Various & UnSundry ... part 13!

I've failed to mention that November is NaBloPoMo - National Blog Posting Month - a challenge to blog everyday for 30 days. I think every blogger I know has an inconsistent blogging "season" in their writing -- either from lack of material or just being busy, but I really wanted to try and keep up with this one. Thanksgiving may be tough for me, but I'm going to try!

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I'm superstressed getting ready for this weekend. And the people in my life are not cooperating which is only making matters more frustrating. Hello People, let's work To-Geth-Er! I did come clean with a friend on the phone who's staying through Sunday night to tell her that I'm probably going to be a little ill (or a lot) by Sunday afternoon.

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I was able to make homemade rice krispies treats and spinach dip last night, as well as getting a few things organized in my room. I did however miss a really big thing on my To-Do list. :(

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My little escape is television. I absolutely LOVE Criminal Minds. If you've never watched an episode, you're missing out and I highly recommend it. Last night was FABULOUS! and just confirms that Matthew Gray Gubler is HOT!! (Dear Jesus, please send me a skinny hot guy who loves you and doesn't treat me like dirt. Thank you, and Amen!)
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And to top it all off, my internal schedule is totally thrown out of whack because of the time change. Boo.

Today.

I just needed a welcome distraction! Work is very somber this morning -- but that has more to do with our economy than anything else (trust me!). I have a fairly lengthy drive into work each day, but this morning, I was especially struck by the beauty of the trees, and how they reflect so much the diversity of our nation. The leaves are red, and orange, and yellow, and green, and some are already brown. The people of our nation are peach, and brown, and yellow, and tan, and pale peach( that would be Me!), and a whole bunch of other colors.

And when you put them together, you can see how beautiful they are, just like the trees. You also realize that each can highlight the beauty of the others -- highlighting their diversity, enhancing what God gave them!

After watching the news and seeing who our president elect was going to be, I changed my facebook status to say -- "There are officially no more excuses. If you don't achieve the American dream, it's because you are... WAIT FOR IT... LAZY." Today officially marks the start of a time when there is no excuse why you cannot be what you want to be -- it's only in Your motivation. While some may perceive that as a negative statement, I'm a firm believer that it's the truth. I grew up in an area where there was ALWAYS an excuse. I'm most excited because that doesn't have to be the case anymore. I don't have some unrealistic hope for total equality (hello people, we live in a capitalist system -- there will always be financial inequality because that's the nature of the beast), but today, there are other inequalities that are dead -- like the wicked witch in Oz! -- and THAT is reason to celebrate!

I did not vote for our president elect -- but I am behind him 100% in prayer, and believe that is my right, obligation, and privilege as a citizen and as a human being. My hope is that today, people will take down the signs in their yards and off their cars, so that we can stop seeing the harsh divisions and be one nation, with a president and president elect, fairly inexpensive gas (PTL for $2.04!), and a God-given hope and future.

I am proud to be an American, and you should be too.

Now can we get back to praying for our economy? Please?

I'm confident that this is one of the signs that Jesus really IS coming soon.

I know that I've blogged before about how funny my Mom is. Shirley is hysterical. And 99.9% of the time, she's funny by accident. I grew up with a Mom who doesn't always get comedy, but laughs when she sees or hears everyone else laughing. (And Trust me, it's always funnier than what you're laughing at!) She has this silly non-conventional sense of humor that my brother and I especially love.

Back in March, the Mom's career was totally changed (it's a long story), and now she has every Tuesday and Thursday off. Growing up, my mother rarely had a day off. I mean, we seriously didn't take a family vacation for about 10 years, just because she always had to work. Mom especially loved Saturdays because it was the only time she could veg and just watch tv or rest.

But now that she has every Tues and Thurs off, she's been watching a little more tv. Case in point:

My mom and I were on the phone this morning, talking about all kinds of stuff, and then she says,

Mom: You know I was watching tv the other day, this guy named Julio. He has a show. He used to be a rapper back in the day, but now he's got five kids, one boy, and four girls, and he cried on tv because they're lazy and don't want to work.
Me: (SHOCK!) Mom, who were you watching?
Mom: Some rapper named, I think his name was Julio?
Me: Mom, do you mean COOLIO? Mom, were you watching Coolio?
Mom: (Clearly excited) YES! Yes that's who I was watching! He was talking about his kids and how unmotivated they were.
Me: (laughing uncontrollably)

Then, she proceeds to tell me she's also been watching Kimora Lee Simmons (She called her Kimono at first), and the Real Housewives of Atlanta.

This all coming from the same woman who had MTV blocked out of our house for 8 years growing up.

Yep, if you don't know Jesus, go Here, because TRUST ME, My mom watching Coolio on TV means that Jesus is coming SOON.

Weekend in Pictures

What do you get when you cross Sarah Palin, an Oompa Loompa, Chuck Norris, and three NASCAR fans together?

A really hilarious Halloween!

I have 8 currently.

You know you have too many blogs when you mispost more than once. In a day. In the same half hour.

And strangely enough, my title is True.

WARNING: TANGENT. Be advised.

When my grandmother was here a few weeks ago, she made a point to wait until I was trapped in the car for a good while to ask me about Paul. Paul was a guy I went to church with ions ago. He's 6'4", a year younger than me, and had the great cheeks that I called "hypercolor" (think about the t-shirts). I had a HUGE crush on Paul (partly because he was such a sweetheart and because he was so tall!), and it was my understanding the feelings were mutual. But I was 16, and he was 15 and frankly we were both dorks. I SOOO wanted him to take me to my junior prom (I even bought a dress), but he never asked.

And everytime I go to my Mom's church, his aunt tells me how sad she is that we never dated. And so my grandmother asked me in the car that day, "Why didn't you ever date Paul?". And my response was that he NEVER ASKED.

He's now happily married, but everytime I see his Mom or Aunt or third cousin twice removed, the only thing they can say to me is, "Why aren't you with Paul?". And frankly, it's exhausting. And hurtful. And kinda mean.

All I'm saying is: You have not, because you ask not, and making the girl feel bad about it now: NOT EFFECTIVE. Please stop asking.

Thank You,
Management.

And suddenly, I'm not SO worried.

I really do worry about getting married. I'm fully aware that that's COMPLETELY the opposite of what I should, but the upcoming birthday gets to me.

And then I get a chance to watch three episodes of My Big Redneck Wedding and suddenly:

1) I realize my standards are good,
2) There really is someone for everyone, and
3) That show makes the South look good.

Thoughts? Comments?