for someone is easy, but giving of yourself can be difficult.

Further Evidence of Intelligence

2007-03-09T17:55:00.000-06:00

Jacey scored an Excellent at Math Olympics today and placed 4th overall in fifth grade computation. She was the only one from her school to receive a placement ribbon!

Science Fair Results

2007-03-08T17:25:00.000-06:00

Can't believe I didn't post this earlier. Superior ribbon and a silver medal!!! What a smart child I have!

Completely Disgusted

2007-03-05T23:07:00.000-06:00

We had the dance competition this weekend. I really thought that I was beyond shock. I mean, two years ago I watched children dancing in fishnet hose and bras and panties literally purchased from a lingerie store. I've had to re-think my prior stance on that routine. After all, it was a broadway style routine and at least the dance movements were appropriate. This weekend was a new low. I saw a hip hop routine performed by 16-17 year old girls where they danced in high-heeled shoes, slapped each other on the rear -- there were so many sexual overtones to this routine I can't even begin to put it into words. I honestly watched the routine with my hand over my mouth. One of the other mom's in our group asked me if I thought they would eventually put a pole on stage and have an exotic dance category. But, as bad as this routine was, nothing could top the following:

Picture the 6 & under category: Cute little girls in their dance costumes with their hair pulled up in bows and all excited about dancing in the competition. Now, imagine those same little cutie pies doing sexually suggestive movements straight out of a hip hop video while their parents are in the audience making cat calls. Or, how about one of those same little girls standing on a box (meant to be a stage) and gyrating while the rest of the girls in the group surround the box with their rears to the audience shaking it for all their worth. I really hope that my disgust is being conveyed.

When the judges reward these types of dances (and believe me they did) and their parents are acting that way, what are these children learning? Maybe I'm taking it out of context or blowing it out of proportion, but this really bothered me. I firmly believe it's a statement of the lack of morality of people today. Everyone seems to be so concerned with winning or getting more that they don't care what it costs in terms of their emotional or moral well-being. How is getting a high score at a dance competition or in anything else enough to sexually exploit your child? That's what this weekend was all about - the sexual exploitation of children in the name of dance.

The same mom that made the joke about the stripper pole made a very poignant remark about these parents. She said, "How sad is it that their parents don't love them enough to say no?"

All Stressed Out and No One to Choke

2007-02-28T15:51:00.000-06:00

I know I haven’t blogged in a while and I am feeling the pressure. Clayton – It’s all your fault!!! Since you linked to my blog, I feel I have to make an effort.

I am STRESSED OUT!!! Jace has dance competition this Saturday. She was sick and went to the doctor last Thursday. He decided she was on the downside of the flu and had a sinus infection and gave her antibiotics. Saturday night and Sunday she broke out in hives. I think it was a reaction to the antibiotics. Sunday night she started complaining with chest and back pain and difficulty breathing. I succeeded in not completely losing it and taking her to the ER that night, but made her go back to the doctor first thing Monday. She had pleurisy. We started giving her anti-inflammatory medicine and she felt better. She went to dance yesterday to work on her solo and rolled her ankle. She got up this morning and it was swollen and bothering her. We had to ice it before she went to school. I’ve had enough stress right now!!

Sick and Tired

2007-02-22T17:24:00.000-06:00

Having a sick child is the pits. Being completely helpless to make your child feel better is a horrible feeling. She hasn’t slept well. She’s moaned in her sleep and coughed all night. I’m hoping this is the end of the illness!!! The doctor thinks she had a case of the flu and has a sinus infection. She’s worn out and has competition next weekend.

Wicked - Here we come!

2007-02-19T09:53:00.000-06:00

I actually snagged tickets to go see Wicked!!!!! Jace was so excited. We have the soundtrack and she loves it!! I called her Friday after I bought the tickets and after her stunned silence, she yelled, “When are we going?” There are only a couple of things bothering me about the tickets. First, we are going on a Sunday night when she is still in school and second, they are in the nosebleed section. Oh well, that’s why God invented binoculars.

Look In Your Own Backyard

2007-02-15T16:58:00.000-06:00

Sometimes you find the hungry in your own neighborhood. In doing a canned food drive at the dance studio where I am co-owner, I found out that the Tarrant Area Food Bank has a program called Backpacks for Kids. This program packs kid friendly snacks in backpacks and distributes them to 12 sites in 3 counties. The schools are chosen if 80% or more of their kids are eligible for free or reduced-cost meals. Nine of the schools are in Tarrant County. (You can find this information on the food bank’s website.) The backpacks are distributed to a child for the weekend and then returned to the school on Monday. They make sure that the backpacks are distributed in private to save the children from being embarrassed. Sometimes I think we get so caught up in the plight of people in foreign countries that we forget that we have people with needs in our own.

Take Care Of What You've Been Given

2007-02-13T13:55:00.000-06:00

I’m really tired of the whole Global Warming argument. I’m not sure what to think about the climate change issue. I do think that some people have taken to Global Warming as though it’s a new religion. They walk around preaching their newfound gospel as though it paves their way to heaven.

As a Christian, I find the arrogance of science to be disconcerting. Scientific theories are just that – theories. They are not infallible. Only God is infallible. Only God knows what he has in store for us. God spoke the world into existence. He created this beautiful planet and gave it to mankind to tend. The ultimate issue is not whether Global Warming exists. It’s simply mankind living up to the duty and responsibility of taking care of the planet God gave us.

Cool Your Jets Perry

2007-02-10T22:09:00.000-06:00

I've been disgusted with politics for quite a while now. I avoid the news like the plague. I don't care which party you belong to anymore, I am disgusted with the entire process. Take the new Texas Governor mandate that as of September 2008, all girls entering the sixth grade are required to receive the Gardasil vaccine to prevent cervical cancer. I have a daughter that will be entering sixth grade in September 2008. I am definitely going to have to research this issue, but more than likely I will be opting out. I have a child that is EXTREMELY sensitive to medications. She has broken out in rashes after taking other vaccines, she's allergic to red dye, and after taking ibuprofen since she was very small, she has developed an allergy to that medication. I am not about to give my child a vaccine that has only been approved since June of 2006.

Of course, I am extremely suspect of the motives behind Governor Perry's reasons for issuing an exectuve order. The Associated Press article of Feb. 3, 2007, by Liz Austin Peterson (http://www.salon.com/wire/ap/archive.html?wire=D8N1RSSG2.html) points out the following:

Merck doubled their lobbying budget in Texas and funneled money through Women in Government.
Mike Toomey, one of Merck's three Texas lobbyists, was Perry's former chief of staff.
TexasRepresentative Dianne White Delisi, Perry's current chief of staff's mother-in-law is a state director for Women in Government.
Merck's PAC (political action committee) gave $6,000 to Perry's re-election campaign.

Now, I'm no math whiz, but at a cost of $360 per child for the three shot series, with just the amount of students in Texas (which I was not able to find), that is one serious chunk of change in Merck's pocket. Based on his order, you are looking at all girls in Texas from between the ages of 9 and 21. Imagine that on a 50 state scale. Merck stands to make BILLIONS from this vaccine.

Now, I am not opposed to the idea of a vaccine that prevents cancer. I think it's a wonderful progress in modern medine, if it actually does what they are saying it does. I do have some questions. For instance:

Is it a permanent cure or is it's effectiveness going to eventually wear off?
If it's effectiveness wears off, will there be any sideeffects of revaccination?
How often would revaccination be required?
How do we know the virus isn't going to mutate and then we're back to square one? (After all isn't the flu shot just a best guess at which strain is going to be the strongest?)
Do we know the actual success rate yet? The chicken pox vaccine hasn't been completely successful. Some kids still end up with a mild case of chicken pox. But is there such a thing as a mild case of cervical cancer?

Anyway, it's late and I will get off my soapbox now.

Blast From The Past

2007-02-09T13:59:00.000-06:00

We are having an 80's banquet at church tonight. I am bringing a friend of mine from work. She thought it sounded like fun. So, to "get into the groove" (Madonna reference) I have been listening to I Love the 80's on vh1.com radio. I am currently listening to Oingo Boingo (no, I did not make up the name) singing Weird Science. Hopefully there will be lots of funny skits and interesting outfits. I am going for the layered look with neon pink accessories. I even have a pair of hideous flats that look like I pulled them from the depths of my closet where the dust bunnies hide. I didn't, but they look genuine. What's scary is that they are actually a new pair of shoes. Very cheap shoes, but new. When did I become so old that the styles I wore in school are now considered "Vintage" and the music I listened to is considered "Classic?" I really don't feel that old!!

Put Yourself In Their Shoes

2007-02-06T22:03:00.000-06:00

I have gotten to where I hate to watch the news. As a society we seem to be intent on enjoying the misery and heartache of others. Just look at the current item of interest. I suppose it makes for good ratings, but this is really about the destruction of a family. Lisa Nowak is a married mother of three. With one event, she has caused untold pain and embarassment to her family and to herself. Her family still has to go out in public. They have to go about their daily activities now living inside a fishbowl. I personally do not find this to be entertaining. I think it's heartbreaking. Maybe if we tried to be more compassionate and loving to one another, the world as we know it would be a much better place.

I Love Monty

2006-12-19T15:07:00.000-06:00

We were talking about Monty Python and The Holy Grail a little while ago. I love that movie. I definitely need it on DVD so I can watch it again! Had it on VHS - what a waste! Some of my favorite lines (in no particular order):

"It's just a flesh wound." - The Black Knight

"Help! Help! I'm being repressed." - The anarchosyndicalist woman named Dennis

"I'm invincible!" - The Black Knight
"You're a loony!" - King Arthur

"Bring out your dead!" - The Dead Collector
"I feel happy! I feel happy!" - The undead man being collected who then gets conked on the head and carted off by the dead collector

Anyway, it's a very funny movie! If you have not seen it, I highly recommend it.

Panic Time

2006-12-18T17:20:00.000-06:00

Well, I am about to have a complete meltdown because I haven't finished my Christmas shopping. I hate running around and being constantly on the go for the holidays. I know I shouldn't be that way, but that's how I feel. I'm thinking this blogging thing may not be for me. I really have nothing to say.

my first blog

2006-12-14T11:22:00.000-06:00

OK, so the title may not be original, but it is definitely true.

So, I'm thinking today that being a kid attending church service with your parents must really stink (pardon the pun). I mean, I can't imagine what it must be like staring at people's butts while doing praise and worship.