Google'em

For the past few days, this word has become a frequent one in my vocabulary, and I have no idea why. It isn't even a word is it? When I say it, it sounds like I am a life-long resident of Jersey. It is funny. My co-worker C and I have been laughing at that all the time and throwing it out there whenever possible, just because it sounds so silly when we say it. But, it is amazing how we pick up things and they just become a normal thing. I mean, ten years ago, if someone said "google'em" to you, you would have thought they were crazy. Now, you know it means that they are telling you to look up something on the internet by typing it into Google. I guess today has been a weird day, and we have to find anything we can to amuse ourselves, but this has been it. What are some other phrases that have come into our language that we wouldn't have known had it not been for our expansion of technology?

That is all I have for "Weird Word Tuesday" (ok, I just made that up, but I don't want you to think I am too crazy.) Now, off to waste the rest of the day and try not to fall asleep. Then, C and I are going across the street for "Happy Hour" and to enjoy Montgomery's version of Fleet Week. Ha. We are on the river, no doubt. Ok, not really it is just a technology conference, but we have to take what we can get, right? (Really it is just for the $1 drafts)

Feels Like Fall

Who didn't love the weather this weekend?? It was absolutely WONDERFUL! I actually got to sit on my screened porch and drink coffee and eat my breakfast without dying from heat and humidity! I actually needed a cardigan! Then again, this morning, when I went for my run, I needed a jacket because it was cool!Fall is in the air and I am SO excited! Football season is almost here! That is the BEST time of year! I had a pretty relaxing weekend, but Sunday, I spent it at the park reading and playing with my favorite little man:



Enjoy your week! It is going to be a GREAT one!! :)

When Life Hands You Lemons.....

....Learn how to make orange juice and make them wonder how you did it!

Lately things have been pretty stagnant around here. Nothing really good happening, but nothing really bad happening either. Everything is kind of just in a stand-still, while the calendar presses on. It is a little weird. But, oh well, I guess when there are no major life events, it gives us time to sit back and observe, if we will. Sometimes I like to be able to slow down and really look at the path that I am on. It is interesting to me how my focus shifts from things I thought were so important to other things. That is kind of where I have been lately, a stagnant observer. Well, stagnant isn't entirely accurate, because I have made some changes. Changes in my attitude, changes in my focus, changes in priorities, and some changes in behavior. They have all been changes for the good, and I am happy about where I am going (for now). I figured since the calendar isn't going to stop moving forward, neither should I. So here have been my conclusions lately:
1. Don't depend on other people to make you happy.
2. Surround yourself with people who know your goals and are willing to encourage and/or help you reach them.
3. Find happiness where you are. There is a reason you are there, so learn from it.
4. Appreciate what you have. We are all in a society where we always want more, this can be a good thing, except when it gets in the way.
5. Pay attention to more things around you.

So, these are a few of them. Thanks for listening. It is Friday, hope you all have a GREAT weekend!

I hate Speakerphone

So, today, I really have nothing for you, except for a list. Here are some things NOT to do while at work. Not that any of these happen at my office, but if they did, they would really annoy me, and probably some other people as well. But first, for all of you who have asked, the shoes are GREAT! They make a HUGE difference! I would recommend them to anyone looking for new shoes. They are very worth it! The only store I have seen them in so far is Sports Authority. But they are the best running shoes ever. And now, the list:

1. Use your inside voice. (I know this sounds like I am talking to 3rd graders, but seriously, remember that there are other people working.)
2. If you can't be quiet on your cell phone, go outside.
3. DO NOT use speakerphone to call someone in the office who is less than 50 feet away from you so everyone in the office can hear everything she/he is saying.
4. It is NEVER ok to walk around barefooted. (I know we live in Alabama, but we own shoes. You should know this by my rave reviews of my recent purchase)
5. It is NEVER ok to come behind someone's desk, or look over their desk to see what is on the computer screen just because you are nosey, unless invited.
I think I could go on, but for now, this is all I can think that could happen in an office. So, just don't do it! You will help make the corporate world a better place, thankyouverymuch.

What a weekend!

Wow! I had a busy weekend! I didn't really do a whole lot, but it seemed like a whirlwind! I started out with dinner in Birmingham with friends from college, then continued to Huntsville. Saturday, my parents and I decided to check out the new Sports Authority that had their Grand Opening. Man, we had so much fun! We acted like we were kids in a candy store. See, we are all running a 5k in October, so we are trying to train and be prepared. I needed some new shoes and have been researching shoes that were the best for me. I found a pair that I LOVED but never found them in the store (because they are brand new). We registered for prizes and my dad even participated in the longest drive competition, it was just lots of fun. We did win tickets to the movie though! Anyway, I was looking at their shoes because they had a bunch of sales, and the biggest display in the store was : Nike LunarGlide+!!!! I was SO excited! I tried them on and they were awesome! They are so light, and they have foam in them that was designed by NASA, so you know its good. We got a few other things, and just had a great time, we were there for 2 hours! Then, my mom and I went to the mall and went shopping some more and then we visited with my grandparents for a while! After that, we went to eat at my favorite restaurant, Phil Sandivals, and then out to a new place called The Station 2. It was a lot of fun. Sunday, we enjoyed coffee on the porch, a trip to Costco and lunch at Newk's. Then, it was time for me to get on the road back to Montgomery. The only negative thing about my trip is that my phone went to be with the phone Jesus in the sky. It quit working (again) and I have to get a new phone (I am patiently waiting for the nice UPS guy to deliver it today). This will be the 3rd Blackberry I have had since I got one last September! Seriously, that is ridiculous! Oh well, until the iPhone comes out for Verizon, or I go back to a regular phone I guess I will have to live with it. I just hate how dependent I am on my stupid phone! So, since I was driving, I have my mom's phone. I guess this should be a lesson to not depend on my phone so much!!

Friends

Well, we find ourselves in another Friday! This week (here in the South) school started back for most, so there is a lot more traffic in the morning and less people out during lunch. I miss school! I was always so excited for school to start back from the time I was in kindergarten to the time I graduated college. I really did love it. And I loved everything about it.

One thing I do miss is friends though. When I was in high school, I didn't hang around the same people I did in elementary and junior high, and when I went to college, I lost touch with most of the people from high school. And now that I am out of college, I have lost touch with a lot of my friends from college (minus a few of my bests). But it is so funny how people change and grow over the years, and how we really come full circle. Lately, I have reconnected with a few friends that I had way back when in elementary and middle school, and it is so neat to see how much we have changed. People go down so many different paths to get where they are going, but somehow, paths usually always cross again. It is so funny (the whole 6 degrees of separation thing). But I must say, i am enjoying it. The other day, I was given a prayer request through Footprints Ministry that I told you about in this post, and it was for a baby here in Montgomery in the NICU. I went to his parent's blog and saw a picture of his mom, and realized that she was my dance team sponsor and a teacher when I was a Freshman in high school! Crazy how we ended up in the same town (4 hours from where we started) and I crossed paths with her 10 years later through a ministry! Don't you love when things like that happen? I sure do. It has been fun reconnecting with people from my past! Have any of you reconnected with people lately that you have built new friendships with??

Well, I hope you all have a great weekend, it is Friday, so this weekend I am traveling to Huntsville for an adventurous weekend. What? You thought I was done traveling for a while? Do you honestly thing I would stay at home for 2 weekends in a row?? Not. A. Chance. ;) Happy weekend!

RUSH

It is August again. That brings a lot of things. Heat. School. Another year of my life celebrated. The end of summer. and sorority rush. My friend Lindsey has the privilege to be revisiting our younger days and joining her sorority for rush, this time as an advisor. Wow, we are getting old. Now, if you are not from the south, you may not know how we do it down here (especially at The University of Alabama), but Bid Day for some girls, is just as important as their wedding day. There is crazy planning that goes into planning for recruitment from both sides, the girls and the sororities. It is the most stressful two weeks (times 4 years) I have ever been through in my life. But, it is serious business and we don't play. One thing I will always remember is the first time I saw a door song. (If you don't know what it is, I don't know how else to explain it to you other than a wall of girls singing at you.) The first thing I heard was (VERY LOUD AND VERY FAST):
"OOOOOOOHHHHHHHHH......ADPI girls here we are, just what you've been looking for, we're waiting, we're waiting for you to come in. We're hoping you'll like us and come back again. Duh duh duh, we'll be sisters firm and true, spending all our time with you, so come on in and have a seat, ADPI girls can't be beat. A-L-P-H-A-D-E-L-T-A-P-I-Pi Oh Myyyyyy!!!! Alpha Delta Pi. Hi. Welcome to the ADPI house, come on in."

Then, after you go through the house and do whatever is scheduled for you that day, they sing again on the way out. I will NEVER forget the first time I saw that! There is nothing like it. I cannot tell you how overwhelmed I was that first day. But I got used to it and had a BLAST! And am very glad I chose ADPi and called it home for the next 4 years. (I lived in the sorority house my Freshman (2nd semester) through my junior year. It was a lot of fun, and gave me lots of memories (and lots of patience). I even got to live in the ADPi house at George Washington University while I worked in DC. My roommate was an ADPi from The University of Michigan, and we still keep in touch! I made friends and memories that will last a lifetime! So to Lindsey: good luck and may you have LOTS and LOTS of patience! I can't think of a better person to be a DZ advisor! :) Wish we could be back in 2006 for a little less stress as Rho Chi's! :)

Alpha Delta Pi - DJ $crilla
*All photos by Sarah Kramm.