not awesome.

from my hotel window, i can see a train track. maybe 50 yards away.

let's just say that if it takes me 40 minutes to fall asleep, a train came by exactly every 39 minutes, blowing its whistle furiously... all night long.

thank yew.

to all my hoez who gave me the camera: 

THANK  YOU!!! 

I LOVE it. Yall are awesome. The best friends ever. Everyone should have friends like yall. 

casting call.

LC left a few things off that you will have to do: 

1. Encourage her to pursue her dreams of becoming a reality tv star... and maybe even help her with her application video and make sure she gets the deadline right. 

2. Don't be offended when she doesn't say hi. or bye. 

3. Stroke her ego. 

4. Make her uncomfortable by using words like "stroke" and asking her about her how far she's gone. 

5. Bake her chocolate chip cookies. No nuts or peanut butter. 

6. Be willing to always eat only pizza, bubba's, or chuy's. 

7. Always expect a phone call, an email, or an invitation to hang out.

we value your opinion.

I just think blogging would be more fun if more people commented. So don't be shy. Bring it on.

what i did this week: television.

Sad that this is what my life has come to. So be it. For now.

If this week was good for anything, it was TV. Important 2-hour finales and premiers in the same week is almost too much to handle. Somehow, we managed.

We started off with a doozie… the One Tree Hill season finale which left Raven fans everywhere wondering, which tri of the trifecta did Lucas Scott call at the end of the episode (i.e. who does he really love)?! The only encouragement in this season finale is that we can rest assured that season 6 is upon us.

My dismay over Lucas’ phone call was short-lived as I switched on the premiere of The Bachelorette faster than you can say “DeAnna Pappas.” It should come as no surprise that this show would take my mind off things... it was simply painful to watch. Bad enough that DeAnna’s apparent comfort mechanism is compulsive hugging, the situation was magnified by the fact that bachelor after bachelor attempted to twirl her, forcing her to stumble over the train of her dress. She did get a few of them back, though, and returned the twirl-favor. Always entertaining to see 30-something men twirl.

Of course, there was an American Idol viewing or two this week at 2620. Albeit mostly fast-forwarded through to avoid Ryan’s lame jokes and other obscure performances, we were really pulling for “Big David.” Tami voted enough for all of us and then some.

But tonight. Tonight is the culmination of all my TV dreams come true… it’s reality, its dance. It’s the one show I would give up all other shows for. It’s SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE!!!! Needless to say, if you call me tonight between 7 and 9, I probably won’t answer.

In other news, I’m trying to sell my bike and bike rack so LC helped me create a craigslist ad last night. Although I am a newbie to creating ads on craigslist, LC is an old pro. Her most notable ad being the one in which she offered up my bedroom for $25 a night. And put my real email on there. Awesome.

Call me if you want a bike.


“Television is more interesting than people. If it were not, we would have people standing in the corners of our rooms.” –Alan Corenk*




*I don’t actually agree with Alan on this one.

I'm going to learn Spanish across the bar.

Yesterday, I went to Waco to spend the day with the fam. After a lovely lunch with Pat (guest/host of honor), Keith, Kerri (sister), Scott (brosef-in-law), and an empty place setting for Otto/Jordan(jer-din)/OJB (my grandfather who lives with my parents and who, yesterday, slept right through lunch, until about 12:45), it was time to head over to Wesley Woods, as it is affectionately referred to. Wesley Woods is the Alzheimer’s home where my grandmother, Zaidee, Otto’s beloved, lives. My mom oft tells me stories of its happenings, but I had never experienced it for myself until yesterday.

Zaidee is a character if there ever was one. Qualities such as opinionated, outspoken, and eccentric paired with ones that accompany dementia: a hyper-imagination and severe memory loss. While Alzheimer’s is not something to take lightly, it does provide some funnies, and its good and necessary to be able to laugh sometimes. Even when mixed with tragedy, a little laughter goes a long way.

We were happy to see that Zaidee recognized us when we walked in. Although she neither said Kerri’s or my name (she even skipped the usual “babydoll” that I so often get), we were surprised that she announced “Hi Scott” as soon as he walked in. This was impressive since last time we checked, she was at least 10 years back, and Scott has only been in the picture for the past five or six.

Her real excitement came when she saw Otto walk in, though. “Oh my!” she said. “Come here,” and she kissed him on the cheek. “Did you miss me?”

“What was that?” Otto asked.

“Did you miss me?” she repeated.

“Oh, oh yeah.” Otto obliged.

“Hold my hand.”

“I can’t hear ya.” He leaned in.

“Hold my HAND.”

“Zaidee, I can’t hear you.”

“HOLD MY HAND.”

He held her hand.

We proceeded to a sitting area by a big bay window to chat for a bit longer. As we discussed summer plans and the travels we are soon to embark upon, Zaidee reminisced about her time as a twenty-something, when she went to Mexico to learn Spanish.

“Well we studied in Mexico City, but it was in Guatelamara… Gualemata… What is it? How do you say it?”

“Guadalajara.” my mom offered.

“Yes. Guadalajara. I learned Spanish across the bar in Guadalajara.” She snickered.

“But those men… there were men that like to look at women and women that like to look at men.”

“You did have fun in Mexico, didn’t ya?” Someone jeered.

“Yes,” she laughed, “but you have to watch out for those men. They will….”

“You don’t have to tell everything you know.” Uncle J censored.

“It will cost you $10,000 to get there. And when you go ask the pilot a question, he will tell you to go ask the person in the back. The person in the back will tell you to ask someone in the middle.”

Background: Whenever we go anywhere, Zaidee always asks a countless questions to whomever she deems knowledgable on the subject matter. At a steakhouse, for example, she might ask the waiter to describe the taste of the bloomin’ onion sauce, and what spices are in it, or where the cow was raised.

“Then the person in the middle will tell you to ask the person in the back. And then you just end up taking a long walk over the ocean.” She explained.

“And it will be your last good meal.” Meaning, your last good meal will be the one you consume on the airplane ride over.

“And when you get there, you better have a strong constitution.”

“The country?” my sister asked.

“No, she’s talking about your personal constitution.” My mom explained as she motioned to her stomach.

“Well, both, is what I mean.” Zaidee clarified. “Because if the country does not have a constitution, you cannot get into it. That country next to Mexico…”

“The ocean?” a hint of sarcasm from Uncle J.

Zaidee continued, “You can’t get in on land because there’s no constitution. You have to go in the ocean.”

As the international travel topic died down, Zaidee proceeds to pick on my typically quieter cousin, who is a freshman at Baylor. “You haven’t said two words. I want to hear you say two words. Say your name.” Pretty sure this one was a sneak b/c she couldn’t remember his name.

Other notables from the day were the several references to the UFO that she claims to have seen on their Roswell ranch, the talk of her “beach front property in New Mexico,” and the mentioning of one of the many dance troupes she has been in – notably, the “Cow Belles,” or as Otto likes to say, the “Cow Bellies.”

My family got a kick out these things, so just thought you might enjoy it too.

“Only with laughter can you win.” -Rosie Thomas

we love nola.

If you frequent LC’s facebook profile (let’s be honest, who doesn’t?!), then you probably already know that we went to New Orleans for Jazzfest last weekend. We knew going into it that we were in for a treat, but we had no idea how passionate we would become about that city.

I remember my first trip to New Orleans with fondness: it was a family vacay with mom, dad, sister, and grandparents. I loved it even as an eight-year-old. I was obsessed with the mardi gras masks and I loved the energy there. My favorite t-shirt for a good two years after was the one I got there that stated: “we be jammin’ in New Orleans!”

I visited a few more times – once in high school for a mission trip, and once in college while en route to Destin for spring break. Each time I’ve been to the city, I’ve come to appreciate more and more the culture, the art, the music, food, the people. It is one of the few cities in America where history is evident and where the original essence has been preserved.

Enter: Katrina.

I didn’t know what to expect of a post-Katrina New Orleans, and to be honest, I really hadn’t given it much thought. It was eye-opening and fascinating to see it firsthand. Throughout the weekend, we saw houses in ruins, as well as businesses come back to life. We saw debris and isolation, and we saw crowded city streets and restaurants brimming with people. I was deeply saddened by the devastation, but moved by the heart of the city that is still obviously beating. I so badly wanted to help, and I knew every penny spent on that trip was well worth it.

The amazing thing about New Orleans is, though deeply wounded, there is still a New Orleans—a city that will always alive, historic, unique, racy, rich in culture, and filled truly dedicated individuals.

We love you, Nola.

If you want to do a little something to help out NOLA, grab a t-shirt from Save NOLA.

truth be told.

Ok ok ok… I know. I have been a bad blogger. I owe an apology and an explanation to our countless, devoted readers. Unfortunately, I cannot cite a lack of ideas, time, or energy as the reason for my absence. The truth is, I just figure LC’s posts are more entertaining and therefore people are more interested in hearing from her. I guess I just felt like I couldn’t keep up.

Well, that and the fact that LC changed the password and wouldn't tell me what it was for a while.

But I am over it. I am still not funny like LC. I am ok with that. Be back soon. Real soon.

march. madness.

Just a little insight into how I picked my NCAA bracket. Completely ridiculous.


SWEET SIXTEEN PICKS

EAST

UNC (1) over Indiana (8): The heels sport the same colors as my HS Alma mater... the one and only CSHS. So pretty and blue.

George Mason (12) over Washington State (4): George Mason was a founding father. I am greatly indebted to him for my freedom. I figure I can at least give him a win.

Louisville (3) over Oklahoma (6): This was a toughy. I was born in Oklahoma, but Louisville is way cooler than Norman. I’ve always wanted to wear a big hat and a sundress and go to the derby.

Tennessee (2) over Butler (7): Nashville is in Tennessee, and Nashville is one of my favorite cities. Home of Amy Grant, Alan Jackson, and countless other musical phenoms. I would live in Tennessee.

MIDWEST

Kansas (1) over Kentucky State (9): Wicked is my very favorite musical. It is the prequel to The Wizard of Oz. Dorothy was from Kansas.

Vandy (4) over Clemson (5): "Whoever said orange was the new pink was seriously mistakin."

Kansas State (11) over Wisconsin (3): Manhattan. Same name as one of my favorite cities.

Georgetown (2) over Gonzaga (7): I lived in DC for a while, and Georgetown has the best shopping in town hands down.

SOUTH

Memphis (1) over Mississippi State (8): Maybe it was Memphis… maybe it was southern summer nights… love that song.

Michigan State (5) over Pittsburgh (4): Right now I'm reading A Moveable Feast by Hemingway. He talks about Michigan, and growing up, he spent his summers there. Michigan it is!

Stanford (3) over Kentucky (11): My friend’s husband goes to Stanford.

Texas (2) over St. Mary’s (10): Just givin the homeland a lil lovin. Austin is my fave. Thank you, Austin, for your abundance of live music, excellent queso and migas, and really great running trails.

WEST

UCLA (1) over A&M (9): Oh how I would love to choose the faggies here. But that would just be straight up ignorant, wouldn’t it?

Drake (5) over San Diego (13): I feel like maybe if I had gone to Drake I would have been asked, “where do you summa?” Maybe I would say, “Walloon Lake, Michigan,” like Ernie.

Xavier (3) over Purdue (6): Xavier wins for originality. If I could use proper nouns in Scrabble, Xavier would come in handy. Damn Xs.

Duke (2) over West Virginia (7): A no-brainer, even for me. You know the blue devils are going to win a few.


ELITE EIGHT PICKS

EAST - Tennessee over UNC: I know this is completely overthrowing my color theory (orange over cougar blue?!), and both are pretty states. Just had to go with my gut on this one.

MIDWEST - Georgetown over Vanderbilt: If you haven’t been to Georgetown, you should really go. It has great little brick streets, H&M, tons of bars, and good restaurants.

SOUTH – Texas over Michigan State: Austin is my favorite city in Texas. Texas is my favorite state. Question: how the hell does Michigan State get put into the “South” bracket? I obviously don’t understand how these things work. That’s another reason Texas wins… it actually is in the South.

WEST – UCLA over Duke: I just want to cheer for UCLA’s players, whose names include: DeAndre (a favorite around 2620), Mustafa (Mustafa Mustafa Mustafa), Luc Richard Mdah a Moute (should we start a bet on where that guy’s from?), and Nikola (Ni-co-laaaaa, Ricola-style). So fun!


FINAL FOUR PICKS

Georgetown over Tennessee: One time, I went running in Georgetown, and there were like, millions of really steep staircases all over campus. And hills. I just bet their players are in really good shape if they walk around that campus all the time.

UCLA over Texas: I am still an aggie at heart, and I secretly don’t want our rival school to win it big. Plus, I want to cheer for De Andre and Luc Richard a bit longer.


CHAMPIONSHIP

Georgetown over UCLA: Not much of an underdog, but an underdog just the same. Since my chances of winning anything in this tournament are slim to none, might as well, right?

clarification

i just want to make it clear to everyone that, although i share this blog with LC, i do not share her political convictions, theories, opinions, or ideologies.

confessions.

Sometimes, I do things that I know I probably shouldn’t do. Some of these things are grey areas, some are just outright wrong. Am I a horrible person? You decide…

Recently, I've started taking Newsweek from of the hotel gym. I’m paying for the hotel… shouldn’t that cover it?

I regularly make not-so-friendly “hand gestures” to other cars when I’m driving. People are idiots.

I order expensive wine when I travel for work and can expense it. Just can’t resist it.

I enjoy a little bump n' grind at the slip inn now and again. What can I say?

Sometimes I eat my roommates’ chips or crackers without asking. Sorry roommies. Will you forgive me?

I prefer CNN over Fox news. I make no apologies.

I read the sex column in magazines. Is that a crime?


Ahhhh. Feels good to get that off my chest.

just a regular saturday night.

It was a sleepy saturday night here in dallas this past weekend. LC, Morgan, Cari and I were just hittin up the usual (dinner at Chuy's -- which, maybe deserves its own blog sometime as to the reasons we frequent that place so much).

As we finished dinner, we discussed where we should go from there. The mardis gras festivities as Victory Park with lots of Cash McDougalsons? A movie at Northpark with all the a bunch of pre-teen parkies? Another night on the couch watching another television series on DVD? None of these options were appealing.

And then... lightbulb! Lets drive all the way around Beltline! That's right, Beltline Road. The one you see in DeSoto, Addison, Grand Prairie, and Mesquite. "The Line," we would affectionately come to call it. We couldn't wait to see if it all really connected, how long it would take to drive, and where it would take us. The oddity that all four of us had always wanted to drive around it was kind of scary.

So, that's what we did Saturday Night. Normal, right?

lc was born with shit in her lungs.

legit. could explain a few things.

try googling meconium aspiration for details.

promos.

Congrats! Atta girl! Enhorabuena! Congratulazioni! Écouter! Félicitations! Glückwünsche! Gelukwensen! Ouça! 祝贺! Поздравления!

Why all the congrats? LC got a fancy promotion today! Her official new title is “Director of Business Development.” Talk about big time. LC’s perseverance through all of her “job funnies” is finally paying off. I couldn’t be there tonight to attend the celebratory dinner at Campisi’s, so I wanted to commemorate the day by sealing it in a play where it will remain forever: blogosphere.

So next time you see LC, give her a well deserved congrats. Or a pat on the back. Or a hug. Or a kiss.*



*This statement is directed toward men only. LC could really use one… a man and a kiss.

the gospel

I truly believe that the gospel changed my life more than anything else in life has the power to do. I also believe that I do not share it enough. It has recently come to my attention that I am not sharing it enough on one of the easiest places to share it... this blog.

There are countless ways passages that could be referenced when bringing up the gospel. The one I have been drawn to lately is John 1:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God, and the Word was with God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in darkness and the darkenss has not overcome it... And the word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

I think I like this passage because of the way it explains Jesus... "the Word." From this passage, we know that Jesus was not an afterthought. God did not create him after seeing the depravity of man. Jesus was in the beginning. Jesus was with God. Jesus was and is the gospel.

I cannot claim to logically understand every doctrine and theory that the bible proclaims. The one thing I can explain is the way in which this gospel has changed me. How it has made a profound impact on my life. No logic has made more sense. No pain has been able to drown it. No pleasure has ever brought more joy. No emotion has made me feel more deeply. If ever something changes any of this, I will let you know. Don't hold your breath.


(Also, LC would love to draw a bridge diagram for you if interested.)

year of the boar.

I know LC just did this, but she blogs too much and I can’t keep up. So I’m doing it too. And while LC has had quite a year, mine has been rather uneventful. There were, however, some highlights...

Janary: Started off with a bang – LC and I became friends! We took a really fun roadtrip to the ATX to seal the deal. Who knew what would become of us?

February: Shortly thereafter I started traveling for work. Got to see some real neat places like Milwaukee and Buffalo (in February, mind you).

March: Worked my life away…

April: It snowed on Easter. And I started staying with Coops, Mel, and Kristin in H-town. Loved, loved, loved living with them. They made life better. Got to stand besides one of my besties as she became a Mrs.

May: I went on a BANK reunion vaca with college friends. Destini forever!

June: I turned 23! Wooooo yeah! Got to spend a weekend at David Christie’s lakehouse wakeboarding with college friends… one of the best weekends of the year.

July: Spent the fourth with some really, really cool people who I have now gotten to know even better and love even more (go RAMS!). I also floated down a river, lost my shorts, and officially bonded with Anne Carter.

August: I stopped traveling for work and started laying out a lot. Tambone, mom and I went to Las Vegas for the first time to celebrate. Just gamble those sorrows away.

September: Roadtripped it to Tennessee to visit the Dockerys. On the way home, I learned all the lyrics ot "Fancy" with LC and got a tour of Russvegas. I went to Disney World with two people that I love. We even ran a 10K while we were there.

October: LC turned 24 and we had a mad birthday bash. Themed. We were gangstas.

November: Got to visit Fredericksburg, TX for the first time in my life. Slept in a hotel room with my sister and her husband… hmmm.

December: Ran 26.2 miles and realized that I might have the very best friends in the whole world. They were all there to cheer me on.

why we're glad LJ and Reg did the dirty.

In honor of LC's day of birth, I've asked a few of her closest friends what they love most about her. Here is a top twelve (couldn't narrow it down to just ten) list of why we love LC:


12. She makes the best burned CDs.
11. When she drinks too much she can't feel her face.
10. She's effing hot. Obviously.
9. She knows who Franklin Pierce is. And when he was born. And when he died. And most of the details of his presidency.
8. She writes excellent hand-written notes.
7. She appreciates rap music.
6. She has great hair.
5. She can get away with wearing vans and polos all the time.
4. She loves people so well.
3. She's funny. Like, real funny. Funnier than most.
2. She chronicles the lives of her friends via facebook albums more efficiently than anyone we know.
1. Her friendship just makes our lives better, richer, and fuller. We love her!!!

Thriving on Insecurity

I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace.
-Daniel 4:4

We’ve all been there. Those moments in life when you’re sailing along smoothly and then wham!, you suddenly find yourself thrashing about in the “in between”: in between jobs, in between relationships, in between an old idea of yourself and a new one. And its darned uncomfortable. Security has always been the objective, the holy grail. You know what I’m talking about: social security, national security, personal security, job security, financial security, and the list goes on. In America, we are bombarded by this ideal that we need security, and that we should do everything we can to attain it. I’ve always suspected, however, that this is not God’s design for the lives of his children. And recently, it’s been brought to my attention more than ever before.

To their detriment, I think many people don’t realize that all those “securities” they’ve worked so hard for are, if not defunct, at least a little iffy. And unlike your insurance policy or lifetime warranty on your latest major purchase, in life, there are no guarantees. The world fools us into thinking we need every earthly comfort and luxury to be content, but in the end, all of those things will only leave us wanting more.

"Soon we grow insecure with our present means of security and demand something more... or something different. All this world and its inhabitants can offer us is a false sense of security."

Much like Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4, we may feel content and even prosperous for a while. But if you keep reading, it’s not long before just as he is on the roof of his palace admiring is kingdom (“while the words were still in the king’s mouth!), that Ol’ Nebby is put in his place when heaven declared that his kingdom was departed from him, he was driven from men, and his dwelling be with the beasts of the field. With one breath Babylon, the greatest kingdom to date, is relinquished!

The good news is that God offers us a security that is truly lasting and resilient against the toughest circumstances. The truth is, our world will shake at times. God designs it that way so that we may see what is real. That is why, contrary to worldly viewpoints, I believe that some insecurity in life is purposeful and profitable… and we can thrive because of it.

“Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” This phrase, “yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken-that is, things that have been made-in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:26-29

Why Jim Halpert may be the perfect man...

...and why he deserves his own adjective.

Tom Cruise? No thanks. Brad Pitt? Old news. David Beckham? Nah… I want to marry a Jim.

A few days ago, I decided to watch The Office on the new “watch instantly” feature on Nextflix. I quickly became hooked and emotionally involved with the characters, namely Jim. With each episode, I find Jim more attractive and loveable. But I can’t really figure out why. I mean, he’s a talented salesman, he loves kids, he has a great sense of humor, he’s sensitive, he has the ability to make friends quickly, he’s a clever prankster, and he has the best facial expressions. All great qualities, but there is something irresistible about him that I can’t put my finger on. Some intangible quality that just can’t be put into words… a “Jimness.” A new adjective should really be created for whatever it is that he possesses. But until then, we'll settle for "jimness"... and revel in it.

LC's Last Post: Fact or Ficiton

I just want to address LC’s most recent post, “Arkansas Part II.” She makes some bold claims, some of which are true, most of which are not. For the record, here are my true opinions:

1. Mt. Dew = White trash skater drink. And LC's drink of choice.
2. The Clinton Library... Um, no thanks. Please, I used to work for Laura Bush herself.
3. Famous People from Arkansas? Highly unlikely unless you are talking about the Clintons (obvi), or some backwoods family with 27 kids.
4. Dinner with Laurie and Reggie... can hardly contain the excitement! I love LJ already and I am so pumped about meeting ol Reg. That part could not be more true.