The following link is how I feel about the end of 2007. You need to open a new browser page, click on the link, and listen while you read my final post of 2007. It will put you in the right, Zen state of mind. I also think you'll like it.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=51867410
I'm not the queen of interpersonal skills (empathy, sensitivity, patience, etc) but I have always been one to expose my intrapersonal skills. And by these I mean reflection, growth, pondering, analyzing. Let's just be honest: overanalyzing.
The dawn of a new year means so much to me in the intrapersonal realm. I love watching montages on New Year's Eve that run rampant. You can find these montages on early morning television, music videos, local TV, notable people deaths, and New Year's countdown shows. I like to think of my past year as one big montage...examining the highs and lows. I think it's healthy. No year is perfect. No one is perfect. No life is perfect. I bet each one of us had a low this year...and hopefuly several, immeasurable highs. I know I did.
Each new year brings the expected personal resolutions one might have such as floss more often, organize the finances (um, perhaps a real strong idea what with the impending home-ownership and all) and do bills online, exercise patience and kindness more often with others, start a new workout regime, and/or read more. Those aren't all mine...I'm just saying.
I love how each new year brings excitement that is equivalent with a new school year. Do you remember that? Sharpened pencils, a new Trapper Keeper, perhaps an eraseable pen. It held so much promise. And that school year likely went the same way as the previous ones did. This was neither good or bad...just as it should be.
I say this because there is so much promise this year. Likely, it will measure up to the years before it...and that's a good thing! Life is what we make it. Life rewards us for what we put into it: how hard we work, how we treat others, the ways in which we grow and strengthen ourselves.
Well...as for me...I am blessed. As I welcome 2008 for many different reasons, I recall the blessings and graces I was afforded in 2007. Life gave me lemonade and I can't imagine why.
Don't question it...just be thankful and drink and be merry.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Monday, December 31, 2007
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Recap. It's just that good.
With the excessive family exposure, I have not found the time...read: 'energy' to replace 'time' since all of my energy has been sucked from me to remain lucid in mind...to blog. I'll do a quick lil' recap of the last several days. I know you're excited. I can sense it.
Wednesday: 26th, travel to Lubbock in the car with my parents and Grandma for 6 hours. MOMENTS before we get in the car, Grandma threw up...correction, "upchucked"...into the kitchen sink in large quantity. I heard about the "upchucking" for the next six hours. Nuff said.
Thursday: 27th, day spent with my Grandmother in her hot-box apartment. It was 34 degrees outside, and windy, and I swear that if I held a cookie sheet with buscuits on it, they would have baked in her 99 degree apartment. Wow. Highlight of the day was eating in the dining room with near-centenarians...Ruth, Inez, Elizabeth, and Iva. Are those not old lady names or what? Well, except Elizabeth. She was the 'with it' one. She told us about her 19-year-old granddaughter who had a 1-year-old, 2-year-old, AND 3-year-old. My dad remarked, "She must be busy!" and I think he was referring to being busy with motherhood...I contend that she is 'busy' doing something else. Sounds like Elizabeth needed to give her granddaughter a chastity belt for Christmas. Inez is a 91 year old retired social worker that was never married and was NOT wearing a bra. I raised an eyebrow on all accounts and would never like to see that image run through my mind again. Blech. Ruth WAS AWESOME. She was a spry 88 or so and she was telling us all about the family cattle farm. She had the best attitude of any old person I have ever seen. She was so optimistic and bubbly and clever. Quite refreshing from the other ladies asking "What?" since they couldn't hear and needed me to repeat. Anyway, Ruth received compliments on her lovely jacket and I told her that with such compliments from the gentlemen, she should wear it more often. That lady looked me square in the eye and said, "YOU BET CHA!" She was a firecracker no doubt!
Friday: 28th, Sweet release of traveling in the car 6 hours back home. I need to state now that I don't enjoy making that yearly trip....it is physically and mentally exhausting, though I can truly appreciate the time with family and my heritage. Lots of people don't know where they got their cotton shirt but I know second-hand life on a cotton farm. I learn more about bales and picking and modules every time I travel through West Texas and I have such an appreciation for it. It is truly a science and not for the weak. Anywho...on the car ride back, I busied myself by reading a book my uncle gave me the entire way and it was glorious. We stopped at Dairy Queen in an itty-bitty town. It smelled like grease and feet and it was just as it should be in the world. I love that. We had beef jerky in the car. Again, just as it should be when you travel. After going to Lubbock (and driving north to a teeny hometown where cotton farms and gins are in my heritage), I always get a bit nostalgic and ask my Grandmother and parents questions about life before me. So, in the car, I started asking my mom, "What exactly made you fall for dad, seeing as how he came from this tiny town of dirt and they were cotton farmers?" She got a twinkle in her eye and said, "Well, he was Mr. AHS so I figured he'd be pretty good." Mr. AHS was apparently tops back in 1967 and my dad was The Man. Apparently. ;) My dad took that opportunity to interject and tell me the differences between his high school graduating class of 60 people and my class of roughly 750. As if those need to be enumerated. My favorite part was when he told me about fund-raisers. "You know how y'all raised money to go on basketball trips by having car washes?" "Yes sir." "Well, in Abernathy, the cheerleaders would raise money by going out to ho."
Wait for it.
There were no words. The look on my face was a mixture of complete fear and awe. I vaguely remember that my aunt was a cheerleader there. Poor thing. My dad immediately associated my look of horror with his words and he rephrased it, "They would go out in the fields and HOE. To help the farmers." Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh. So much clearer now. We laughed the entire way home.
Friday ended with me realizing that I had spent A LOT of family time in the last 6 days and I was ready for 'me time.' I got home at 5:45 and immediately went for a run...late, dark, and about 45 degrees. It was glorious, glorious ME TIME.
Saturday: 29th, Let's remember the Alamo, but not the bowl. So unfortunate. Highlight of this day was seeing dear, dear friends and laughing and sharing. Pure rejuvination for my soul.
Sunday: 30th, Great breakfast with friends and my parents where we told stories of old (well...the ye olden days of college which was 5-8 years ago) and we laughed. Went to see my new house. Goodbye hugs and promises...though not insubstantial...to remain in better contact and see each other more often. I am reminded of the generous gift of friendship that God gave me in these fantastic people and what they mean to my life. Then I ran 8.5 miles, got a tan in the 72 degree December 30th weather (um, question mark), and I now want to saw off my big toe and pointer toe (is that the anatomically correct term?) on my right foot. From all of the running, I got an ingrown toenail and huge blister on the neighboring toe from the bandages and the long-distance running. This is the time of training that I want to give up. I feel like Ruth or Inez trying to run...this 27-year-old body is wearing out. The hip, toes, knee, and right trapezius mock me in my futile attempts. I have taken Extra Strength Tylenol and had two glasses of wine and I have a full belly and didn't sleep well last night. I'm pretty sure I'm going to turn off the computer in just a sec and pass out.
Maybe I'll wake up in 2008.
I'll write tomorrow with sage reflection on the year 2007. Again...I can sense your excitement.
Wednesday: 26th, travel to Lubbock in the car with my parents and Grandma for 6 hours. MOMENTS before we get in the car, Grandma threw up...correction, "upchucked"...into the kitchen sink in large quantity. I heard about the "upchucking" for the next six hours. Nuff said.
Thursday: 27th, day spent with my Grandmother in her hot-box apartment. It was 34 degrees outside, and windy, and I swear that if I held a cookie sheet with buscuits on it, they would have baked in her 99 degree apartment. Wow. Highlight of the day was eating in the dining room with near-centenarians...Ruth, Inez, Elizabeth, and Iva. Are those not old lady names or what? Well, except Elizabeth. She was the 'with it' one. She told us about her 19-year-old granddaughter who had a 1-year-old, 2-year-old, AND 3-year-old. My dad remarked, "She must be busy!" and I think he was referring to being busy with motherhood...I contend that she is 'busy' doing something else. Sounds like Elizabeth needed to give her granddaughter a chastity belt for Christmas. Inez is a 91 year old retired social worker that was never married and was NOT wearing a bra. I raised an eyebrow on all accounts and would never like to see that image run through my mind again. Blech. Ruth WAS AWESOME. She was a spry 88 or so and she was telling us all about the family cattle farm. She had the best attitude of any old person I have ever seen. She was so optimistic and bubbly and clever. Quite refreshing from the other ladies asking "What?" since they couldn't hear and needed me to repeat. Anyway, Ruth received compliments on her lovely jacket and I told her that with such compliments from the gentlemen, she should wear it more often. That lady looked me square in the eye and said, "YOU BET CHA!" She was a firecracker no doubt!
Friday: 28th, Sweet release of traveling in the car 6 hours back home. I need to state now that I don't enjoy making that yearly trip....it is physically and mentally exhausting, though I can truly appreciate the time with family and my heritage. Lots of people don't know where they got their cotton shirt but I know second-hand life on a cotton farm. I learn more about bales and picking and modules every time I travel through West Texas and I have such an appreciation for it. It is truly a science and not for the weak. Anywho...on the car ride back, I busied myself by reading a book my uncle gave me the entire way and it was glorious. We stopped at Dairy Queen in an itty-bitty town. It smelled like grease and feet and it was just as it should be in the world. I love that. We had beef jerky in the car. Again, just as it should be when you travel. After going to Lubbock (and driving north to a teeny hometown where cotton farms and gins are in my heritage), I always get a bit nostalgic and ask my Grandmother and parents questions about life before me. So, in the car, I started asking my mom, "What exactly made you fall for dad, seeing as how he came from this tiny town of dirt and they were cotton farmers?" She got a twinkle in her eye and said, "Well, he was Mr. AHS so I figured he'd be pretty good." Mr. AHS was apparently tops back in 1967 and my dad was The Man. Apparently. ;) My dad took that opportunity to interject and tell me the differences between his high school graduating class of 60 people and my class of roughly 750. As if those need to be enumerated. My favorite part was when he told me about fund-raisers. "You know how y'all raised money to go on basketball trips by having car washes?" "Yes sir." "Well, in Abernathy, the cheerleaders would raise money by going out to ho."
Wait for it.
There were no words. The look on my face was a mixture of complete fear and awe. I vaguely remember that my aunt was a cheerleader there. Poor thing. My dad immediately associated my look of horror with his words and he rephrased it, "They would go out in the fields and HOE. To help the farmers." Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh. So much clearer now. We laughed the entire way home.
Friday ended with me realizing that I had spent A LOT of family time in the last 6 days and I was ready for 'me time.' I got home at 5:45 and immediately went for a run...late, dark, and about 45 degrees. It was glorious, glorious ME TIME.
Saturday: 29th, Let's remember the Alamo, but not the bowl. So unfortunate. Highlight of this day was seeing dear, dear friends and laughing and sharing. Pure rejuvination for my soul.
Sunday: 30th, Great breakfast with friends and my parents where we told stories of old (well...the ye olden days of college which was 5-8 years ago) and we laughed. Went to see my new house. Goodbye hugs and promises...though not insubstantial...to remain in better contact and see each other more often. I am reminded of the generous gift of friendship that God gave me in these fantastic people and what they mean to my life. Then I ran 8.5 miles, got a tan in the 72 degree December 30th weather (um, question mark), and I now want to saw off my big toe and pointer toe (is that the anatomically correct term?) on my right foot. From all of the running, I got an ingrown toenail and huge blister on the neighboring toe from the bandages and the long-distance running. This is the time of training that I want to give up. I feel like Ruth or Inez trying to run...this 27-year-old body is wearing out. The hip, toes, knee, and right trapezius mock me in my futile attempts. I have taken Extra Strength Tylenol and had two glasses of wine and I have a full belly and didn't sleep well last night. I'm pretty sure I'm going to turn off the computer in just a sec and pass out.
Maybe I'll wake up in 2008.
I'll write tomorrow with sage reflection on the year 2007. Again...I can sense your excitement.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
I'm Dreaming of a Quiet Christmas...
I should be spending precious time with family or puting away gifts or helping clean the kitchen. I shouldn't be blogging because surely, SURELY, there are things I'd rather be doing.
Nope. Guess again.
Writing on the blog is a sweet escape from my family and endless questions and repeating myself for clarification. No less than 92 times.
I begged my sister-in-law not to leave me today to go back to her house. She and I just have an understanding. Or perhaps it's our special ability listen and pay attention to each other. It's what normal people do. Apparently, this concept is lost on the rest of our family come Christmas-time.
Grandma got here at 3:55 and I logged a SOLID 45 minutes of patience before I was exasperated. It's just the constate state of confusion and interrupting that makes me want to stuff silver bells in my ears. All I wanted for Christmas was a Silent Night.
I told Grandma...God bless her...about my new home purchase and she quickly reverted to the converstaion of what my parents will be called with their impending grandparenthood. I took the hint that this was a more important topic. My sweet father tried to lighten the mood and bring the attention back to me by saying, "Well Grandma, *our daughter* has some other news...she's expecting!" I spent the better part of the afternoon trying to convince my grandma of this fact...for pure kicks and giggles...and it was funny for a while until she said, "I don't believe that for one minute. I thought you'd have more exciting news, such as you're dating some nice man and you're expecting a ring."
Nope. Guess again.
The questions from all parties continued and this fact wouldn't bother me as much if I had any certainty that any member of my family other than my sister-in-law could retain pertinent information for longer than 60 seconds. But they can't.
Nothing says Merry Christmas like inattentiveness!
I am going on a road trip tomorrow. To Lubbock. Hold on while I go get a noose.
Before I get in the car tomorrow for the 6 hour car ride with my grandma and my parents, I plan to take 3 Tylenol PM and a shot of Crown. All at 9am.
Good tidings to you and your kin. May your Christmas be as drug-induced as mine.
Nope. Guess again.
Writing on the blog is a sweet escape from my family and endless questions and repeating myself for clarification. No less than 92 times.
I begged my sister-in-law not to leave me today to go back to her house. She and I just have an understanding. Or perhaps it's our special ability listen and pay attention to each other. It's what normal people do. Apparently, this concept is lost on the rest of our family come Christmas-time.
Grandma got here at 3:55 and I logged a SOLID 45 minutes of patience before I was exasperated. It's just the constate state of confusion and interrupting that makes me want to stuff silver bells in my ears. All I wanted for Christmas was a Silent Night.
I told Grandma...God bless her...about my new home purchase and she quickly reverted to the converstaion of what my parents will be called with their impending grandparenthood. I took the hint that this was a more important topic. My sweet father tried to lighten the mood and bring the attention back to me by saying, "Well Grandma, *our daughter* has some other news...she's expecting!" I spent the better part of the afternoon trying to convince my grandma of this fact...for pure kicks and giggles...and it was funny for a while until she said, "I don't believe that for one minute. I thought you'd have more exciting news, such as you're dating some nice man and you're expecting a ring."
Nope. Guess again.
The questions from all parties continued and this fact wouldn't bother me as much if I had any certainty that any member of my family other than my sister-in-law could retain pertinent information for longer than 60 seconds. But they can't.
Nothing says Merry Christmas like inattentiveness!
I am going on a road trip tomorrow. To Lubbock. Hold on while I go get a noose.
Before I get in the car tomorrow for the 6 hour car ride with my grandma and my parents, I plan to take 3 Tylenol PM and a shot of Crown. All at 9am.
Good tidings to you and your kin. May your Christmas be as drug-induced as mine.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Smattering of topics...
I got a tan today. It's December 22.
I ran outside...for a good hour thankyouverymuch...and when I took off my workout tank, I had TANLINES! Awesome.
I think it's supposed to cool down tomorrow - to a high of 60. The only way that this holiday season and winter wonderland that we call South Texas could get any less apropos was if Santa came down the chimney in bermuda shorts.
And to be completely honest, we do have "Pancho Clause" in this city, so "Bermuda Clause" wouldn't be much of a stretch. FYI - Pancho Clause is the barrio superstar.
I didn't make that up, y'all.
My kindergarten Winter Party was a complete success! Our school had a sing-a-long, complete with Feliz Navidad, Jingle Bells, and African Noel. We try to please the masses. Truth be told, my favorite is the Kwanzaa song...it's very catchy. Then we came back to the room for our "winter" party, where we decorated Christmas trees and I played Christmas music and hugged everyone and wished them a "merry Christmas." I was beyond PC what with 18 sugared-up 6-year-olds and their parents quizzing me about their academic progress.
Does now really seem to be the best time to ask me questions about your child's inability to successfully make the /x/ sound? Well...IT'S NOT, PARENT. Get off my back while I enjoy my 'winter party cupcake.'
The parents were wonderful and worked very hard to make our party festive and delicious. My personal highlight of the day was when I had a converstaion with the male PTA president -whose child is in my class. He was stroking my hair and telling me it was beautiful and talking about how when I cut it for locks of love, the cut and style would be free if I come to his salon. Say it with a lisp and you can virtually recreate the conversation in your head.
Again, I don't make this up, y'all. He stroked my hair as his 'partner' looked on.
Eyebrow raised.
I've covered topics today such as unseasonable tans, multicultural Christmas, and parent-teacher interactions. Clearly, I'm all over the map. Blog over.
I ran outside...for a good hour thankyouverymuch...and when I took off my workout tank, I had TANLINES! Awesome.
I think it's supposed to cool down tomorrow - to a high of 60. The only way that this holiday season and winter wonderland that we call South Texas could get any less apropos was if Santa came down the chimney in bermuda shorts.
And to be completely honest, we do have "Pancho Clause" in this city, so "Bermuda Clause" wouldn't be much of a stretch. FYI - Pancho Clause is the barrio superstar.
I didn't make that up, y'all.
My kindergarten Winter Party was a complete success! Our school had a sing-a-long, complete with Feliz Navidad, Jingle Bells, and African Noel. We try to please the masses. Truth be told, my favorite is the Kwanzaa song...it's very catchy. Then we came back to the room for our "winter" party, where we decorated Christmas trees and I played Christmas music and hugged everyone and wished them a "merry Christmas." I was beyond PC what with 18 sugared-up 6-year-olds and their parents quizzing me about their academic progress.
Does now really seem to be the best time to ask me questions about your child's inability to successfully make the /x/ sound? Well...IT'S NOT, PARENT. Get off my back while I enjoy my 'winter party cupcake.'
The parents were wonderful and worked very hard to make our party festive and delicious. My personal highlight of the day was when I had a converstaion with the male PTA president -whose child is in my class. He was stroking my hair and telling me it was beautiful and talking about how when I cut it for locks of love, the cut and style would be free if I come to his salon. Say it with a lisp and you can virtually recreate the conversation in your head.
Again, I don't make this up, y'all. He stroked my hair as his 'partner' looked on.
Eyebrow raised.
I've covered topics today such as unseasonable tans, multicultural Christmas, and parent-teacher interactions. Clearly, I'm all over the map. Blog over.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Truth be told...
This is how I know I'm old...
1. I was at the mall tonight, walked through the 'juniors' section and thought, "Oh my gosh! What is up with that style? What are girls these days wearing?"
2. Walking throught the same section, I saw some brown pajamas with gingerbread men on them, and candy canes, and all things Christmas-y. They were so cute and I thought, "Wow, I'd love to put those on right now and climb into bed with a cup of tea and a good book." I also secretly wondered if they had 'footies' on them. Footies are perfection.
3. Tomorrow is Friday night. Instead of planning an outing with a guy or friends that includes dinner, drinks, dancing, and partying...all I'm hoping for is to cook a good meal, get a good work-out in, and attack the pile of ironing that is growing and sporting dust in the corner of my bedroom. I'd absolutely be thrilled to be in bed by 10pm. No regrets about not going out to live it up as a single 27-year-old. None.
4. I went to dinner with some friends and the daughter wanted to "SIT BY MISS ROSE...MISS ROSE WILL YOU TAKE ME TO THE BATHROOM?...MISS ROSE YOU DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I type in all caps because she talks in ALL CAPS. ALL THE TIME. She's precious. Anyway, she's 3 and asked if "I could be her mommy next time." She doesn't quite realize that her mommy is absolutely wonderful and surpasses anything I could ever be. But she made my ovaries hurt a little when she asked and it made me feel old...like I should have a kid or something. Or at least that I could try it out for a while. Until it got too hard and then I'd give her back. LIKE WHEN SHE TALKS IN ALL CAPS. ALL THE TIME.
These are just the things that make me feel old today. I'm sure I'll have an entirely new and comprehensive old-timer list tomorrow. Complete with Ben-Gay and Metamucil.
1. I was at the mall tonight, walked through the 'juniors' section and thought, "Oh my gosh! What is up with that style? What are girls these days wearing?"
2. Walking throught the same section, I saw some brown pajamas with gingerbread men on them, and candy canes, and all things Christmas-y. They were so cute and I thought, "Wow, I'd love to put those on right now and climb into bed with a cup of tea and a good book." I also secretly wondered if they had 'footies' on them. Footies are perfection.
3. Tomorrow is Friday night. Instead of planning an outing with a guy or friends that includes dinner, drinks, dancing, and partying...all I'm hoping for is to cook a good meal, get a good work-out in, and attack the pile of ironing that is growing and sporting dust in the corner of my bedroom. I'd absolutely be thrilled to be in bed by 10pm. No regrets about not going out to live it up as a single 27-year-old. None.
4. I went to dinner with some friends and the daughter wanted to "SIT BY MISS ROSE...MISS ROSE WILL YOU TAKE ME TO THE BATHROOM?...MISS ROSE YOU DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I type in all caps because she talks in ALL CAPS. ALL THE TIME. She's precious. Anyway, she's 3 and asked if "I could be her mommy next time." She doesn't quite realize that her mommy is absolutely wonderful and surpasses anything I could ever be. But she made my ovaries hurt a little when she asked and it made me feel old...like I should have a kid or something. Or at least that I could try it out for a while. Until it got too hard and then I'd give her back. LIKE WHEN SHE TALKS IN ALL CAPS. ALL THE TIME.
These are just the things that make me feel old today. I'm sure I'll have an entirely new and comprehensive old-timer list tomorrow. Complete with Ben-Gay and Metamucil.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
My New Favorite
I hope you will watch this video (take five minutes) and are as blessed by it as I was.
At church this past weekend, the 'drama department' reenacted this little skit. Normally, when the 'drama department' comes out, I roll my eyes and watch the girls flit around and pretend to be ballerinas. This time, it was an actual drama and it was FABULOUS. The skit I have linked here is not from my church, but this is the video they adapted it from. However, my church did it better but they're not posting it online. Perhaps I shouldn't say my church did it better...I'm sure that's viewed as some sort of wrongful comparison in the eyes of church-going-folk and perhaps God. But it's true.
ANYWAY.....................most importantly...WATCH THIS. This video came to me at a time when I most needed it. I hope you feel the safety net of God like I did.
http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=ee73e63418003b47d7d5
PS - The song is called "Everything" by Lifehouse and it's My New Favorite.
At church this past weekend, the 'drama department' reenacted this little skit. Normally, when the 'drama department' comes out, I roll my eyes and watch the girls flit around and pretend to be ballerinas. This time, it was an actual drama and it was FABULOUS. The skit I have linked here is not from my church, but this is the video they adapted it from. However, my church did it better but they're not posting it online. Perhaps I shouldn't say my church did it better...I'm sure that's viewed as some sort of wrongful comparison in the eyes of church-going-folk and perhaps God. But it's true.
ANYWAY.....................most importantly...WATCH THIS. This video came to me at a time when I most needed it. I hope you feel the safety net of God like I did.
http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=ee73e63418003b47d7d5
PS - The song is called "Everything" by Lifehouse and it's My New Favorite.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Done and Done
It's time to put my big girl panties on and deal with it.
White suburban and Mexicans inside not included. And when I say 'Mexicans,' I'm not being derrogatory. They are straight up from Mexico. It's part of the charm of my city.
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