Not me Monday/ Running on Fumes

Well, as I mentioned last night with my post, I was at work all weekend and last night. Late. Very Late. 4:00 am late (or is that early). As you can see from the picture, this is the clock when I walked into my bedroom after coming home. 4:07 am. Needless to say, being at work at, I mean around 8 was NOT fun. As a matter of fact, it was very hard. I am yawning as I type, and I have hit the backspace button approximately 4,119,827 times already in this post because my fingers are not working. Period. Neither are my eyes. Because this is what I was staring at at 1, 2, 3, and 4:00 am:
Numbers. A LOT of them Percentages to be exact. Let me remind you that I am not a math whiz, or a computer genius and now, you would think that I was a statistical machine who was in love with writing macros in Excel. I majored in political science and communications. Two totally different things. Ha. I did take the opportunity to wear a great University of Alabama t-shirt to work today, since you know getting 3 hours of sleep allows us the chance to dress down even more than we already do. It is getting me pumped up for football season. And now that July is almost here, that means football season is just around the corner! Yay! I can't wait! Football season is going to be very interesting this year. I went to Alabama and my brother went to Auburn, so I have always been used to the sweet, friendly little rivalry that we always have going on every year, but this year will be a little bit different. J went to Auburn with my brother! It is one thing to have a rivalry with your big bro, smack talk is easy, we'll see how it goes! It should still be LOTS of fun and I am definitely looking forward to football season and football parties!!! (If you aren't from the South, or from Alabama, you may not know the deep in state rivalry between THE University of Alabama and auburn university, but it is a big one, and lasts all year long.)

Anyway, sorry about the tangent on football, wearing the shirt this morning got me very excited. Back to my weekend. Since I had to go into work I actually had to stay in town this weekend (this is the first weekend I have done this since the end of April). I got up EARLY on Saturday and got all of my chores done by 9 am. (I had to come into work, get my oil changed and car washed, and clean the house just a little) I then got to play all day. I was in a crafty/creative mood, so when I got home I did a little art project (pictures to come) and even broke out the chalk pastels and charcoal. I had a good afternoon listening to music and being a little creative. I even finished the book My Sister's Keeper (which is good and is not out in theaters).

Sunday, I came into work early again and then decided to iron all the clothes my mom set aside as "you can't wear these until you iron them." I decided I would go ahead while I had the time and nothing else to do. So, I ironed and watched a movie, The Secret Life of Bees. Then, I went into work around 9 pm Sunday and left around 4 am Monday and that brings me back to where I am right now. Tired, running on little sleep, and at work.

Now, if you are here for Not Me Monday. I guess I have already given up everything I did this weekend. But here are a few.....

- This weekend, I did NOT wake up at 4:30 am both Saturday and Sunday and get up to watch the sunrise! It is the weekend, I would have most certainly slept in!
- While coming into work on said Saturday and Sunday mornings, I did NOT stay a few extra minutes to read blogs and catch up with everyone's lives when I could have promptly gone home.
- I am not SO excited about the coming weekend certainly did NOT lay out my clothes and start packing my bags! Why in the world would I start doing that a week in advance?
- I am so not so obsessed with the social media world (Twitter, blogging, etc.) that it has not been one of the first things I do when I wake up in the mornings to check all of the above websites (from my phone before I even get out of bed). NOT Me!

I hope you have enjoyed this long and rambling post, and my half-way NOT ME MONDAY. I will try to post some pictures from my craft project as soon as I take some more. Have a great week!

NUMBERS.....Late

Working late is not good for my eyes or brain! I am at work and NOT loving it. Our server, internet and phones are all down because of some bad weather here today. But, I am still here (along with a few others. However, this is my 3rd time to be here this weekend! Yay for me! I update you on my weekend when I am noton my Blackberry!!

ABC. Easy as....

123. Simple as do re mi. ABC, 123, baby you and me girl.
So, sad news....Michael Jackson has passed away. What sad news it was for the world yesterday, we first were mourning the loss of Farrah Fawcett, everyone's beloved "Angel" and then we heard the news that Michael Jackson was rushed to the hospital not breathing and that he eventually died at UCLA Medical Center. It was a sad day for Hollywood and the world. I may be a bit too young to fully appreciate Farrah's legacy and impact on the salon industry with her wispy blond locks, but I am definitely not too young to remember the way Michael Jackson changed the music and dance industry. What kid hasn't moon walked, watched the Thriller video over and over to learn the steps, owned MJ's BAD album on tape, or if you are like me, imitated his famous "crotch grab" while standing in your highchair in front of your Southern Baptist preacher's family. Just saying....

But, besides his legacy of great music and dancing like he doesn't have a bone in his body, MJ had so many other things surrounding him, not limited to scandal and humanitarianism. Everyone who is interviewed about Michael Jackson can't say enough about what a nice person he was. Sure, he may have been pretty eccentric in his clothing choices as well as a few other things, but he did more than that. He also had 2 stars on the Walk of Fame, one for the Jackson 5 and one for his solo career. Many people don't realize how much time and money he even devoted to charities. He was in the Guinness Book of World Records in 2000 for breaking the record of "Most Charities Supported by a Pop Star." He has personally contributed time and money to at least 39 different charities. That is something to remember about a person, and I think it is pretty cool. Sure he made some bad choices, but he also left a legacy for some that shouldn't be forgotten.

I am sure so many things will come out in the coming days about his death and everyone will be talking about him, but lets not forget the good things. It is sad that it took the death of "The King of Pop" for MTV (Music Television) to actually play music videos! Last night, I couldn't stop watching them. It reminded me of being little and I was surprised at how many songs I actually knew.

Anyway, on a lighter note, I have no big plans this weekend because I have to work. Yes, work! Boo! We have a big project we are working on and someone (that someone being, well, me) has to come in over the weekend and work on it. Sunday, I will even be working while most of your pretty faces will be SLEEPING! :( So, you can dream of me working away at my computer and chugging caffeine (I am NOT a night person). It is almost the 4th of July! That is one of my favorite holidays! Me being the political science major that I am, I am pretty fond of a holiday that celebrates a part of our nation's history! (Nerd, I know.)

Y'all have a great weekend! I will catch back up with you when I can! :)

Southern Belle

I thought I would have something profound to say today because last night was a big night on television with the Bachelorette and all. However, I must say that I am very disappointed in Jillian and she is almost not worth my words. She only has a couple of good guys left, maybe they are the ones she is focusing on. If not, she gets what she deserves by keeping some of them around. I think she is an idiot now. I did like her, but not so much anymore, she seems like she needs to grow up a little.

As for Jon and Kate, I am sad for them. But, I can see where it would have never worked in the long run for them. After seeing the show and reading their book, I just don't really get them. It sucks that they have 8 kids to support, but that is a decision that they made. I feel sorry for them, but at the same time, they knew what they were getting themselves into. I just can't imagine being 32 years old divorced with 8 kids. That has got to be tough.

Not to mention that Ed McMahon passed away this morning! Sad day! I used to watch him on Star Search all the time when I was younger!

My mom sent me this cute website today with t-shirts and things for Southern Belles...you should check it out.

Happy Tuesday! Have a great week!

What a weekend!

Wow, I had a crazy, busy, awesome, fun-filled weekend!! I really need to start getting my camera out more! I always have it with me, I just don't ever use it! With as much as I say I need to start using it, you would think I would learn! Oh well, I guess that just means I will have to tell you......

Friday, I made the trip to Huntsville again for a few reasons.....but one was to escape the heat that is consuming south Alabama in June! Seriously, you can't walk outside if you think you may want to breathe because the air will be taken from you. You can however go outside if you want to feel like you are cooking and want to be dripping with sweat just for going outside. It. Is. HOT. And it is only JUNE. My car said 111 on Friday when I got in my car to make the journey north. Way. Too. Hot.

Anyway, enough about the heat, there is nothing I can do...so, I went to Huntsville Friday and started the weekend with my parents and J at a local Mexican restaurant, Phil Sandivals! It is MY FAVORITE and I try to go there when I am in town because I like their fish tacos! Anyway, it was good and lots of fun! J and I then went across the street to Rosie's (another Mexican place) and got a margarita! It was a lot of fun to just relax after a long car ride and a hot day!

Saturday, J and I spent the day at Bridgestreet and running around town. We had lunch at Surin (a local Thai place) and it was better than I remembered! It was so good! I could eat their coconut milk soup everyday and never get tired of it! We then got ready and drove to Florence to meet J's sister so he could surprise his dad. He hasn't seem him in over 20 years and didn't know J was coming! It was SO much fun! I am glad I got to be part of it and their family was so excited to see him (some of them had never met him). He looks just like his dad and they couldn't get over how handsome J was (of course, because he is and there is no denying that, you should see him). They grilled steaks and potatoes and had more food than you could imagine (along with yummy homemade ice cream)! We got to spend time with Jessica (J's sister) and Dorothy (Jessica's mom). They are the ones who pulled the whole thing off and kept it a surprise for J's dad! (He thought he was getting a delivery from Lowe's and opened his eyes to see J there). Some delivery from Lowe's! HAHA It was a memory I will never forget! They are such a sweet family and I can't wait to get together again! After we were so stuffed, we drove back to Huntsville and spent the evening having a Dos Equis and visiting with my family!

Sunday, we hung out, grilled burgers and made some peanut butter icecream with Resee's Cups! Oh my goodness, this was the best ice cream EVER! Then, we all had to go back to reality and drive home. :( That is always the worst part of a good weekend....leaving. But, June is almost over, so the summer is flying by already. Next up: The 4th of July! That should prove to be a wonderful weekend as well!

Now that it is Monday, I went to the doctor for my check-up. He said everything is going better than he expected. I still have little hearing in my right ear, but it is better than last time. There was nothing on the MRI which is good, and now only time will tell. We just have to wait and let things run their coarse and get better as they will. Even if my hearing doesn't get better in that ear, it will be ok, I have kind of adjusted to hearing things like that and I don't think it will bother me too much! So, here is to a great week! Hope you all have a good one!

Revolution

Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. ~ 1 Timothy 4:11-13

Are any of you like me and do your best thinking in the shower? I feel like I do, and I often wonder why that is? I have no clue and I don't wanna figure it out really, I just thought it was cool. They should really invent something (I'm sure someone already has) that will allow you to write things down that you think of while you are soapy and soaking wet in the shower. You are probably asking yourself "Why in the world is she telling us about thinking and writing stuff down in the shower?"
Well, glad you asked, I will just have to tell you......

Sometimes we just get stuck in a rut. Everything just goes around and it is the same day in and day out. You know you are bored and you want or need things to change, we just get so comfortable with the way things are that we don't do anything about it. Well, that was kinda happening to me. I mean, sure everything is going along fine in my life. I have a college education, a decent job, I am independent, and generally happy. I have great friends (although I have recently scaled down and gotten selective with those) a great family, and the cutest dog ever if I must say so myself, and it seems that everything is right where it should be. I can't really complain. Sure, there are always things we would change but all in all, things are just fine.

Well, as you may know from my past posts that I was recently out of commission really because of being sick. Sometimes, I think it takes something to make us be still and realize what we should really be thankful for. Since I have been better, I feel like I have generally become a happier person. It may have something to do with a few changes I have recently made in my life with making/changing relationships with people of all kinds, but I think that I have really, for once just stopped to open my eyes to everything that I am so very lucky to have. Sometimes, I think we forget about them and take them for granted.

Since I started reading blogs and being on FB and Twitter, I realize just how lucky I am. I read stories of people who are single dads like Matt Logelin, people who have children that they have lost like Vickie and Angie, and people who have children who have suffered like Kelly and Jennifer. Even though all of these people come from so many different places, I honestly have found myself incorporating them into my daily life. Whether it be daily checking their blogs to see what is going on, or having something remind me of them and their story, or even just being able to have a conversation with people who know their stories as well, or making sure I keep them in my prayers. That is what I was thinking about in the shower. Even though we live in this great big, huge world, there are so many people who are so much like us. Nice people too, compassionate. I know there are just as many bad ones, but I am not gonna count them. I think it is amazing how our technology has been able to bring so many people together for so many things. Look at Twitter, it has helped save someone from suicide, and it is creating a revolution for a country most Americans love to hate, Iran. Isn't this how everything is supposed to be working? Aren't we supposed to be caring, loving and helpful to our neighbors? Treating others as we would want them to treat us? Isn't this how it used to be, when people would help each other at their houses and give things away to people who needed them, cook for people, give them sugar when they were baking a cake. It seems to me (and maybe I am being so naiive) that that revolution is happening and in a big way. There are people EVERYWHERE who are starting to do this. It is pretty exciting. (And I know that I am not the first one to have realized this.)

That was my revolution in the shower. It made me really happy. I thought I would share. Maybe I am going through educational withdrawals because I am not in school anymore and haven't really had any "profound" thinking experiences in a while, or maybe it is just me getting a new outlook on life. Either way, it is cool, and I like it, and I hope you pick it up!

The Cheesiest

So, since for the past week I have been eating and drinking virtually out of one side of my mouth, I have become accustom to eating soft foods and small bites. And drinking through straws....I have to take straws with me if I go somewhere (I forgot that I can't drink out of bottles). Just drinking a bottle of water is an ordeal! Well, two things have become by best friends..... Macaroni and Cheese and the Tervis Tumbler!

First, Macaroni and Cheese is hard to beat. It never gets old. Even though I have just been fixing the kind out of the box, it is still good, and easy to eat! And the Tervis Tumbler is GREAT! First, it keeps things SO cold for hours (which is good in the South where it is already nearing 100 degrees)! It doesn't break, and they are really cute! My mom and I picked some up at Swoozies for fun and it has been great to carry with me this week! It even comes with a lid and a straw, so I don't have to carry them with me everywhere! HAHA

I am feeling a little sluggish this afternoon, trying to get some work done and get caught up, but also trying to not overdo it too much! I don't want to be back to where I was this time last week! Just wanted to give you all a little update! Can you believe it is already Wednesday? This week is flying by and is almost over! It will be FRIDAY and the weekend before we know it!