<Does Anybody Read These?>

Coincidences?

Albert Einstein said, "Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous."

I've been wondering about coincidences lately because of some things that are happening in my life. I am truly beginning to think that nothing is coincidental and that it is all just more of God's plan becoming apparent. It looks like Albert Einstein would agree with me.

I am not going to go into this too in-depth, because I know I've written about this before. I just wanted to share an anecdote that came right from this blog.

Yesterday I posted a little note to St. Anthony about my missing clothes, almost partly in jest. (I did find my brown wool sweater, so two snaps for Tony although it'd look really cute with my khakis!)

Well, from that post another blogger asked me about praying to Saints and why we did that. Now I have a pretty standard answer for that, but every good journalist does a little research before they write about something. So, I did the same search on "praying to saints" that I've done probably a dozen times before. Except right away I came across that article that I'd posted, one that I'd never seen before. I read it and it spoke to me. It was about a journalist -- a non-Catholic, I believe -- who found solace (and a job!) in praying to St. Maximilian Kolbe. So I did a little research. Fantastic saint! Great person to pray to. So why had I never noticed that article before. Top it off that tonight I am talking to a friend about an issue. And guess who the perfect saint is for us to pray together to? Did you guess St. Maximilian Kolbe? Do you have goosebumps, because I do...

To sum it up? I am not sure I believe in coincidences. I think that everything is guided by God's hand. Sometimes we get what He is doing. Sometimes we don't. It'll all become apparent at some point and we'll have what I call an "a-ha moment."

A guy I know that I'm not particularly sure believes in God told me once about synchronicity and meaningful coincidence, and I am very intrigued to learn more about it. Mostly, I believe it's all God's work whether you call it serendipity, coincidence, fate, destiny, etc. It happens because it is all part of the plan God charted for you before you were ever born.

That's pretty freaking cool, if you ask me.

The things we learned in Nashville...

1. It never takes more than 12 minutes, no matter where you are.

2. Crazy ass cab death rides are not good times!

3. There's no such thing as too much barbecue.

4. Amy giving Prevost buses the finger is always fun.

5. We should've just climbed in that cab because I'm pretty sure they were too drunk to notice.

6. Don't tell Amy where you are when she is getting the urge to ask Kenny to come save her...

7. What's that alley with all the bars?

8. Nashville is a good place to have some sex on the beach.

9. You are more likely to get carded at an apartment complex than a bar.

10. Bo Bice DOES NOT work at Coyote Ugly. But some crazy-ass girls sure do!!!!

11. Oh, the memories from the Havana Lounge...

12. Do not fake appendicitis just to get Dr. Travis to help you!

13. I-65 is frightening during rush hour, although Nashville can't throw anything at me that I haven't seen in Detroit traffic.

14. Nashville is a great place to go on a date!!!

Did I forget anything? Amy leave me comments if I did...

Who were you in high school?

For some reason I've been thinking about high school lately, so I couldn't resist this one too.

Am I ever going to write about my trip to Nashville? Yeah, I should do that too. It'll be next. But I needed a fun break after today...

All American Kid

Popular but not plastic. Athletic but not a jock. Smart but not a brain.

You were well rounded and well liked in high school.

Who Were You In High School?

Stole this from Rosalie...

OK, not sure if I agree with this one, but it was fun.

Your Seduction Style: Au Natural

You rank up there with your seduction skills, though you might not know it.
That's because you're a natural at seduction. You don't realize your power!
The root of your natural seduction power: your innocence and optimism.

You're the type of person who happily plays around and creates a unique little world.
Little do you know that your personal paradise is so appealing that it sucks people in.
You find joy in everything - so is it any surprise that people find joy in you?

You bring back the inner child in everyone you meet with your sincere and spontaneous ways.
Your childlike (but not childish) behavior also inspires others to care for you.
As a result, those who you befriend and date tend to be incredibly loyal to you.

What Kind of Seducer Are You?

A little religion lesson...

In response to One4JC's questions about what Catholics believe, I thought I'd take this opportunity to educate folks on some things about my religion that people may or may not know...

1. Why do Catholics pray to Saints? How do you know who they are?

Saints can be any Christian who lives here on earth and dies and goes to Heaven. However, Church history teaches us of some exceptional believers who are more famous saints for one reason or another. The "official" canonization process is a little complicated, so if you're interested in reading all the church mumbo-jumbo on that, click here. Basically, you have to be holy and virtuous, have the backing of a church congregation and have miracles that can be attributed to your intercession. Once all of those things happen (a process that can take years, if it ever happens), then you become a recognized saint of the Church. It is a long, drawn-out, complicated process and the congregation backing you has to pay for the investigation, so not every holy person becomes a saint.

Praying to a saint is not unlike when you ask other Christians to pray for you. After all, saints are just Christians who are in heaven. Basically, when we pray to saints it's just like asking a friend to pray for you too. It's not that I am praying to St. Thomas Aquinas instead of God, I am praying to St. Thomas Aquinas in addition to God. But most importantly, you have to believe in the Saint to whom you are praying. I think I mentioned after my trip to Los Angeles, about Our Lady of Guadalupe, and I'm going to go into detail about that story now, because I truly believe that my family witnessed a miracle through the intercession of this vision of the Virgin Mary.

History tells us that Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to a poor Indian boy named Juan Diego in the 1500s. The Virgin told Juan Diego to construct a Cathedral on the site of this vision and left an image of herself on his tilma. The cactus cloth fabric should've deteriorated after 20 years, but almost 500 years later shows no signs of decay.

In 1992, a replica of Juan Diego's cloak traveled across the United States. I do believe that it made a brief appearance at my high school. But for a while it was in the chapel at St. Vincent's Hospital in Toledo. This is where it entered my family's life. You see, my family was involved in a horrible car accident when we were hit by a drunken driver on our way home from my Grandpa's funeral. My youngest brother, Gary, was thrown from our truck and landed in the middle of a four-lane road. We couldn't find him for a long time, and we are very lucky that no one hit him before help arrived. However, the prognosis was grim and he was transported to St. Vincent's by Life Flight. Our parish priest was the first person to arrive, and we didn't think that he would make it. All we could do was pray.

Gary did end up making it, and until I moved back to Ohio, he and I were roommates. He does have a lot of problems because of his accident, but he is alive. A few years ago, Gary came home with a poster that he taped up on the wall of our apartment. It was Our Lady of Guadalupe. He calls her "Lupe" like they are friends and wants to get a tattoo of her somewhere on his body. He has all kinds of mementos representing her. I never asked him why, although I did think it was a little odd.

A few months ago my mom and I were talking and she told me that when Gary was in the hospital at St. Vincent's all those years ago, that traveling exhibit was in the hospital chapel and she prayed to it while she was there with Gary. I was shocked when I heard this because Gary LOVES Our Lady of Guadalupe. So I asked her if he could've known about the traveling exhibit. She told me no, that he was in a coma at the time and didn't know it was there at the hospital. There isn't much that can explain that except that it was a miracle. My brother was filled with healing power from the Holy Mother. I guess we just have to believe that saints hear our prayers and offer them up to God in order to see the miracle in that story. So faith is a big part of all of it.

I don't think that anyone who prays to saints doesn't pray to God directly, as well. Praying to saints is just like having a personal cheerleader up in heaven. It's not putting someone above God, it's just bringing in reinforcements.

While I was researching this post, I read this blog from a non-Catholic who found solace in praying to a saint and asking her Catholic friends to pray on her behalf. I thought it might be interesting to anyone who was reading this.

Catholics also believe that the Bible references praying to saints in some of the Epistles and in Revelations 5. I do realize these same passages that we use to support this notion are used by other denominations to dispute it. You also have to remember that Catholicism is based on a combination of tradition and scripture and not one or the other. That is different from some other Christian sects, who base their beliefs entirely on scripture.

2. Why do Catholics have all those statues of Mary?

Catholics have statues of Mary to honor her and remind us of her commitment to God. While we do not worship Mary, we do consider her to be greatest example of submission to the will of God next to Jesus. We believe that Mary was so full of grace that she lived without sin. We honor Mary not only as the mother of our savior but as the mother of our Church and the mother of all of us. We cling to her as any child would cling to their mother and we ask her to pray for us. We keep statues of Mary not to worship her but to honor her. Who do you know who doesn't have a reminder of their mother in their home, whether it be a picture or a treasured keepsake?

And as for the power of Mary's prayerful intercession, no one is closer to Christ than his mother. Much like we listen to our mothers' requests, Christ does the same and Mary's prayers can be very powerful to those who believe.

Does that make sense? I know it's hard for folks who haven't always been taught this to understand it, but I think that our devotion to Mary is what makes Catholicism unique, and one of the things that I truly love about my religion. I think people forget what an awesome sacrifice and role Mary had in bringing our Savior to earth. Rest assured if I were asked to put her above Christ and God, I would not do that, but instead she just has a special place in my heart.

More tagging fun...

My thanks to One4JC. I guess I should be thankful that people still care what I have to say, right?

Seven things to do before I die:
1. Buy a house.
2. Go to law school.
3. Go to Australia.
4. Have children.
5. Live in a foreign country for a little while.
6. Have a successful business.
7. Spend one night in an outrageously expensive hotel.

Seven things I cannot do:
1. Get down in the dumps about my job situation.
2. Sit on my ass in Ohio when I need to move.
3. Press rewind on certain situations and go back and change things.
4. Make people love me.
5. Speak any foreign language but Spanish. (Maybe a teeny tiny bit of Italian.)
6. Change religions. (I'm very happy where I am, thank you very much.)
7. Gymnastics.

Seven things that attract me to blogging:
1. Being able to keep my writing skills fresh.
2. All the nifty folks I've met from blogging.
3. The ability to vent.
4. That I can talk about stuff that folks know nothing about and people still "get" it.
5. Sometimes I just want to be snarky.
6. Making people laugh and/or think (even if they're thinking they want to kick my ass).
7. Just like to have fun with my nifty laptop.

Seven things I say most often: (I have lots of Laura-isms. Can I think of them right now? Nooooooo... So, I'm being funny. Because that's what I do.)
1. Y'all
2. Sweet Jesus (be it a prayer or an exclamation. Bad, I know.)
3. I cannot deal with stupid people.
4. No, seriously...
5. Oh, the bitches.
6. I'll have a Crown and diet. Make that a double.
7. NashVegas

Seven books that I love:
1. Bridget Jones's Diary
2. Harry Potter (say it like an English person; that's fun!)
3. About A Boy
4. My women's devotional Bible
5. Wuthering Heights
6. Tuesdays with Morrie
7. Anything by Geneen Roth

Seven movies that I can watch over and over again:
1. Mr. Holland's Opus
2. Bridget Jones's Diary
3. Fried Green Tomatoes
4. Love Actually
5. Under the Tuscan Sun
6. Sound of Music
7. Meet the Parents

Seven people I want to join the fun:
1. Oh, Rosalie...
2. Toma needs to update her blog
3. Beth
4. A little surprised One4JC didn't tag Sheri...
5. Ummmm...can I find two more people?
6. Does it count if I tell Gretchen and Kay they need to get their bloggy blogs so I can tag them?
7. OK, Kenzie should do this too, although which blog she'll pick is anyone's guess!

Job update...

So, I guess I owe everyone a job update.

I had that interview Friday, and it was disaster. It wasn't that I really wanted that job; I'm just getting to the point that I need a job -- any job. Not so much because I can't afford to not have a job, but people don't seem to understand that. It'd just make life easier. But I doubt that it'll happen. I guess I'll know in the next few days, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

The first interview went so well, and I know they really liked me and wanted to hire me. So, I guess I didn't expect the second interview to go so badly. It was a new group of people and one person just asked me a lot of questions, and I just really got the feeling that she didn't like me. She just focused on the negative, and I felt like no matter what my answer would be, it wouldn't be good enough.

So, I have a plan regardless, and I know I'll be just fine. I'll keep you all posted...

Prayers to St. Anthony

Many, many posts ago I mentioned that I often prayed to St. Anthony when I lost things, and I can think of very few times that it didn't work.

I have lost my navy blue suit jacket and my khaki pants. My jacket is the top of my lucky interview suit, and I'm very sad about this. And my khakis are new and were the result of many of days searching for pants, so I hope I find them very soon.

I hope I'm not "wasting" my prayers, but St. Anthony is very good at helping people find lost things. You see, back before the days of the printing press, St. Anthony taught at a monastery and had a hand-written book of Psalms that he used for teaching. A young man who left the order took the book as a prank, and St. Anthony prayed every evening for the safe return of his book, which is now displayed by the order in the Franciscan friary in Bologna. It had not been long after he passed away that others started praying for him to help them find things.

The prayer, in case you forgot it:

Dear St. Tony, please come around.
Something's been lost and can't be found.

I think too much in the car...

Candi Farmer was the straw that broke the camel's back.

Why is that? Because there is no Candi Farmer. I am not 100% sure what David's wife's name is, but from what I've heard it's not Candi. Tim Holt's wife's name is Candy. This was something that Kenny said when he released When the Sun Goes Down, where he dedicated "The Woman With You" to Candy Holt.

"Candy Holt is hands down the smartest person I know," he says flatly. "She could've run a bank, taken on the Supreme Court… and back when we were in college, we ALL knew it. Then she met Tim, and love happened, and all that fell out the window. She never even thinks about all the stuff that could've been, because she loves her life. When I heard this song, I thought of her - and all the girls out therewith big dreams and more talent -- who found something that completed them that wasn't all that, but so much more."

Maybe David and Tim are both married to women named Candi, but I doubt it. That's not a very popular name, even in East Tennessee, and besides enough people who would know have told me that David's wife is not Candi.

I just think it's funny that someone would have so much of their story straight and miss something like this. Of course, I probably never would've thought twice of it if I hadn't met someone who I knew -- without a doubt -- knew Tim and Candi Holt and mentioned something about them once. A little light clicked on inside my head and a little bit of the net started to unravel... When you already have suspicions about something, you notice the little things. But once you realized something as elementary as Candi Holt was missing from the story, you start to notice all kinds of little things. And even some big things, like photographs on every web site and in every magazine in America that refute the tale that's being peddled.

I still don't know 100% of the truth, and I suspect I never will. And I'm OK with that. I guess I just will always wonder for the rest of my life how someone can lie like that. How someone can create a whole life for themselves from scratch. Maybe it's not their whole lives, but it's significant bits and pieces. I just can't imagine. I barely have time to live my real life, let alone create a whole new one for myself. Not to mention that I wouldn't even know where to start.

I guess I will always wonder if there was something I did to make someone think they had to lie like that for me to be their friend. It didn't really matter. If you're a cool person, you're cool regardless of whom you know. But no one gave me that chance. And it got to the point where I didn't have the energy to try to dissect every conversation to find truth, nor did I see the point in confronting anyone. But even a few weeks ago, I tried to extend the olive branch. My move to Nashville is all about fresh starts, and I thought I'd give someone else that opportunity too.

But mostly, I just miss the girls. I was explaining to someone how I ended up with the nickname "Algae" yesterday, and I got a little sad. Even though things were crazy, and I'm not sure what was real or not about that whole surreal experience, but there were a lot of good things that happened too. Everything happens for a reason and about 85% I wouldn't change for anything, I don't think. I know I'm a stronger person and I've changed my outlook in life because of everything that happened. I guess that I should just chalk it all up to that and officially close that chapter of the book of my life. Yeah, I'll get a little bummed out remembering when we all went to Kentucky Kingdom and going to get China food and how much fun we had those days.

My olive branch wasn't taken, so I guess there's nothing else I can do... I keep hoping someone will prove me wrong, but the more I learn, the more I realize the chances of that happening are not very good.

People watching...

We saw a lot of folks who looked like famous people while we were in Nashville. LOTS of close calls. So when we ran into someone we knew -- albeit only from the stage, we did a double -- no, make that a triple -- take before we realized who it was.

So, here's a quiz.

Which one of these people was the real celebrity we saw instead of just a look-alike.

1. Trisha Yearwood on I-65 in a Mercedes.
2. Nick Hoffman, the Fiddla from Kenny's band, at Second Fiddle on Broadway.
3. Bo Bice at Coyote Ugly.
4. CMT's Lance Smith walking on Third Avenue.

Did you guess yet?

It was Nick, and I am still laughing about running into him in Second Fiddle. It was nice to see him, and it got me all excited about March and the beginning of tour season. Nick is one of the hardest-working people I know, so I'm kind of surprised he wasn't off on someone's tour in his downtime. I think Amy is a bigger Nick fan now than she was before she left...

Remember the martini quiz?

Remember, when I took the "what kind of martini are you?" quiz?

Well, I might not be a bikini martini, but it's one that I'd drink.

Just mix up some vodka, coconut rum, pineapple juice and a splash of grenadine and voila!!! I'll have to make them on my own because they're pretty expensive at Market Street.

But a great way to start a Friday night!

God Always Has a Plan B...

For my birthday, I got a copy of a book called God Always Has a Plan B for women. It's a cute little book with all kinds of wisdom. As you all know I've put a lot more responsibility in God's hands lately. I would probably be a lot more nervous about my move and such if it weren't for me putting a lot of trust in God to help me make the right decisions. And he's guiding me along the path.

I came to Nashville to go house-hunting and to apply for a few jobs. My mom couldn't believe that I'd head down here with no interviews, but the fact is I'm moving here job or not. It'll be harder if I don't have a job, but there are lots of jobs here, and I'll be fine...

Well, you'll remember I had that great interview a couple of weeks ago and they decided to hire someone else? But told me they liked me and hoped I could somehow get involved? On my way here yesterday, they called me. It didn't work out with the other person and I have a job interview tomorrow. I am excited. I'm still not sure it's the right job, but it'd be a job until I found the right job, if it came to that. It can't hurt to go over there since I'm already in town, right?

This trip has been fun although we didn't get as much accomplished as I'd like today. We had to reassess the game plan for house-hunting, but we're ready to conquer the world tomorrow. I found the cutest little house today and I might go see it tomorrow, but the location wasn't fantastic. Actually, it's in an absolutely great neighborhood, it's just not really close to much of anything.

We had fun tonight, and have more fun on the agenda tomorrow. I told Amy if I get this job we're going to have a very fun celebratory dinner and I am picking up the tab. And if I'd happen to get the one I'm applying for tomorrow that pays twice as much? We'll have to pop open a bottle of Dom to celebrate.

Big day planned and already running on way too little sleep, so tune in tomorrow for more fun from the Music City.

I have no idea who's posted what anymore...

Here's today's contribution. I love postcards and something about the words "Virgin Islands" and "fantasyland" gave me a chuckle. Anyone else?

Migraine 1, Laura 0

So, I am up at an ungodly hour because I went to bed at 7 p.m. I woke up at 1:58, but realized that was a little early for life (although I'd gotten an entire night's sleep at that point), so I tossed and turned until 5 a.m. I felt fine when I finally woke up, although I am wondering if there is any of last night's dinner left. When Mom was making it at 4 p.m. (about 30 minutes before Mr. Migraine came to town), it sounded and smelled fantastic. By the time it was served I was headed toward bed to sleep with a pillow over my head to drown out all light and sound. Now that I've been up for a while and am starting to work on all the stuff that I couldn't do last night -- most of it requires a computer -- I'm realizing I'm not doing as well as I thought. There's a dull pain percolating in my head again. I just don't understand why my body does this to me. I figured I could get all caught up and get ready to go on my trip tomorrow and I'm suspecting that all I'm going to be able to do is go back to bed with a cold wash cloth on my head.

I'll be back later, and I'll try to come up with something good to write. At some point today I HAVE to get on this computer and do work. It's just not going to be right now.

Who's with me?!?

So odd...

I never thought in 20 million years that I'd have a whole bunch of new visitors who did a google search on the word "adultery." Now, that is something I never would've thought of googling. Do you think that people realize that all their google searches are tracked? They should. It's been all over the news that the government is trying to make Google tell them what people are googling. You know, for homeland security purposes. Regardless, I keep saying that one day I am going to start saving all the sitemeter info because it would make one helluva post. There are times when I look and think "WTF?"; times when it's absolutely hilarious; and other times when it's a little sad and/or creepy. But sitemeter might be just as addicting as blogging, and I am not sure that is a good thing.

Oh well. Google on, everybody!!!!

How far is too far?

I have this friend who lives in Alabama. Actually, I guess I should say I used to have this friend in Alabama. Because I still consider her a friend and would drop everything if she needed me, but I think she's pretty much done with me. And it's the break-up of that friendship, along with some things I heard today that inspired this post.

You see, I am no longer friends with that woman because of an argument that we had over another friend. I know that sounds really dumb, but stick with me, OK?

I had been friends with this woman for several years and through me she met my college roommate. They hit it off and became good friends. I love my former roommate. She and I are still very good friends. But a few years ago, she got involved with a married man. Of course, like every married person who has an affair, he and his wife were having difficulty and "practically divorced" and blah, blah, blah. I have no tolerance for infidelity. And it killed me that one of my best friends thought so little of herself that she'd get involved in that situation. So, I mentioned that to our mutual friend who now lives in Alabama. They were living near each other at the time and I wanted to see if she was as worried about the situation as I was. She said she was and that we should say something to her. So, I thought that's what we were doing the next time we all met up. Well, instead she took her side and seemed to support that behavior. I got upset by that because I felt like she was paying everyone lip service and/or selling me up the river. She apparently took that very badly because she hasn't talked to me since then. I went to Alabama a few months ago and emailed her with plenty of advance notice hoping that she'd meet up with me. I never heard back. The irony is that the friend who was having the affair is STILL one of my best friends. That relationship ran its course and last I heard she was very happy in a serious relationship. I've never mentioned it again to her, so I don't know how she ended up feeling about it. I just couldn't talk to her about behavior I didn't approve of, because I felt like by not calling her out when we discussed it that I was passively supporting it. And adultery is not something I support.

That is why I'm really ashamed of myself right now. And why I am even more certain that I am in a better place right now than I was last summer. I've been thinking about this because of something Father said tonight in our class. We were going over our baptismal vows as the folks in our class get ready to be baptized in a few months. And we were talking about sin and temptation. Father said that as humans we want to see the good in everything. So when we are in a situation, we want it to be good, whether it is or not. That is why temptation seems appealing, because we can see the good in it.

And then a light bulb went on. You see, I am ashamed because of a situation that happened last year. Or at least I think it happened. The verdict is still out on the actual details. But regardless, a friend of mine told me all about this affair she was having, and I supported her. She had a husband and two little girls and I listened while she told me about this other man and supported her in her decisions. Yes, she said she was unhappy, her husband didn't love her, staying together for kids, financial reasons, etc. You know, the same excuses that my friend's boyfriend gave her so she would sleep with him. The same excuses I normally think are bullshit and just an excuse to have an affair. And whether this affair happened or not, I supported her. Why the double standard? Because I wanted to see the good in the situation.

You see, everything she told me about her relationship seemed true. She and her husband didn't seem to get along (although he does seem to be a very nice guy). And she lit up when she told me about this other guy. She seemed happier. But you know what, that didn't make it right. Marital vows mean something. If you're that unhappy, get divorced. And allegedly she got some bad advice from a divorce attorney, which was the only reason that she was still married. But that doesn't explain why she sought out a relationship with another man while she had a husband at home.

Maybe I got caught up in the excitement of it all, because we had our exciting moments. Or maybe because of who she said it was. Or maybe a little because I'm not 100-percent sure I believed her, so I didn't see the harm in it. But it WAS harmful. Maybe it was more harmful if it was made-up than if it were true. Regardless, this person had little regard for her marital vows and I supported her behavior. And I barely knew her at the time. My best friend didn't actually break her marital vows, she just got involved with someone who would've broken his regardless, I'm sure. That doesn't make it much better, but I am so upset with myself for this double standard. When did my morals get off track that I thought this was OK? I am not friends with this woman now, but it wasn't because of this. Of course, if that's how someone treats their family, I guess then friends are expendable too.

So, all of this reminded me of the post I was going to do last week, but never got around to it. I also changed my mind a little because of last Sunday's readings at Church.

In 1 Corinthians 6:13-20, Paul writes:

Brothers and sisters:
The body is not for immorality, but for the Lord,
and the Lord is for the body;
God raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power.

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?
But whoever is joined to the Lord becomes one Spirit with him.
Avoid immorality.
Every other sin a person commits is outside the body,
but the immoral person sins against his own body.
Do you not know that your body
is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you,
whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
For you have been purchased at a price.
Therefore glorify God in your body.

It is really easy to be morally responsible when you are single. It is easy to say that there are certain things you won't do because you are a Christian. But once you're dating someone, the game changes a little. When there is no opportunity to do "bad stuff," then it's easy to say that you're going to wait, whether it's for an extended period of time or -- best case scenario -- until you get married. But then you realize that you're almost 30 years old and that men expect women to do things, especially when they've been around the block a few times. I heard a rumor many years ago that Jennifer Aniston made Brad Pitt wait for her, and he did. Now, I don't know if that's true or not, but I do know that I am not sure I could pull that off. I am no Jennifer Aniston.

So, I go back and forth between moments where I have the urge to do things the right way and others where I think that if two people love each other that's all that matters. And, I guess that's better than some random hook-up, although I'm still pretty sure that it's not the right decision. But I am an adult. And I know I could deal with any adult decisions that happened to be consequences of my actions. I guess that helps, even if it doesn't make it right.

I just don't want to do anything to screw this up. And I know that no matter how much I try to talk myself into one camp or the other, things will be dramatically different during those moments when I'm actually in the situation.

I think I'm going to go back to being a pathetic spinster now, please.

Total slacker on our photo project...

I am beginning to think maybe I should call it the Caribbean Countdown Photo of the Week. Anyhow, girls, this is my latest entry. When do we leave?

Here's another great picture from White Bay.

Fine Dining and Job-hunt update...

I went on a business trip with my aunt last night. She's in meetings right now, and I'm one of those folks who bilks every single minute out of a hotel before it's time to check out. I just wish that I'd have read the profile for the right hotel online so I'd have known there was a fitness center and a hot tub. Everyone who knows me knows that if I go to a hotel with those amenities my gym bag comes with me. It'll be going with me to Nashville next week. I try not to get out of my workout routine if I can.

Last night my aunt and I went to a chain restaurant that was attached to the hotel. It was kind of a middle-of-the-line kind of chain, apparently well-known for its barbecue ribs. It has a sports bar kind of feel to it. It was nice. The drinks were great, and I taught the waitress about the Porn Star (half Razzmatazz and half blue curacao), but I had the electric lemonade (gin, vodka, rum, blue curacao and sweet and sour). Generally, if you put blue curacao in a drink, I'm in. Which is one way I'm different from Rosalie; she HATES blue drinks. Craziness.

Anyhow, the appetizer we had was some sort of spicy egg rolls. Very good. Then dinner came, and it went downhill for me. I am addicted to barbecue pork. It is probably my favorite sandwich to get when I am at a restaurant. I already told Amy that she should expect some good southern barbecue when we're in Tennessee next week. Once the Hard Rock Cafe opened in Detroit, I got addicted to their Pig Sandwich, which is barbecue pork with fries, baked beans and cole slaw. The barbecue sauce on that sandwich is absolutely perfect. I guess I must be spoiled. I'm one of those folks who actually likes the food at the Hard Rock, so I'll eat there when I am around one. Well, I figured a place that specialized in barbecue ribs could probably make one helluva pulled pork sandwich. Oh, how wrong I was. It tasted like that barbecue pork you can get in the fridge case at the grocery store. Totally processed and disappointing. But, it wasn't that expensive and it was OK, so I didn't say anything.

Unlike the guy at the table next to me. He was complaining about everything. Why did they only have broccoli as a vegetable? Could he get this instead of that? Wah wah wah wah. Finally I see the manager come over to his table. Then he asked to talk to her boss. And all I could think was, "Buddy, this is not a fancy place. For what you're paying and where you are, this place is not bad. It's not like you are at Ruth's Chris or something." I think that is my pet peeve about restaurant patrons. I used to know this girl that when we went to ANY restaurant, from Burger King to Olive Garden, she was amazingly demanding and asked 80 million questions. It bugged the hell out of me and made me not want to go out to eat with her.

In Detroit, there is this neighborhood restaurant called Ram's Horn, that is kinda along the lines of Denny's or Big Boy but the food is better at most locations. My friend Lori and I used to go there every Tuesday night. And people would get such attitude about the quality of their food. I just wanted to go to their tables and ask them what they really expected from an $8 steak dinner and tell them to stop abusing the waitresses. If I am getting bad service or my order is wrong or my food is not edible, I will complain. But if food seems like it's up to par with what you're paying, I don't see the point in complaining. If it's what they promised but not exactly what I expected, that's my fault. There have been times I've told waitresses off or asked to see the manager, but 9 times out of 10, I find they are delivering what they promised.

Maybe I should be more demanding. But generally I think that I'm just pretty easygoing and generally tend to enjoy most dining experiences for what they're worth. I guess no matter how many times I see it, I am still annoyed and a little pissed off when I see people who act like children because they went to a two-star restaurant and expected a four-star experience.

One last note on restaurants. Whenever I come to the big city, I like to go to all the restaurants I miss from living in Detroit. I can't wait until I am in Nashville and can go to places like Panera whenever I want. So, driving around this morning I saw some locations of some of my old haunts. It's amazing how much you miss a place like Caribou Coffee when you live in the middle of nowhere.

I promised a job-hunt update. I got a GREAT lead yesterday. There's a job opening in the publicity department of a record label in Nashville. A BIG label. I am sure a zillion people will apply for it, but I am going to toss my name into the hunt. I don't think I am going to have any trouble finding a job there, and I think I am going to totally be in my element living in the Music City.

Also, this morning while I was in the shower I got a great idea for my little communications firm I'm starting. (NO, it was not a name, unfortunately.) It will just be one component of the work that I am doing, and I'm pretty excited about it. If I can pull it off. I'll be doing more research while I'm done there next week. I am hoping that I'll be able to get the ball rolling and y'all will hear about it first, just as soon as I get all my irons in the fire. We'll see...

While I'm on that subject, I wanted to thank all of my dear readers and friends who have been encouraging me and praying for me during the job search. We are nowhere near the point where we should be panicking about the job situation, but I appreciate all the good thoughts coming my way. I cannot wait until I get a new opportunity so we can all celebrate together.

Since you're not busy...

Why is it that I seem much busier since I stopped working than when I was working. Today I pretty much worked nonstop. I finally got caught up on those stupid cup orders that accumulated while the laptop was in the shop. I made our travel arrangements for Nashville next week. I am working on pulling together a to-do list while I am in town. Then my aunt called and asked me to go with her to Columbus tomorrow for a business trip. She thought I might want to look for a job while I was there, but I had to explain to her that there are no plans of being employed in Columbus anytime soon. I have a plan and it's moving along quite splendidly. It's fantastic. I am doing great. Of course, today I get a lecture from my mother about moving to Nashville for the "right reasons." And I tried to assure her that I am. I guess as long as I know it doesn't matter, right?

So, tomorrow before I leave for my trip I have to do laundry, go take the contents of my car to storage locker land, and help my cousin Donna with her resume. I am not sure how I'll fit it all in, but I am going to try. I also have one resume that has to be faxed that needs writing samples, so I'll have to do that one before I leave. There are about 18 resumes that I figure I can work on while I'm there.

I will try to check in tomorrow night. If I can't know that I am probably alive. I hope.

Not a big fan of martinis or blueberries, but OK...

You Are A Blueberry Martini

You are a eclectic drink - liking to change drinks and venues often.
You are usually the first of your friends to find a cool new dive bar or cocktail.

You should never: Drink mystery drinks strangers hand you. Unless you want to wind up in foreign country.

Your ideal party: Is mobile, hopping from party to party.

Your drinking soulmates: Those with an Orange Martini personality.

Your drinking rivals: Those with a Chocolate Martini personality.

What Flavor Martini Are You?

My song of 2005

I can relate to this:

Your 2005 Song Is

Since You've Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson

"But since you've been gone
I can breathe for the first time
I'm so moving on"

In 2005, you moved on.

What Hit Song of 2005 Are You?

So, the computer ate my post...

I had a big long post and my computer ate it. I am starting to get pissed off at my laptop. Urrgggh. I'm not even going to try to replicate it at all. It was really good, and now it's gone.

I told my parents about getting laid off, and it wasn't terrible. They know my work isn't doing well and they know it wasn't my fault. That was a big relief. I have really been worried about it. I am glad that's done and I'm glad I didn't get a big lecture about how much I suck. I went in to the office for a little bit to wrap up a project, and I got home right around lunch. At first my mom worried that I got fired but when I told her what happened, she understood. And the first thing she asked me was if I am still going to Nashville. Of course I am.

But I won't be taking the job where I had the great interview last week. I didn't think it was where I needed to be, so I'm not devastated. I found several great leads today, and I am still very excited about the move. And the best part? The woman who interviewed me asked me to call her when I got to town and said she still wanted to work with me. It sounded like it was a timing thing. I can't wait until I'm down there full-time, because I think it'll be a lot easier to find a job.

In my original post, I talked about making margaritas out of the limes life tosses at you, but then I realized these aren't limes. Let's review for a sec.

1. God let me go from my job so I could look for a new job that met my career goals. I am not upset about it. He has closed one door and opened a HUGE picture window for me!!!
2. I didn't get this job, but I was lukewarm toward it. I was not 100% sure I was supposed to be there, and I was right. So, I don't need to agonize over deciding if it was the right fit. God said no, it wasn't. And secondly, I am still on my timetable to get down there instead of rushing to get there to fit into their time schedule.

Toma says the best prayer is one where you Thank God rather than asking him for favors. Thank you, Lord for all you do for me. I see your greatness in my life on a daily basis and I am so fortunate to be one of your children.

Speaking of children, I heard something slightly disturbing on the radio today. They have the county prosecutor's report on each week and he tells how he is fighting crime in our community. Today they told of a man who was prosecuted who owed 6 years of child support. And this man owed $14000. I think that man needs to grow a pair and take responsibility for his kids. That's not much more than two grand a year. Now tell me, could he actually raise his kid for $2000 a year? Nope, I don't think so. Well, I hope he sits in jail for quite a while until he comes up with the money. I imagine kinda like the life his kids probably have while he's hosing them. Men who don't pay child support are absolute pondscum. I cannot think of anything worse than stealing from your kids. They're just little. It's not like they can go get a job to pay for their own clothes and school books. Asshole.

For my geek friends...

Question about my "new, improved" laptop. (Hurry up and answer before the warranty runs out Saturday.)

Whenever I unplug my laptop now to use the battery, the screen is significantly less bright than when I use AC power, to the point where it's difficult to see stuff when I'm on battery. Is this a setting I can fix? Or is it back on the phone with India?

Patiently waiting while sitting in one place.

For those following the story...

I just sent an email to the gal in Nashville following up like I promised. Over the weekend I crunched numbers and did a little soul-searching, and if that is where I am supposed to be, I will be. And I could swing it if I have to. Now, I do still have 12 resumes to send out today, but whatever will happen, will happen.

Every week in our paper at church, there a question of the week that ties in with Sunday's readings. Yesterday's was:

How would you respond to Jesus' question, "What are you looking for?" When Jesus enters our lives with the gentle call of His grace, how will we reply? Will we be busy with other things, afraid He will ask too much of us? Or will we trust Him? Will we be open to His call and a new beginning in our lives?

I thought that was very interesting, because it really spoke to me. I honestly believe that God has put me on the path that I'm on. Yeah, it's a little scary, but I'm excited too. I told you that I think folks think I'm nuts for being so optimistic, but why wouldn't I be. I am following my heart and my dreams, and I am honestly doing what I believe that God wants. What is not exciting about that? So I lost a job that I hated. So I am leaving my family. I'm only going to be 6 hours away. It's all going to be just fine. Honest. And if it's not, then I pray about it and God helps me get back on track.

While I was typing this I checked my email and this was waiting there for me. It's an interersting tie-in, so I'm going to include it...

Fully Committed To Now
Why We Are Not Shown The Big Picture

Sometimes, we may find ourselves wishing we knew what our lives are going to look like or what gifts and challenges are going to be presented to us in the coming months or years. We may want to know if the relationship we're in now will go the distance or if our goals will be realized. Perhaps we feel like we need help making a decision and we want to know which choice will work out best. We may consult psychics, tarot cards, our dreams, and many other sources in the hopes of finding out what the future holds. Usually, at most, we may catch glimpses. And even though we think we would like to know the whole story in all its details, the truth is that we would probably be overwhelmed and exhausted if we knew everything that is going to happen to us.

Just think of your life as you've lived it up to this point. If you are like most of us, you have probably done more and faced more than you could have ever imagined. If someone had told you as a child of all the jobs and relationships you would experience, along with each one's inherent ups and downs, you would have become overwhelmed. With your head full of information about the future, you would have had a very hard time experiencing your life in the present moment, which is where everything actually happens.

In many ways, not knowing what the future has in store brings out in us the qualities we need to grow. For example, it would have been difficult to commit yourself to certain people or projects if you knew they wouldn't ultimately work out. Yet, it was through your commitment to see them through that you experienced the lessons you needed to grow. Looking back on your life, you would likely be hard pressed to say that anything in your past should not have happened. In fact, your most challenging experiences with their inevitable lessons may have ultimately brought you the greatest rewards. Not knowing the future keeps us just where we need to be-fully committed and in the present moment.

This was freaky...

So, I take the what kind of candy are you quiz. And while I'm waiting for my results I thought (don't ask me why I thought this), "It'd be really nifty if I were Reese's Peanut Butter Cups."

And then the screen changed, and I see:

Reeses Peanut Butter Cups

Very popular, one of you is not enough.

What Kind of Candy Are You?

OMG!!!! When are we leaving?

I have no intentions of snorkeling or scuba diving when we get there. I think I'd be way too freaked out to keep my head underwater that long.

And then I see pics like this:

Needless to say, unless we are leaving TODAY, it's not early enough for me!!!!! How can one place be sooooooo beautiful?

Wonder what today will bring...

I am sitting here in the process of getting ready so I can go get my new driver's license. Yes, I know that I am moving in a month, but apparently I need an Ohio driver's license to file for unemployment. Okey dokey.

Of course getting a new license means putting in at least a little effort so you don't look like shit in your picture, right? But you always do. Simply because it's a driver's license photo.

I'm thinking I'm not going to the storage locker when the snow is coming down to deposit my belongings. Thinking I'm driving around with a carful of possesssions just a little bit longer. Why is it that when I actually have the time to do it that the weather won't cooperate?

I think today's agenda is going to include cleaning my room and getting things organized here (chucking another round of belongings) and then doing resumes tonight. I think I have 12 that need to be done. Isn't that exciting? I have to put Word back on my computer first...

Sooooo, I'm debating a little topic of discussion on the blog. I'm pretty honest here, and I think most folks could read this and get a vivid look into my life (although one of my dearest friends yesterday told me she didn't know ANY of the "11.5 things you might not know about me"), but while I'm candid, I don't know how personal I've really been. And the topic running through my head is pretty damn personal. It's a lot less personal than things I've seen elsewhere, but probably more personal than anything I've shared. Maybe I've just been inspired by other folks being pretty personal about their lives lately. I know I've been thinking about it more lately because of everything coming up in life. I just don't know why this morning I woke up and thought "great blog topic!"

It won't happen immediately because it's time to get going to the BMV. Maybe later. I have to write the next chapter in my book tonight. Maybe I'll do that and if my missive is still in my consciousness, then you're in for a treat.

Or maybe you'll all finally tell me to shut up. LOL.

Remember the belief-o-matic?

Here's a simplified version. Must stop online quizzes now or there will be nothing the next time my brain is sludge. (Who wants to be on my butt tomorrow about the next chapter in my book? Remember the "Friends" when Ross helps Joey write his script?!)

You are a Believer

You believe in God and your chosen religion.
Whether you're Christian, Muslim, Jewish, or Hindu..
Your convictions are strong and unwavering.
You think your religion is the one true way, for everyone.

What's Your Religious Philosophy?

One more thing...

What is your life path number? A good one...

Your Life Path Number is 4

Your purpose in life is to build your vision.

You are practical and responsible. You work hard, knowing that there are no shortcuts in life.
You work for a better life for yourself and those you love, but you are not an idealist.
Trustworthy and honest, you also demonstrate great courage. People can count on you.

In love, you are a loyal and committed partner. You are the ideal spouse.

You don't give up easily, and sometimes you can be too stubborn and unwilling to change.
You also can be too conservative at times. You sometime miss out on good opportunities.
Also remember that not everyone can work as hard as you, as disappointing as that is!

What Is Your Life Path Number?

Caribbean Countdown Photo of the Day...

I am lazy and my head hurts. It's way too late, but there's nothing like laughing so hard you almost pee your pants with your West Coast friends. And tomorrow's an early day. I'm seeing a nap-o-rama in my future.

So, is this Friday's pic? Or Saturday's? Or both?

My last day at work was not bad, although I will miss all the folks. Apparently two other people got cut down to part-time, which when I was asked I did not take. When I looked at all the work that got left behind, I probably should've, but it's the same amount of money to work 20 hours a week or to take unemployment. And this way I'm not tied down here and I can spend my days getting all my ducks in a row to move and get a job. I have a whole new stack of leads this week that I'm going to be working on this weekend.

And the job from yesterday? I talked to a friend who's been off on vacation and she helped me formulate a plan. So if that job's supposed to be my job, it will be.

My brother suggested that I try pharmaceutical sales, but considering that pharamaceutical sales are one of the reasons that prescription drug costs in this country are astronomical, I'm going to have to take a pass. I would actually hate myself if I took that position. Big hypocrite points there. I'm not saying Ihaveto take a feel-good kind of job, but I can't take a job where I go into it knowing I'm going to feel dirty when I sit down at my desk everyday.

So, I calculated my blog's worth...

One4JC sent me over to this site that calculates your blog's worth, and this was what it told me. How? Where? Why? Or to quote Ron Tidwell in Jerry Maguire, "Show me the money!"

My blog is worth $2,822.70.
How much is your blog worth?

One more reason moving to Tennessee is good...

Now, this is a campaign I'd be working on. Tim and Faith did some work with the Gores when I was working for a Congressman, and they seem like great people.

Tim McGraw Eyes Politics.

Just a quickie...

I'm digging the high road, I just wish folks would realize that I'm serious about being on it. This week, a friend of mine was accused of "attacking" someone (and it wasn't an attack and it wasn't personal) because of some past greivances I had with someone. I hold no grudges. I have no agenda. What's done is done, and what's past is past. I just need to keep moving on in the positive direction I'm moving in. And let me tell you, the more I live my life the more I love it. I got some great news this evening that absolutely, positively made my day.

Prayers needed. This may sound petty, but could you all pray that either my brother somehow pays his rent or the office will take our deposit they have saved for us as the last month's rent. He is not even living there because the power has been shut off, so I'm scared to think about how bad the apartment might be. I am not sure how I'll get everything out of there. So, please just pray we get all that wrapped up in the next few weeks. I can't afford to pay any more there, so I hope it all gets worked out. I doubt it will. At least he'll get his room back here when I leave.

Not much else to report today. I am really hoping tomorrow goes well. Fingers crossed.

Great interview

Oh crap. That job interview was GREAT. It was fantastic. Everyone on the team is so nice. The job would be fantastic. They LOVE me.

Why is that a problem? The salary is a little low. The girls here tell me that I can live on it, but I am not so sure. I told the gal who interviewed me that I would crunch the numbers and look at what I could do and get back to her soon. It would be an awesome job. I just don't know if I can do it. It would be very tight. Very tight. But I would have flexible scheduling and I could use that to work on some freelance writing and PR to help pay the bills. I also have that money in my savings, but I can't live off the money in my savings as a supplement forever. Maybe I could get a second job just to pay off some of my bills just for now? To get out of debt? That wouldn't be hard in Nashville. There are plenty of places to work. Even if I worked weekends at Target just long enough to get some bills paid down that wouldn't be a bad thing.

I haven't gotten the job yet. But I loved the organization and the position and they sure do seem to love me. I just have to let her know if I am going to keep my name in the hunt within the next few days, which would guarantee me a second interview in Nashville. They might not even hire me.

I tend to think that I can make it work if this is where God wants me to be. I don't think I should withdraw my name now. I think I could be 100% happy there, and it'd definitely help me work toward my long-term goals. Because let's face it, my really long-term goals aren't even going to be an issue for a couple of years at least...

Any thoughts? I have a stack of applications to send out tonight, but if this is where I'm supposed to be it will be.

I guess we'll see...

Well, that was interesting...

So, my boss finally got back to work today. Now, you'll remember I hadn't told my team that I was leaving because we were supposed to sit down and have a meeting and realign everyone's work plans to cover the gap. Anyhow, my boss has been off sick for the last week and a half, and I hadn't told them because I thought we were still doing that. Well, today she finally came back and basically all she told them was that I was leaving and that they'd figure out all the work tasks later and such. Now, I know she is sick, but I could've done that weeks ago and not had it sprung on them. Oh well, I feel really bad about it. They seem upset that I am leaving. The reality is that for months I haven't really had much to do because they haven't given me anything new knowing I was leaving. So, there isn't even that much to have them pick up. They are already doing it all. They will be just fine without me. If they weren't, I am sure that I would still be here.

I am upset thinking about the looks on their faces. I am upset that she told them it was my idea to not tell them until today. Yeah, I delayed it, but because we had a plan that didn't happen. If I'd have known we weren't going to do it the way that was planned it wouldn't have gone down that way. So, for the first time since I found out I had to leave, I am upset. I am upset because these are three people I care about, and I feel like I hosed them. And, of course, I got blamed for it. Really, I should be even happier, confirming just one more time that I have been doing the right thing, planning to leave. But I don't like to hurt people I care about, even unintentionally. And she makes it sound like it's been months that I've known that January 13 was my last day. It hasn't been. I found out right before Christmas. Merry Effing Christmas to me, remember?

So today I'm sad about this whole job thing. Not because I've lost my job. Not because I don't know how I'm going to make it. I've got that down-pat. That's going to be fine. I'm sad because I unintentionally hosed people. Great, wonderful people.

But really I don't get why I'm supposed to be sad. I've been looking for a job for months. I love the people here. I loved being home. But this isn't where I need to be. It doesn't fit into my career goals. I am excited. I'm very excited. For the first time in my 30 years, I feel like I know where my life is going. All my hopes and dreams are within reach and I'm grabbing until I get them. And I'm excited about it. I wasn't ever going to be happy here because I wasn't ever going to feel that way here. And my boss knew this. Because remember the original deal? The deal was that I was going to Nashville at the end of February and I'd have to leave work then. She knew that. That was the deal. She's the one who came up with this January 13 date at the end of the year. I'm just not sure she listens to a word I say. Oh well. So, aside from work ending earlier than we'd originally planned and me getting a bigger headstart on my move and going to get my hopes and dreams, nothing really changed. So, why wouldn't I be excited.

I'm not sad that my job has ended. Once again, I will say: God let me out of this situation so I could look for a job without guilt. I believe that with all my heart and soul. I am sad that I feel like I've let down my co-workers, but really I wasn't doing much to support them besides being here anyhow. I will miss them very much. I hope that they didn't think I was being callous by being excited. I hope they know that I have shed tears for them. I am sad to leave them, and if any of them ever wanted a job in Nashville I'd do whatever I could for them. There is just no point in shedding tears for an opportunity that is done, that has run its course.

Or maybe I'm just a big, giant bitch. I don't know.

What's my stripper song?

I can't believe I did this, but it was surprisingly fun. Anyone else?

Your Stipper Song Is

Barbie Girl by Aqua

"I'm a Barbie girl in the Barbie world
Life in plastic, it's fantastic
You can brush my hair, undress me everywhere
Imagination, life is your creation"

You're hilarious and cute - yet you still pull off sexy!

What Song Should You Strip To?

11.5 Things about me...

I am cleaning off my desk today and am just about finished. While I was doing that I found a hand-out from the training I went to in July. We had 12 lines on the paper (why they call it 11 1/2 is beyond me...) but we were supposed to write 12 things about us that folks couldn't tell by looking at us and would help start conversation.

These were mine:
1. I love to walk half-marathons and am always training for my next race.
2. I love to travel.
3. Someday I hope to write a book.
4. I'm addicted to chocolate.
5. I am not a morning person.
6. I love all types of music, especially country.
7. I cannot wait for the new Harry Potter book to come out Saturday. (July, remember?)
8. I spend way too much time on the Internet.
9. I miss hockey. (It has since started back up, woo hoo!)
10. I am always looking for a good political campaign to volunteer on.
11. I am the oldest of four children.
11.5 I live on a farm.

Caribbean Countdown Photo of the Day...

Toma found me a cheap flight. When do we leave?!?

Too lazy to blog, so here's another quiz...

Your Heart Is Blue

Love is a doing word for you. You know it's love when you treat each other well.
You are a giving lover, but you don't give too much. You expect something in return.

Your flirting style: Friendly

Your lucky first date: Lunch at an outdoor cafe

Your dream lover: Is both generous and selfish

What you bring to relationships: Loyalty

What Color Heart Do You Have?

No creative epiphanies here...

You are

What Rejected Crayon Are You?

50 random questions...

50 of the most random things you probably never needed to know about someone.

1. Your name spelled backward? arual
2. Last incoming call on your phone? Kay
3. What's your favorite restaurant? J. Alexander's
4. Last time you swam in a pool? When I went to Chicago for work in July
5. What is the last thing you downloaded onto your computer? a letter in Word
6. Have you ever been in a school play? 6th grade
7. 2 or 3? 3
8. Type of music you dislike the most? anything excessively loud
9. Are you registered to vote? of course
10. Do you have cable? yep
11. Have you ever ridden on a mo-ped? Once in high school
12. Have you ever made a prank call? Sure
13. Boyfriend/Girlfriend? I'll pick boyfriend
14. Would you go bungee jumping or sky diving? Hell no
15. Furthest place you ever traveled? California to the West, Germany to the East
16. Do you have a garden? nope
17. What's your favorite comic strip? Dilbert and Calvin & Hobbs
18. Do you really know all the words to your national anthem? Of course
19. Bath or Shower, morning or night? Shower, morning
20. Best movie you've seen in the past month? Has Harry Potter been in the last month?
21. Favorite pizza toppings? banana peppers and mushrooms
22. Chips or popcorn? popcorn
24. Have you ever smoked peanut shells? can you do that?
25. Have you ever been in a beauty pageant? seriously?
26. Orange juice or apple juice? OJ all the way baby. Apple Cider? Totally different story.
27. Who were the last people you went out to lunch or Dinner with? the girls from work
28. Favorite type of chocolate? Milk chocolate but from Europe
29. When was the last time you voted at the polls? November, for township trustee and schoolboard
30. Last time you ate a homegrown tomato? I'm allergic to tomatoes
31. Have you ever won a trophy? yes
32. Are you a good cook? I'm a great cook
33. Do you know how to pump your own gas? yes
34. Ever ordered from an infomercial? I did. Tae bo DVDs.
35. Sprite or 7-Up? Sprite
36. Have you ever had to wear a uniform to school/work? 12 years of Catholic school, baby!!!!
37. Last thing you bought at Walgreens? camera batteries? It was CVS where I had to buy that stupid eye patch.
38. Ever thrown up in public? Nope
39. Would you prefer being a millionaire or finding true love? true love (although if I were a millionaire I could buy love...just kidding, folks!)
40. Do you believe in love at first sight? unfortunately
41. Can ex's be just friends? If anyone says yes, call me and tell me how that works.
42. Who was the last person you visited in the hospital? I called Rosalie when she was in the hospital, but I think it was my grandma and Aunt Betty when they happened to be in there at the same time...
43. Did you have long hair as a young kid? to my butt
44. What message is on your answering machine? I can't take your call right now, but leave a message and I'll call you back.
45. Where would you like to go right now? I'm ready to go to Nashville right now.
46. What was the name of your first pet? Humpty Dumpty the dog
47. What kind of back pack do you have, and whats in it? I have a purple eastpak back pack from my freshman year of college that I still have. It's empty.
48. Who is your best friend of the opposite sex? probably Matt
49. What is the one thing you are grateful for today? work is almost over and my laptop should be at home
50. What do you think about most? right now? getting a new job and getting moved

Horoscopes...

I'm not sure how I feel about horoscopes. I know some folks think they are Satan's work, but I don't think they're that dangerous. I read them for entertainment and I don't base my life on them, but sometimes you see something that strikes a chord with you, like mine did today. And since I believe that God's hand is in EVERYTHING, I just chalk it up to it being His work. Kinda like him talking to me in a Carrie Underwood song, He's got lots of ways to get messages to us.

January 10, 2006
The Bright Side
Gemini Daily Horoscope

If you're doing work or conducting business today, it may be beneficial to focus on not letting your emotions get the better of you before dealing with anyone. If something happens that makes you uncomfortable, regardless of the details, you may be best served by not taking things personally. It might give you some relief to remember that most of us have dealt with similar situations. A tool that could help you today is to try to make the best of whatever may arise for you - the proverbial lemonade-from-lemons approach. If you are faced with a negative scenario or personality today, you could consider finding a positive way to view what happens. You could ask yourself if there's a valuable lesson to be learned from the situation. Even if things seem irredeemable, you may be able to get a good laugh out of it.

Making the best of any situation can free us from being a victim of circumstance. Finding the bright side in any given situation is a learned skill and one that gets progressively easier each time we try it. This skill frees us to conduct business and meet goals in a professional frame of mind while still feeling upbeat and positive, regardless of our knee-jerk reactions to the situations or the personalities around us. Make the best of any uncomfortable situation you face today, and you will accomplish what you need to get done.

Does God talk to us through the radio?

JoDee Messina's inspired some fun moments in my life. I'll never forget the night, driving on the expressway when "Heads Carolina, Tails California" came on the radio and I ended up in Chicago 4 hours later. It just seemed like the right thing to do. Or driving through the backroads of Tennessee singing "I'm Alright" at the top of our lungs like there were no cares in the world.

I hadn't heard JoDee's new song "Not Going Down" until this morning. But when I turned on my radio and there it was, it was almost like it was a sign. These are the lyrics.

Guess what was next after I listened to JoDee completely mesmerized that someone put my life in a song? "Jesus, Take the Wheel".

So, I'm feeling like God's talking to me through the radio. Top it off with an interesting conversation with my friend Julie about the dreams I've been having, and I'm just beginning to wonder...

Hey mom, are we there yet?

Here's my latest entry in our picture-posting bonanza. Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE postcards, so it seemed appropriate. I wonder who'll be on my postcard list when I go to the Caribbean?

Wonder what Rosalie and Toma have in store for us today.

So, I'm not sure how good this post will be. I'm kind of tired. I don't know why. I ended up working hard today. My desk is all cleaned out and just a little bit more on top of my desk. Then I'll have to organize a few files (that I'm guessing might've been a mess when I got them) and my computer. Don't have much motivation. Funny thing happened today. I hear the HR lady saying something about going home after work on the phone to her husband. Then I am wrapping things up in my office and she hasn't left. She even says something to me, kinda like she might be joking but most likely not about it being time to go home. I understand about disgruntled employees and such, but I'm not disgruntled. And it's not like I'm going to steal anything. I had to bring my pens and post-its from home. What would I steal? The illegal software that I have legal licenses (and more updated versions) at home? It's not like I could sabotage the company any more than they do on a daily basis. I just thought that was very odd. I am so glad to be getting out of there. And even if this interview doesn't work out (I just do not think the money is going to work), I am sure I'll find something soon.

So, after work I went to the funeral home for my aunt's mother-in-law. I got to see her sister who is 92 years old and moved to Florida a few years ago. She looked so much like her, and I finally told her the story about how one time I came to her house with my parents and we were probably there 40 minutes and I was just chatting away. We got in the car and I turned to dad and said, "When did Gertrude move?" and he told me it was her sister. She got a kick out of it. Then I was part of a case of mistaken identity. They had one of those photo collages at the funeral home (note to friends: when I die, I will haunt you if I have one) and this guy was standing next to me while I looked. Well, he asked me who was in the one pic and luckily it was my cousins, so I told him "That's Whitney and Zack and so on..." Apparently he thought I was someone else, because he says "Who's this? Our great grandma?" I didn't know this guy. And yes the lady who died was my cousin's grandma, but I really wasn't related to these folks. So I quietly slipped away while he wasn't looking...

I tried to go to Chinese buffet tonight, since it was my "free" night only to find out I really thought I wanted Chinese buffet more than I did. I just had a few bites. But bless the little waitress' heart, I got up to go to the bathroom before I paid my bill and I came back and she'd refilled my Diet Pepsi. I felt obligated to drink some more before I left...

Oh, one last note. HP wouldn't let FedEx leave my laptop so who knows when I'll get it. But if I have to drive to the FedEx office in West Virginia, they will NEVER hear the end of it...

Wooo-hoooooo!!!!

We don't get cell service at my current office. But if you keep your phone on by your desk you can get the occasional text message or voice mail. Well, my voice mail went off (not like I'm not checking it a few times a day, just in case) and I checked it and it was about a job interview. I had a nice chat on the phone, and I've scheduled a more formal interview on Thursday. The salary is low (although slightly higher than unemployment) but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. I figure if nothing else I can get a practice interview in. The important thing is that there are people who think I am qualified to do stuff and this move is the right thing to do.

Anyhow, even though I'm pretty sure that this job isn't the job I'm supposed to have, it's definitely nice to know that folks look at my resume and think "Wouldn't it be nifty if SHE worked HERE?" That's a very good sign.

And honestly, if I did get this job I'd have a very flexible schedule and if I could find some freelance writing/PR gigs to help pay the bills it'd be a great way to get started with that venture. The benefits were pretty good, especially the three weeks paid vacation! Much nicer than anywhere else I've been.

Oh well, I'll keep you posted. But please keep those job-hunt prayers coming. He's listening!

Caribbean Countdown Photo of the day...

Another nice one from Virgin Gorda for ya...

We need to get Gretch to get a blog so she doesn't miss the fun!

Overheard today...

So, I was talking to a friend last night about selfish people. And we basically concluded two things:

1. Selfish people have nothing to contribute to a relationship because although they may say they do, really they don't care about you at all.
2. Sometimes selfish people congregate together because they are the only folks who can tolerate their selfish behavior. But when push comes to shove, they will sell others up a river in a heartbeat so they can continue on their ways.

This morning I'm driving to work and I was flipping through the channels and I thought these folks were talking about something else, so I start listening. They are talking about selfish people!

This woman had called in for advice about her husband, who's very selfish. She is raising the kids and going to school full-time and she told how they use paper plates because she has no time to do dishes and her husband wouldn't even think about it, even when they were piled to the sky, and that was just one example.

What did they tell her? That selfish people seek out people with co-dependent tendencies because those are the only folks who will put up with their crap. They look for nice people who will do anything for anyone else. And they look for people who couldn't stand a sinkful of dishes or dirty laundry because then they know it will get done for them.

Their solution? That the nicer, kinder, more co-dependent person just stop taking it. Stop letting HIS dogs out, stop listening to their crap, stop doing the dishes and leave the dirty laundry on the floor. If you can stomach it, eventually they'll realize you've met your breaking point. Everyone has a breaking point and no one deserves to be taken advantage of.

It reminded me of some stuff I dug through last night. I was totally clueless that I was in the throes of a situation like this and I stood up for myself, not realizing what a mess it would cause. I guess when you are a good-hearted person, you don't realize that other people are not motivated by goodness. Looking back on it, I am embarrassed how I acted. When it all started I should've walked away and stayed away. When I first realized things were not what they appeared to be or what folks were telling me, I should've just let them go. But I had to give people the benefit of the doubt, kept believing in people's inner goodness. And just when you think it's all done, folks gnaw at you again. And when they realize you're not taking their bait, they try to take it out on your friends.

I just thought I'd post this because I know there are folks who read my blog who have totally been conned by selfish people. You deserve better. So stop picking up those socks and put your foot down.

Top baby names of 2005

I'm fascinated by baby names. I tend to stick with the old stand-bys rather than go with some of these crazy names that are out there today. I always love the top ten lists to see if others agree with me or are naming their kids crazy stuff.

Here are the lists. The number in parentheses is last year's ranking for that name.

Top 10 Baby Names of 2005

Girls

Emma (1)
Emily (3)
Madison (2)
Kaitlyn (4)
Sophia (11)
Isabella (7)
Olivia (6)
Hannah (8)
Makayla (28)
Ava (25)

Boys

Aidan (2)
Jacob (1)
Ethan (3)
Nicholas (9)
Matthew (5)
Ryan (4)
Tyler (7)
Jack (14)
Joshua (8)
Andrew (12)

What kind of girl are you?

I love, love, love online quizzes. Especially ones that are pretty damn smart. I really liked this one. And I'm seriously thinking I might want to check this book out, just for fun.

I am Girl Next Door
Click on the picture below to read more:

Take the 'What Kind of Girl Are You?' quiz at CookingToHookup.com

Seriously, there are no gay cowboys in Utah.

At least not on the big screen.

I don't know if there are actual gay cowboys in Utah. If there are, they may want to move. Because the new gay cowboy movie that's all the rage, Brokeback Mountain, won't be playing in Utah. A theater in Salt Lake City abruptly changed plans to show the film.

I wonder what made them change their mind. It's not like everyone in the free world hasn't been talking about this movie and they didn't know what it was about. The scary conservative groups like the Eagle Forum are commending them saying that kids don't need to see such things. (Well, it is rated R, and I don't know many kids who'd want to see a gay cowboy movie anyhow.)

I don't see what the hub-bub is. It's a movie. I don't remember a fuss like this over that Hilary Swank movie a few years ago where she played the transgendered person. Maybe there was and I didn't realize it. It's not like bigots (especially in Utah) are a foreign concept.

It kinda reminds me of a friend I had who actually called me all in a huff about Rachel getting pregnant on "Friends" and setting a bad example. Whoa Nelly. It's a sitcom. I watch it to laugh, not to get my life's lessons. I didn't get Rachel's haircut and I'm not gonna have a baby just because she did. Entertainment is just that. It's not real life. Not that I'm not saying there aren't gay cowboys. I'm sure there are. I actually had that conversation with someone the other day. I'm just saying maybe we should take entertainment a little less seriously and allow ourselves to be entertained. Remember what happened when the vice president attacked fictional character Murphy Brown?

What's next in Congress?

I live in Ohio, where a convicted criminal is our Governor and no one seems to care. Well, that's not true. It's kind of sad when you're so corrupt that Jay Hottinger calls for your resignation. But that was six months ago and Governor Taft keeps trucking along.

My point was that I'm not shocked by the Republicans' behavior anymore. I'll admit I was taken aback when a person with George Bush's -- ahem -- credentials received the Republican nomination for President in 2000. Still a little shocked when the U.S. Supreme Court handed him an election I watched him steal on national TV in 2000. And then it pretty much went downhill from there. The last five years in these United States have been frightening. I don't even know where to start. You all know the stats anyhow.

So, after Taft and Bush's antics and embarrassments, I really am not shocked to find out that they aren't the only crooked Republicans. This Abramoff thing is starting to heat up, but I'm slightly pessimistic that anything will be done about it. I guess the plus is that DeLay is not going to be majority leader anymore (finally, a Republican makes a good decision!) but after reading this article, I'm not sure that any of the choices that are left in the House leadership are any better. Not that I'm saying they're crooks, but I'm definitely not a fan of any of the Republican House leaders from Ohio like Boehner and Pryce or really anyone on this list.

And maybe people do care, because I read on Sheri's husband's blog that if the election were held today the Democrats would retake the house. I'm not saying I want all this BS to drag on for 10 more months or that I want Republicans to go to prison. I just don't want them to do bad things and get away with them like nothing happened, with or without legal consequences. I have no tolerance for folks who think they are above the law. On the plus side, my motto lately has been that Karma is a bitch, so I guess if nothing else they'll get theirs on the flip side.

Another thing I read there? There's a group that's trying to get Evan Bayh to run for President in '08. I got all warm and fuzzy just thinking about it. I might join that group. I might send them money and put their signs in my yard. Especially when I move to Tennessee if the fine Republican doctor who doesn't give me warm and fuzzy feelings decides to run. Some say he is, some say he isn't, but it's safe to say I won't vote for him if he does.

Notes from a roadtrip...

So now that Rosalie and I have our friendly competition going on, I don't feel like it's right to post more than one picture from the Caribbean a day, even when it's a really good one. So, I thought instead I'd get excited about Vegas.

We're supposed to hear from our travel agent buddy who's planning our trip for us tomorrow, and I just can't wait. I loooovveeee Vegas. It's a blast. And let's face it, if you're with the right group of friends anywhere is fun. But put four crazy girls in Vegas, and let the good times roll. I know a long weekend is just not enough time in Vegas, but that's better than nothing. Just as long as nobody makes me go to Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill. That just sounds dumb. And I don't have to stay in the Stratosphere, which is close to NOTHING but an IHOP and a bus stop. Not that being close to an IHOP is necessarily a bad thing...

Doesn't Vegas have the best logo? It's pretty recognizable, and it SCREAMS Vegas!

Ummmpph. In a totally unrelated note, I just realized I have double-booked and I am supposed to have a hot date on the phone tomorrow night when I have to be at a meeting. No way to do both. Blech. I guess I will have to leave a voice mail and beg forgiveness. Do you ever have that happen and you feel like you are never going to connect with someone?

Does anybody read these?

About Me

Previous

Archives

What I read

Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Coincidences?

The things we learned in Nashville...

Monday, January 30, 2006

Who were you in high school?

Stole this from Rosalie...

A little religion lesson...

More tagging fun...

Job update...

Sunday, January 29, 2006

Prayers to St. Anthony

I think too much in the car...

Saturday, January 28, 2006

People watching...

Remember the martini quiz?

Thursday, January 26, 2006

God Always Has a Plan B...

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

I have no idea who's posted what anymore...

Migraine 1, Laura 0

Monday, January 23, 2006

Who's with me?!?

So odd...

Sunday, January 22, 2006

How far is too far?

Friday, January 20, 2006

Total slacker on our photo project...

Fine Dining and Job-hunt update...

Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Since you're not busy...

Not a big fan of martinis or blueberries, but OK...

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

My song of 2005

So, the computer ate my post...

Monday, January 16, 2006

For my geek friends...

For those following the story...

Sunday, January 15, 2006

This was freaky...

Saturday, January 14, 2006

OMG!!!! When are we leaving?

Wonder what today will bring...

Remember the belief-o-matic?

One more thing...

Caribbean Countdown Photo of the Day...

Friday, January 13, 2006

So, I calculated my blog's worth...

One more reason moving to Tennessee is good...

Thursday, January 12, 2006

Just a quickie...

Great interview

Well, that was interesting...

Wednesday, January 11, 2006

What's my stripper song?

11.5 Things about me...

Caribbean Countdown Photo of the Day...

Too lazy to blog, so here's another quiz...

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

No creative epiphanies here...

50 random questions...

Horoscopes...

Does God talk to us through the radio?

Hey mom, are we there yet?

Monday, January 09, 2006

Wooo-hoooooo!!!!

Caribbean Countdown Photo of the day...

Overheard today...

Top baby names of 2005

What kind of girl are you?

Sunday, January 08, 2006

Seriously, there are no gay cowboys in Utah.

What's next in Congress?

Notes from a roadtrip...