Sgt. Pepper who?

Let me start by saying, you don't have to be a Beatles fan to know a good amount of their music. I have never been that into the band, probably because my parents weren't, but I still know some general things about the group and their music. So...when Blaine on Project Runway has the following convo with Tim Gunn, I was baffled: Tim - "It looks a little Sgt. Pepper to me." Blaine, after a slight pause - "I don't know what that is." What?! Paaaaleeeasssee.

The challenge for last night's runway was a great one, an Olympic opening night outfit. What a great idea! It's so patriotic. But the contestants on the show soon pop my excitement bubble. Let me interject that there were some great outfits for the challenge. A few of the designers 'got' the challenge. Let me share with you the outfits that don't really make you think of anything related to the Olympics...except for maybe a dignitary's wife in the bleaches.







Why would you as a designer think any of those outfits would be appropriate for the opening night walk into the stadium? Have these designers never watched one?

Late night ramblings

I've begun a couple of posts before this one that have not made it to print. Let's try again, shall we?

A few posts ago I told you I was trying a new cat litter. The verdict is in: I love it. Feline Pine receives my stamp of approval. The litter trails around the house are gone. The nasty smell of used litter is gone. My cats seems happy with the change. I'm happy too. So, I highly recommend this wonderful product to fellow cat owners.

This morning, we awoke to graffiti on the road next to our house. How random! A gang in Green Hills?! The irony I find in this situation is the raw talent of whoever sprayed-painted the graffiti. You can tell there is talent in the pictures but the person hasn't chosen a good outlet for it. I'll keep you posted on the gang activity in Green Hills ;) For those who don't live in Nashville, Green Hills is not a place you would suspect gang activity.

If you are on facebook, you have probably noticed the recent status lines about needing direction. I'm in the market for a new job. It might be a while before I find a new one but I'm looking. Bottom-line...the current one doesn't supply enough income and there is no room for advancement. I can pay bills but that's about it. As a 30-something, single woman, I need to bring in more than what I currently do. Finances aren't the only thing I need direction on. I won't get into all that on here, though.

Enough of that depressing stuff. My mom and older brother are coming to visit this weekend! I'm taking them to The Pancake Pantry on Saturday morning. mmmmmm If you live in Nashville, you know what I'm talking about :)

Anyone else tired of cooking this summer? I haven't feel like cooking a meal most nights, which means no leftovers for lunch the next day. It's just too hot! Almost 100 degrees outside today! Praise the Lord for air conditioning!

And now to leave you with a random picture to go with my random thoughts. This is what I go through every morning when attempting to make my bed. Sugar thinks it is time for a game of hide and sorta-seek. She loves to hang out under the comforter, which means my attempt to live my bedding straight and pretty is a no-go. Boots just looks on with an older cat glare of "silly kitty, when will she grow up."

Didn't your momma teach you better?

To the known readers of my blog, this post is not directed to you. There may be others that read but never comment, so I can't vouch for you. (Side note: I like comments on my blog.) At lunch today, I encountered what happens from time to time for me. And, every time, I want to reach out and slap the person. That would not be appropriate even though it would make me feel great.

"What happened to your face?" NOTHING HAPPENED TO MY FACE YOU DIM-WIT! I would love to verbalize that previous statement but being a good person, I don't. It's called a birthmark, ever heard of it? And didn't your mother teach you better? Really people.

There are questions I would like to ask to many people I pass throughout the course of a day. Do I? No. Why? Because it would be rude or insensitive or just plain awkward. I don't mind people asking about my birthmark, really I don't. It's the way in which you ask about it that makes the difference to me. Instead of "What happened to your face?", ask "Can I ask about the red mark on your face?" See the difference in delivery? It's called tact, our society needs more of it.

Cheesy smile, huh? :)

Fun in the sun

On Saturday, Wendi, Mandy, and I went to Holiday World. FUN! Wendi had spoken of this place many times and said we needed to go someday. Well, about a month ago we decided that July 26 would be the day we travel to southern Indiana, to the middle of a cornfield and act like a kid all day. After yesterday, I highly recommend this park to anyone!

You get an amusement park and a water park for one price, but that's not all. There are sunscreen stations all over the park, for free. There are drinks stations all over the park...for free! Yes, for free! Pepsi products, lemonades and water for free, as much as you can drink throughout the day. That makes the low admission price even more amazing. The food was good and cheap, too. You don't have to pay an arm and a leg to eat a meal.

The rides were great! All the roller coasters are wooden, which I love to ride. One scared me big time, I was clinging to the bar for dear life! The water park is phenomenal, rides all over the place and plenty of places to relax. The roller coaster rides had a house attached, letting you wait inside while in line. That is ingenious!

With the water park came the need for fashion police. It down right floors me by what some people wear in public just because they are at a water park! That all I'll say about that.

By the end of the day, we were spent. Wendi was knocked out in the back seat so you don't get to see her in the pictures.

It's called a thesaurus

It's not a type of dinosaur or dreaded disease, you don't have to fear it. A thesaurus can be your friend and make you appear much smarter to your friends and coworkers. This wonderful little treasure of a book is a gift I would love to give to my coworker who shall remain nameless. It might scare her! (If you know the person to whom I'm referring, that last statement will make you laugh.) Mandy - did I use the correct who/whom?

Following the path of my friend Mandy, I give you a mixture of two posts she has written lately. Mandy is in the process of teaching some basic grammar lessons. Yesterday she wrote on words that make her queasy inside, or at the least get on her nerves. I submit for your reading pleasure a list of words my nameless coworker needs to use, but she inserts the word scare(d)(s)(y) for most applications:

concerned
confused
alarmed
anxious
dreading
apprehensive
horrified
embarrassed
mortified
terrified
freaked-out
nervous
frightened
worried
panicked
troubled

It's really funny to a three year old

My boss has her three-year-old daughter in the office this morning. Lauren is telling us jokes while we work. Right now, her favorite joke is "Why does the cow jump over the moon? Because it's a lawnmower!" She proceeds to laugh and laugh. We have heard about multiple animals going over the moon because they are a lawnmower. Lauren laughs every time because she thinks it is funny; we are laughing because she keeps them coming.

Isn't it funny how a toddler gets a line in their head and every joke afterward gets that statement as the punchline?

Welcome to Monday

Why do we despise Mondays so? It's not their fault they are the first day of the work week. Friday is the beloved work-week day.

Taking the advice of a friend, I bought a new cat litter last night. Feline Pine looks very different from most litters, but even with just one night of use, and the mixture half new and half old litter, I am very satisfied with the product! Slowly the old litter will go away as they use the litter box, which means I will soon have a litter-free bathroom floor! Yea! :) This may seem a small or silly thing to blog about, but if you have cats or frequent a house with them, you know what a great thing this is.

I made a quick trip home to see the family on Saturday, came back Sunday evening. My oldest brother Bryan lives on my way into Somerset so I stopped and visited for a while, meaning I got to see the whole family since the rest live in Somerset. My youngest brother Steve had a birthday on Saturday, very old man of 37 ;) Bryan will be 40 next April, we are getting old!

Taking the lead from Crystal again and her recent post on movies (go read the post before continuing), what band or song do you just not get that everyone else seems to love? I find myself scratching my head at many popular singers/bands of today. I just don't see the talent.

Total randomness, I know. Off to work...

What a long week!

Rest must have eluded my sleep last night because I am so tired right now. My mind won't wrap around the task at hand. It's been a slow start to this Wednesday.

Anyone else tired of stupid summer shows? I'm ready for my regular television addictions to come back! One of them starts tonight!!!! I'm very excited!!!! The multiple exclamations marks should be a clue ;) Project Runway returns for its fifth season and I am uber-happy!

I'm also kind of excited to see the new X-Files movie that comes out at the end of the month. I know, I'm a dork and nerd to like that show but I always have enjoyed it.

For all my cat-loving, cat-owning friends out there:

Fun time with friends

I never posted the following photos from a night at the movies. So, here you go.

I can't remember what movie we watched this night, but we had a great time while walking into the theater. As you can see, Mandy was ready for whatever the movie handed her with that big-momma pot of popcorn and the thirst-quenching extra large soda. Of course, we all enjoyed some of that buttery popcorn goodness. You can't go to the movies without eating popcorn which costs way too much!

Janice also enjoyed the walk into the movie theater. She sat down with the Zohan to trim her hair. The clothing assemble which Adam Sandler had on was a little icky but we'll just overlook that part :)

A beginning

I have two brothers, both older than me. Bryan is eight years older, Steve is six years older. I grew up with Steve but not Bryan. He left the house at sixteen, meaning I was only eight at the time. I don't have many memories of us together before he moved out.

Suffice to say, we haven't had a lot of time together over the years. Bryan is in town for a visit. He came in yesterday and will be around probably until tomorrow morning. We toured the Opryland Hotel last night because everyone needs to see that place at least once. Bryan loved it. Tonight we are attending a Nashville Sounds game with some of my friends. This is only the second time in my life where I've spent time like this with Bryan. Weird huh? To have not spent time with your brother! But that is our history.

It seems as though we are beginning a friendship after 30 years of life. We talk occasionally on the phone, unlike ten years ago when we would never have called each other on the phone. I'm glad this friendship has started. I hear friends talk of their siblings with such love and closeness. I want that.

What might have been

One of my favorite country songs gave me the title to this post, What might have been by Lonestar. The lyrics of that song could supply multiple posts for me, but I'll focus on one.

Depression has been a thorn in my side since my early twenties. I've never been clinically depressed but I suffer with moments (sometimes weeks or months) of just a downcast spirit. There is never a prominent circumstance which leads to this state. I think life in general does it :) So I find myself in another of those moments right now. There is an anxiety inside of me at the moment that I can't put a finger on. Very frustrating.

Lately, my mind has thought about how I'm a couple steps behind most of my peers. I went to college after high school but did not finish right away. I left college and traveled with Life Action Ministries for three years. After that, I moved home to Somerset, Kentucky for two years. After seven years of being out of high school, I went back to college. When my ten-year high school reunion came up I had just finished undergraduate work.

Most of my high school classmates had been finished with that part of life and been in a job for a good four plus years. That meant they were already paying on their student loans, buying a house instead of renting, and possibly married with children. I was just starting that part of life. Now, don't get me wrong, I know God had plans for me to travel with Life Action Ministries and not finish my degree for a while. But, from those decisions has come a present frustration.

As a thirty-year-old woman living in Nashville, I am extremely tied down to some financial obligations that most of my classmates have moved past. They are free to explore a career they would enjoy, not just have a job that pays bills. Since I didn't know what I wanted to spend my life doing for a career at the age of seventeen, I don't have the education to back career paths I would love to venture down. And to start now with the educational training is nearly impossible. The money simply isn't there. If someone wants to cover my bills for a couple of years, I would be very willing to pursue the degree I want.

Where the song title comes into play is this: What might have been, what would be in my life right now if I'd known what college major to have right out of high school? Where would I be financially, relationally, vocationally?

OK, enough melancholy Mindy.

Why that dress?

If I was standing next to Colin Firth, I would definitely feel inside what her dress depicts outside. BUT if I was standing next to Colin Firth, I would NOT, repeat would not, have that dress on! What was she thinking? What kind of fashion sense tells you that dress is OK?

Battle of the ice creamery

Last night my dear friend Christina and her boyfriend were in town. We grilled out and enjoyed the lovely evening air. It is rather strange to have a low eighties temp and low humidity for July...but I'll take it!

After supper, we decided ice cream was in order. That's a no-brainer. We went to Maggie Moo's since it is very close to my house. Yum! I got the better batter ice cream with you guessed it, Reese's peanut butter cups! Yummy!!!!!!

I think I prefer Maggie Moo's over Coldstone and Marble Slab. Their ice cream is creamier, smoother, not as sugary.

What is your favorite ice cream joint?

Anyone have some prozac?

After watching Reservation Road with Mandy last Friday night, I felt like I needed a good dose of anti-depressants! Great movie, made me like Joaquin Phoenix and Mark Ruffalo even more. But, let me tell ya, that movie has some seriously heavy material. I highly recommend it though.

From watching that movie to reading Mandy's recent post about movies, I offer you this quick ride through Mindy's thoughts.

Many people don't want to watch a movie that has heavy material or isn't light-hearted. I like my fair share of comedies and silly films but I also like a good soul-searching plot line. Reservation Road did that for me. When the movie ended, I had many things on my mind: Would I come forward if I had committed the crime? Would I be able to live with the guilt if not? How would I cope with losing a child? The list goes on and on, but I don't want to spoil the movie for you.

Just had to share

I think this outfit looks like a bag of powder blue coffee filters exploded! What is up with this dress...or whatever it is called. And, of course, the NIKE bag just completes the outfit.

All over the place

I have the house to myself again this week. Wendi was home from her cruise for two weeks and then went to Florida. I enjoy the summer when she is out and about, it's like I have the summer off too!

You should have seen the dust and crap on the floor when we moved my office furniture yesterday. Talk about never getting a cleaning! We rearranged some printers and my desk, amazing how much bigger the office looks by a simple switch.

I love moving furniture around at home because it gives me the chance to do some deep cleaning. Wendi always says she comes back from a trip with a table or chair in a new spot. Well...it's easier to move things and clean when no one is around.

While at Cafe Coco last Friday night, me and a couple of friends sat down at the table next to a guy using this:



That would be a hookah. Legally, you would place a smoldering ball of tea or tobacco on the top. You would blow and take a draw through the pipe attached to the side. I don't think this guy was smoking a legal substance. My friends and I were a little giggly when we left. I think the smoke got to us :)

I'm watching Larry King Live. They are showing live feeds of a foreclosure auction in Bakersfield, CA. What?! They aren't auctioning rugs or cars or silver pieces or oak tables. They are auctioning houses, thousands of them. Our country is messed up.

Time to move on

Have you tried the iced coffee at McDonald's? Well, I have. And many times. Evidently, I've gone to the McDonald's next to work too many times. How do I know? The lady took my money today and said, "Oh, you got your hair cut. It looks great!" I've been there enough for the cashier lady to say that?! Makes me want to stop going there.

New toilets were installed yesterday at work. New stuff is good. I like the thought of new bathroom fixtures since I'm slightly OCD about cleaning. But these toilets are weird. It's like the management decided it would be fun to order tall and narrow ones. You don't sit down as far and the seat is weird(I could elaborate, but won't).

Just thought you would like to know!

Nature calling

Last night, a friend who recently moved to town and I sat outside to enjoy the weather. We took advantage of the deck in the back and ate some cheesecake. Around 11PM a car pulls up, four guys get out of the car. We could tell they were headed to a party, two of them had six packs in their hands.

The guys didn't know Jennifer and I were around, which you will soon be very aware of. All four guys proceed to walk up to the wood fence across the road. I thought they were going to mess with the dogs on the other side. To our amazement they 'relieve' themselves at the fence. Yep, the four guys proceed to answer nature's call while standing just across the street from us!

Jennifer and I tried to muffle our laughter. We were absolutely dying of laughter at their expense! Finally, one of the guys notices us and we hear, "Oh, I see them." Then, the guys try to act like they didn't notice us and walk on into the house as though nothing happened.

Moral of the story: When going to a party, wait until you are at the party to start drinking; otherwise, you will need to answer nature's call on your way there.

Can I borrow that?

I'm following suit with two blog friends, Mandy and Crystal. Ready for some randomness?

I should be working right now. I have a pile of sales orders that need my attention but I don't feel like starting in on them just yet. I tend to have days like this - my brain won't focus on the task at hand, even though the task has to be done NOW.

My coworker, Michelle, is 37 weeks preggo. She went to the doctor this morning for a check-up. For the rest of the day, I get to hear blah-blah-blah this and blah-blah-blah that about the visit and baby and her body and...

I woke up this morning with a horrible realization: it's only Tuesday! How can I feel like I've worked a good three+ days and it only be Tuesday?!

I LOVE peanut butter. That's not new news to many of you, but I still wanted to say it. Peanut butter is a staple in my diet. Don't tell me about the fat and oils in peanut butter, I don't care! There is a great balance of vitamins and nutrients to fat and oils. So lay off the peanut butter! If I came up allergic to peanut butter...no, let's not go there. When I went to make lunch this morning, peanut butter sounded so yummy. So, Mindy is having a peanut butter and strawberry jelly 'samich' today. mmmmmmm

Sushi is such an interesting food option. Who would think rice, seaweed, avocado, and crab would go well together? AND, why does eel, cucumber, smelt roe(Google it if you don't know what it is), rice, seaweed, and egg taste so yummy? Sushi has become my new favorite food, second to peanut butter.

Wash that man right outta my hair

Not really...but this post IS about my hair. I did more than wash my hair tonight. I chopped it off! Towards the end of last year, my hair had grown out a good bit. It was time to cut it but I decided to continue growing it out; once the length got long enough, I would cut it and give it to Locks of Love. Well...I almost made it to the ten inch rule they have for a donation.

Tennessee is ablaze with heat and humidity! Even though hair flowing down my shoulders and back may sound and look pretty, the weight of it gave me headaches and made my back hot. It was time to take action. My hairdresser told me of some other organizations that will take eight or nine inch ponytails, so I can still donation my hair, just not to Locks of Love. Here is the new hairdo...



Like it?! I LOVE it! I've always liked my hair short, but I also like it medium length and long. Depending on what day you ask me, I'll give you a different answer about which way I like my hair. Notice how much hair I cut? I'm holding two ponytails! Two, full ponytails. I inherited some thick hair from my parents!

Feeling hot, hot, HOT!

To where did winter and spring disappear? Are they on vacation somewhere and not letting us join? My hair has decided to look like a balloon by utilizing the fizz it can produce so easily. I'm attempting to grow my hair long enough to donate it to Locks of Love, but this incessant heat and humidity might cut that growth short. No pun intended, but it was clever of me huh? :)

On Saturday, I took the opportunity to clean the house. The bathroom floor got a good scrubbing. Dirt and icky-ness could not withstand the power of my broom and mop! I love the look and smell of a clean house...AH! Breath in the clean smell of Lysol multiple surface cleaner ;) I higher recommend this product for general house cleaning jobs. The smell is great and it works on most surfaces in the kitchen and bathroom.

That last paragraph made me sound like a contributing writer for Good Housekeeping.

While eating my Life cereal for breakfast, I watched GMA. They were doing a report on women wearing/not wearing pantyhose in the workplace. Except for in winter's cold grip, I don't wear pantyhose anymore. I guess it's a fashion or social thing now to not wear them with most outfits. Back in the day, I wore them all the time. It was social acceptable and somewhat expected of a lady to wear them. My, my...how times have changed.

The part that made my blood pressure rise slightly was the report of a company in Kansas where the male president required women to wear hoses as acceptable office attire. That in and of itself is not what made my blood pressure rise. It was the little fact that the males employed there did not have to wear ties anymore. That dress code had been modified a few years back.

So, do any of my female blog readers wear pantyhose except during the cold season?

Renewed friendships

Last week I enjoyed an entire week off work! I had not done this since starting at my current job three years ago. Way overdue vacation! Let me recap my great week for you.

I started the week with a visit from a long-lost friend from my days at Baptist Bible College. Jennifer is moving to Nashville next month and was in town job hunting. We had a wonderful time reuniting. And I look forward to her being so close!

Next I traveled to Michigan to have a reunion with some dear girlfriends from my Life Action Ministries days! I was so looking forward to this weekend! Some of these ladies I had not seen in ten years. Before I got to Michigan, I stopped near Indianapolis, IN and had lunch with a cousin. Rachel and I had such a good time talking over lunch! She is almost finished with the paperwork for an adoption - YEA!

After eight hours of driving through one of the most boring landscapes(sorry Indiana lovers), I arrived at a place so dear to my heart, I cannot even begin to put my thoughts and feelings of my approach to the camp area into words. God did such a deep and lasting work in my life through Life Action Ministries! I came to be a child of God in Life Action, I learned what it meant to live a holy life, I developed lasting friendships, I learned too many things to mention here.

The girls who attended the reunion are so special to me. These ladies were part of my life when I went through many heart changes. They were there to encourage me and help me work through areas in my life the Lord showed needed work. There is a deep connection that occurs when you minister on the front lines with someone.

As you can see from the pictures, we had a wonderful time together. I slept very little and came home thoroughly exhausted. That's OK though...the catching up conversations were worth the heavy eyelids.

Out of pocket

I've been out of pocket lately when it comes to my blog. My kitties have required some attention and I've been enjoying some much needed time off. When I walked out of my office last Friday, I felt great! I won't return to the office until the day after Memorial Day. Woohoo!!!!!!

My oldest cat had an ulcer on her eye and it required a great deal of attention. She couldn't do most things she was used to doing on her own because of the cone around her neck. Almost every task needed double the energy and time. I felt like an on-call doctor. Boots is in the clear now! The ulcer has healed and she is back to normal, no more cone.

My coworker is pregnant and will be on maternity leave starting July 3. I needed to get a vacation in before she leaves, so I took this week off. I head to Michigan on Thursday to visit with my dear friends from Life Action Ministries. I'm super excited to see them. Us girls decided it was time for a reunion and it is finally here!

I know most people don't want to sit at home and do nothing on their vacation, but I did. I have thoroughly enjoyed doing practically nothing to past two days.

Through my time off this week, I have discovered there isn't much worth watching on television. So much crap! I must say The View is good. The women on there sure can go back and forth on issues. It is fun to watch. That's about the only show I've cared to watch.

My babies

Both of my kitties have had recent visits to the vet. Boots started the run with a quick visit because of an eye infection. She took eye drops and that saga continues in the last part of this post.

Sugar was next with a declaw and spay. She has done really well with having two major surgeries at once. Her claws have not bled and she is using them like she did before the surgery...minus the sharp claws :) Her spaying went well. Her incision has not bled and the belly hair is growing back.



Now for Boots...she has had a rough time. Her eye infection has not gone away easily. It's been stubborn. Her eye was looking rather nasty so I took her to the vet today. The picture tells you the visit was not pleasant.

Boots has an ulcer on her eyeball and that can be a serious condition if not handled properly. She has scratched her eyeball at some point while rubbing her eye clean. Since Boots will continue to irritate the eye by rubbing it with her paw, she must wear an Elizabeth collar. SHE HATES IT!

I left her at the house for the afternoon to get used to the collar. I returned home to see her sitting in her window bed and not sporting the collar! It took a while to find the collar but it was recovered to Boots' dismay. I felt horrible putting it back on but her eye has to heal and without the collar, correct healing may never happen. All I can say is she looks pathetic and I feel horrible for her!

Oh! What a night!

My church held a women's event last night called "What not to wear." I loved the concept. We discussed physical and spiritual things that are flattering and not so lovely to wear. Great program and concept.

Now, on to why this turned out to be quite some night.

I volunteered to head up the food department. We booked a caterer that a lady in the women's ministry leadership had previously worked with. The caterer was very nice and she worked with us when some details needed change at the last minute. This is where my day goes into crazy mode.

On Monday, I was told we needed to increase the food numbers. Not a big problem; the caterer had not purchased food yet. I simply called her and asked her to adjust her invoice and increase the total from 70 to 90. Fast forward to yesterday, Thursday, around 3:00PM. I call the lady who headed up the decorating committee, just checking in to see how things were going.

She proceeds to tell me the number of people attending has gone above 100! What?! Did no one cut off registration?! Come on people, work with me here! The caterer can't just magically make extra food appear. I call the caterer and find out someone had already contacted her. Problem solved. The lady can cut the larger chicken breasts down to make enough servings.

I arrive at the church straight from work and don't stop until I land on my couch last night at 10PM-ish. Although the set-up and start of the event was rushed and hectic, once the buffet line was up and running, I took a second to breath. Wrong idea.

I watched the food line, bring out a pan of potatoes. People are watching the drink line for me. Then IT happens; I need to replenish the chicken...where's the second pan of chicken?! I'm frantically running around in the kitchen, looking in everything that looks like food. No more chicken. Period. There was supposedly two pans of chicken, enough for the 100+ people attending. No chicken. No more chicken.

I get on the phone with the caterer, she must have left a pan in her van. "No, I brought everything in," she says. After what seemed like forever, we decided to give up and just let the ladies know there will be no more chicken.

I have NO IDEA where that second pan of chicken walked off to! I felt horrible. Praise the Lord for the godly ladies at my church who didn't complain. They understood and just had an extra scoop of the yummy (and I do mean YUMMY) potato casserole.

There you have it. I have worked food service before and I've never had the main dish just not be there, somehow disappear. How was your day?

We've all got something

Although I've never been formally diagnosed, I'm fairly sure I have some level of dyslexia. This means that while speaking, I usually mix something up. For the most part I know I've said it wrong as the words are leaving my mouth. OK...now that you know this tidbit about me, please don't correct my speech every time I say something out of order. Most likely, it is the dyslexia talking, not me.

You should be in an accounting department and have this struggle! Balancing accounts on the first go around is a rare occasion.

I'm watching Little People, Big World on TLC. Have you ever watched it? Good show. That's where this blog post came from. I've come to realize many of us have something which could be labeled a disability. And we all have some thing we would love to change about ourselves.

For me, the biggest job is realizing those things about my fiends and family and be sensitive to them. Around two or three years ago, I realized my oldest brother has social issues. We have always clashed...for a nicer way to put it. He can be very sweet and friendly but his first reaction to most social situations is to withdrawal or be curt. Understanding this has helped me relate to him. I try to create situations that lend to him feeling comfortable. Our relationship has developed since then.

It's too late now!

I pulled a shirt out of the closet this morning and noticed what appeared to be that weird whitish stain left by deodorant; you know, the one where it ends up on the bottom hem of the shirt from you pulling the shirt over your head? Yeah, so I wipe it off with a damp washcloth before I head to work. It is not until I am at work, sitting in my chair, sorting through emails that I notice something else about the 'stain.' I smell something musty, almost skunk-like. I can't figure it out. I don't know where the smell could be coming from.

It finally hits me...my shirt smells! Yes, the shirt I must wear all day because it's too late to change it now! The stain and smell is a mystery, I have no earthly idea what it is. I've applied a good dose of Palmolive from the break room to mask the scent...but it's not working too well.

Geesh!

Another day

Does anyone else type their blog post then add the title when you're done? I'm never quite sure what to title my thoughts until I'm done with them :P

Work is stressful. Anyone want to join me on that? Why do we have to grow up and take on responsibility? I liked being a child with no cares in the world beside what color Popsicle I would eat that particular afternoon. Isn't Flav-O-Ice great?!

Double Jeopardy came on last night. I have always like this movie. It features Ashley Judd and Tommy Lee Jones. The story is a slightly dark one, but I enjoy it. Because I watched the movie, I missed one of my favorite shows Ghost Hunters. Nice thing about the internet...I can watch the episode in a couple of days once they upload it. :)

My office at work is bursting at the seams with pregnancy hormones! There are three ladies at work who are due within a month of each other. There were four but one already left to be a stay-at-home mommy. My boss had a child right before all of these women got pregnant! Hormones everywhere!!!!! Help!

Bon Jovi still rocks!

So begins the amazing night! Mandy and I went downtown last night to behold Daughtry and Bon Jovi in the same building. In my opinion, that means way too much 'hotness' in one place. :) Our outfits where thought through for a good week, because you have to look your best when meeting such royalty!





















Daughtry is amazing! I think he is one of the most talented singer to come out of American Idol. The man can sing! And he is quickly learning how to put on a concert. He has a good band with him. Chris did a fun vocal thing with a bull-horn, very creative.

















OK...Bon Jovi rocks! I've always like this band and still do. Their new stuff is just as good as the old stuff. And I loved that they sang just as many old songs as new. That made me very happy :)

Ricky is simply an amazing guitarist! Him and Jon have great stage presence and engage the audience so well. Jon also knows how to sweat through a jacket and three shirts!

Why do I love Nashville? You can go to a concert and see more than the band on the ticket. Last night, we saw not just Daughtry and Bon Jovi; Big and Rich and LeAnn Rimes stopped by to sing with Bon Jovi!

Basically, the night was awesome! I have no voice today and I think that is how it should be after a rock concert. Why leave a Bon Jovi concert with a voice and perfect hair? And yes, that is in reference to the lady who sat next to me at the show. I don't understand how you can be at the concert and stay in your seat! Oh well, her loss. Mandy and I took full advantage of standing and singing at the top of our lungs. :)

Finally caught up and ready for more

Last week during my favorite show The Office, a friend stopped by to visit. I gave up on watching the episode after a couple of minutes and said I would watch it online later. I finally watched it last night. Michael was back in form and Kevin cracks me up. "It's nice to win one." HA!

I'm ready for some more American Idol. Tonight the contestants tackle Andrew Lloyd Webber. I heart The Phantom of the Opera! But I advise the singers to not go there. No one does it like Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman. Michael Johns was probably the only guy who could handle those songs. The girls have no one worth of those songs.

Speaking of singers from American Idol, I get to see Chris Daughtry on Thursday night! OH! I'm so excited! AND...Bon Jovi...need I say more?

Recovery time

I write this while still in my pajamas, at 12:30PM! I love Saturdays like this one. I'll get up and run some errands soon but for now I will enjoy relaxing on the couch, surfing the web and watching my kitties sleep. Speaking of kitties...

Sugar is back home after her spaying and declaw. She has slept for most of the time she has been home, which is good. If she is asleep, Sugar isn't jumping up on furniture and down to the floor. The vet gives you a sheet of paper outlining precautions for your declawed and spayed kitty. "Minimize your pet's movement during the first days after surgery. Keep them on level ground." I laugh at these suggestions! How do you keep a cat from climbing and jumping?!

My friend Buddy invited a couple of people down to his house for dinner and a movie last night. We had yummy lasagna and watched Lars and the real girl. Interesting movie, good acting by Ryan Gosling. If you are up for a quirky and off-the-beaten-path kind of film, rent Lars and the real girl.

The wind has picked up outside. I'm watching the trees across the street sway back and forth. Must be a storm brewing up. Guess I better get moving on those errands: Pay overdue fine at library, check out a book from there, visit Goodwill to find a shirt to wear to the Bon Jovi and Daughtry concert on Thursday, and find a baby shower gift for a lady I used to work with.

Must be hormones

This morning is a sad one. Sugar, my youngest cat, is at the vet getting spayed and declawed. Why so sad? Well, first off, I miss her already. Sugar will be at the vet until tomorrow sometime. Secondly, while making the bed this morning, I started crying. Sugar always jumps up and attacks the covers as I'm trying to smooth them out. So, when I went to make the bed this morning...I cried.

I think hormones are playing into my sad state of mind. I don't cry too easily. This morning, I was a basket case! The tears started to flow right as I walked out of the vet's office. People must have wondered what was wrong as they passed me on the road. They probably thought some tragic thing had happened. If they only knew the tears were because I just dropped my kitty off at the vet!

Weird night

Many times last night, I woke up with strange things doing on. One time, no twice, just one was stronger, I woke up to a weird smell, like food cooking. I don't remember what it smelled like but it was very strong right at my bed. When I stepped away from my bed, I couldn't smell a thing. The scent was localized to my bed. It was weird.

Then I woke up one time feeling like I was not alone. I walked about the house, through the hall and into the kitchen, then the bathroom. Just a strange feeling. I don't know.

A couple of times I woke up just staring at the closet, expecting something to happen. I don't know what was going on last night. It was a restless night for me, and I was left with a strange feeling this morning.

I hope the restless night doesn't affect my day at work. I'm training a couple of people and that takes a lot out of me.

Puppy therapy

As my friend Mandy has said, "I believe playing with puppies can be a therapy!" I agree with her. Last night I was at a friends house watching the NCAA championship game. Brandon has two new puppies and they are adorable! Look at this picture and tell me those aren't adorable puppies!



Bonnie and Clyde licked my neck and face, making me giggle. It was like heaven!

Sunshine not rain finally!

Yesterday and today have been beautiful days! I tried to get dad to take a walk with me since it was warm and sunny. It didn't happen. My dad has been in the house for eleven days battling the flu. He is still weak. I hope he is better soon.

The trip home was a good one. I was able to spend time with mom and both brothers. The only time I spent with dad was when sitting on the bed next to him. It is a rare thing to spend time with both my brothers, so it was nice.

As much as I enjoyed seeing my family, I missed Nashville. This is my home now. I missed my friends, the church services, my kitties. I always miss my kitties. My mom doesn't understand how I stay in Nashville so much and not come for a visit. Well, it's because my home in here. I can't help it. I like my life here.

Have a happy, sun-filled day y'all!

Various things going on today

Right now I'm singing along with Bono to U2's With or Without You. Awesome song! It makes my day when a great song comes on the radio.

After work today, I'm heading to Kentucky to visit the family. My last trip up there was at Christmas, so I'm overdue a visit. My dad has been battling the flu this past week. I hope he is feeling better by now. He came home from work last Wednesday and hasn't returned yet. That's a long time out!

Now, I'm rocking it out with Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody. Two songs in a row that rock! Great day! Michelle and I head banged to the last part. hehe

Random story: There we were sitting at Bible study last night, being all super spiritual, you know? A Lowe's delivery truck drives down the road in front of the house. The driver then proceeds to back up once he realizes he can get out that way or turn around. Shouldn't the dead end sign have tipped him off?! We make a comment on the annoying beep from the truck being in reverse. Not three seconds after that - BAM! We hear crunching noises. Yikes! Not good! The driver had backed up into one of the lady's car! We think it will be totaled. The hood was in a V shape right down the middle. Poor girl!

I'm pathetic!

My coworker, Michelle, got flowers today for her wedding anniversary. They are beautiful wildflowers and daisies. I'm jealous! So, to be the pathetic, single and lonely woman I am...the flowers are sitting on my desk to make me feel better :)

Now, back to the mundane accounting work set before me...

Another random post

One of these days I'll get back to writing meaningful, thought-provoking posts. For now though...

???

Huh?!

Unpatriotic

Call me unpatriotic if you must, but I did not care for Kristy Lee Cook's rendition of Lee Greenwood's God Bless the USA on American Idol last night. She can't sing, she rarely hits the correct note - her voice is usually just under it.

The problem with saying I didn't care for her song last night is people take it as I'm dogging the song. I LOVE that song! Lee Greenwood wrote an amazing lyric with that song. Kristy Lee Cook knew she had to pull this song out to rally the troops behind her. Her only fan base is redneck, country music-loving people. I'm a listener of country music, so I can say it.

She is a nice girl but I just don't like her as an American Idol winner.

On the other hand...David Cook rocked it out with Billie Jean. OH, yes, he sang that song. And he completely rocked it! Don't worry, it wasn't Micheal Jackson's version. I can't remember the arranger's name, but I loved it. David Cook is becoming the front runner for this season and I think he has a very good chance of winning it all.

Quote to ponder

This quote came from an email I read from a website email group. It made an impression on me and would like to share it with you. I don't know where this saying came from, the email writer did not give a source.

Beauty only attracts attention, but personality captures the heart.

Those few words carry a powerful punch when meditated upon. Think about the friends and loved ones in your life; isn't it the personality, the character, the inward man that attracts you year after year? Physically beauty is only skin deep and its affects are fleeting.

It's like major surgery!

Imagine with me: I have Boots, my older cat, pinned between the couch and my hip. My left palm cups her chin while my fingers reach up to pull the bottom of the eye down. My thumb has wrapped around to the top of her eye, pulling it open. My right hand is holding what Boots sees as an instrument of torture, an eye drop medicine. After a few failed attempts to get the timing down, I'm able to get a single drop in Boots' eye before she claws her way out of my arms. (Wipe forehead...only two more times today to do this.)

Boot had a visit to the vet yesterday and found she had an eye infection. Now, I get to be the mean mommy who holds her down and force something in her eye. Boots doesn't care too much for the whole thing.

Interesting part? Sugar, my younger cat, seems to forget who Boots is by the time we return from the vet! Last night was filled with Sugar hissing at Boots and then her running away to hide. Can we say short-term memory?

New glasses

Well, what do you think? I like them a lot! I'm all stylin' and stuff ;)

And, yes, my hair has grown very long. I'm considering growing it out a couple more inches then donating to Locks of Love.

My babies

I have to share some great pictures with you of my babies...and I mean my cats. Until, or if, I have children, Boots and Sugar will be my children. I take way too many pictures of them. But isn't that what parents do? ;)

They have separate beds yet they love to snuggle into one! I'm just amazed they stayed still long enough for me to snap these pictures. Boots looked smaller than Sugar, don't be deceived. Sugar loves to plant herself where she finds comfortable. Sugar is laying partly on Boots. I don't think Boots minds though.

My favorite part of the second picture is Sugar's paw lovingly stretched across Boots. So cute!

Well, no wonder!

Have you heard the report of pharmaceuticals in our water? Yep, it's true. This story tells you all about it. I'll give you some time to read it...I'll sit here and wait...go ahead and read it.

Are you back? Hope you read the story because I'm not focusing on a recap; I'll bring up a few points. I think it is interesting for this to come out in a study since our society is so addicted to pain killers, mood adjusters, hormones, etc. I think our over-indulgence of pills is affecting our children and environment.

Think about it: If our children are drinking this water, how has that changed things in their bodies? I wonder if we can attribute it to the increase in food allergies? So many children suffer with mental issues like autism, physical issues like diabetes. Has this development contributed to it?

And I wonder if we can attribute changes in animal and plant life we have recently witnessed to this find? The study says they found these medicine levels in fish.

One part of the study struck me funny, although it shouldn't. It's what type of medicine they found in high levels in different areas of the country. I guess I found it somewhat indicative of what that area would suffer with physically. New Jersey had a high level of mood-enhancers; San Fransisco had a high level of sex hormones; high levels of anti-anxiety medicine in southern California; Philadelphia fared the worst with 56 different pharmaceuticals found in their water. Yikes!

I'm not sounding an alarm and calling up the calvry...just thought this was very interesting in light of the increase in mental and physical problems our society is facing.

Winter wonderland

This morning I awoke to the beautiful snow-covered landscape you can see in the pictures! The best part of the snow is I don't have anywhere to go today. It can snow all it wants :) For Tennessee, this is a lot of snow.

Attention please

My name is no longer Mindy New; well, according to a wedding invitation I got in the mail yesterday it is not. I guess my name has always been Mindy Newland. My dad has been mistaken about our family name his entire life!

I have no clue as to where these people got the name Newland. My friend is the groom in this wedding party so I guess the bride's parents got wrong information. Maybe they couldn't believe my name is only New. I am frequently asked to spell my last name. Come on people! It's only the word New!

Event-filled morning

There I was at work, sitting at my desk and checking email. The morning was moving along like most mornings do. Then - my vision went all weird. Remember what it looks like when you look at a light then away, and the light shape is still in your vision after you look elsewhere? Eventually, your vision return to normal. Mine didn't, and I hadn't looked at a light.

After fifteen minutes, my vision was still messed up. I started to worry, as I think most people would. The strange vision became like a kaleidoscope so I called the eye doctor. They had me come right in...that didn't settle my nerves any.

My doctor did a few tests, including the fun dilation of the pupils that leaves you unable to focus for half the day! Come to find out, I probably had an optical migraine...didn't even know the things exist. Instead of the migraine giving me a typical headache, the migraine affects the optical nerves. No harm done...just my insides all torn up.

The interesting part of the morning was when I ordered new frames and lenses. The doctor said my prescription has changed and new lenses might keep any future optical migraines from happening. I was looking through the myriad of frames they have available, thinking the whole time the guy helping me looked familiar.

Finally I said to him, "I know I know you." He then said, "Yeah, you look familiar." Ends up we went to college together back in 1995-1996. He lives here in Nashville with his wife...Melinda is her name. I just have to laugh at that; my name is Melinda, I just go by Mindy. So, what started as a frightful morning ended with new glasses and a meeting with an old acquaintance.

Stuff

When I started this blog, I thought there would be regular postings. Maybe I set my standards too high. By the way, my space bar is not working every time I hit it. My typing sounds harsh since I have to hit the space bar with force. For those who watch Project Runway, I'm typing fiercely!

Lesson from tonight: There's nothing on TV on Monday nights! Absolutely nothing!

I've been in a weird "funk" this past month...no...more like the past six months. I'm realizing my life is not what I want it to be and there's not much I can do about it. Sorry, I won't stay on that thought.

This isn't much of a post, but I want to get myself in the habit of writing.

Southern lady

I was browsing random blogs today and found a great link for us country/southern women. I loved it! The blog I got this from is a girl from the south, living in the north. I can't completely endorse this lady's blog...I don't know her from Eve, but her blog seems fun.

Snow

I just experienced a smidgin' of the awesomeness of my God! It is snowing in Nashville. It's not like the snow storms my friends up north are used to...but it IS the most amazing snow I've ever seen! I went outside to see if there was accumulation on the ground or road.

I stuck my arm out beyond the awning to capture some flakes on my sleeve. That's when it happened. The majesty of God filled my heart. I pulled my sleeve close to my eyes so I could see the pretty snowflake. My brain was confused at first. I thought I had a piece of glittery paper on my sleeve. The design of the snowflake looked just like a silver piece of plastic, cut into a snowflake shape. I just stood there and stared, not realizing the piece was a snowflake until it disappeared from melting. I stuck my arm out again, catching a few more pieces. Each piece looked different and perfect!

I've never seen a snowflake with such detail. Usually, I'm trying to get inside from the weather and I don't see the snow as it is falling. It is amazing that the God of this world, the God of everything, used a simple snowflake to reveal Himself to me. Isn't it just like God to use the simple to confound the wise.

Times in the life of a cat owner

I have conceded to leave the house with cat hair on my clothing. There's nothing I can do about the situation. My lent brush puts up a futile fight with my cats. They seems to win every time. So, I'll waste my time no more. If a good roll with the lent brush doesn't cut it - I'll just wear my cat-hair-covered outfits. Maybe a new fashion will emerge.

Sugar, my youngest baby, thinks she is still small enough to fit her entire body right below my neck. She loves this position and doesn't seem to care that she is in my way of breathing and seeing in front of me. The only thought Sugar has is to find a comfy position on mommy. As you can see from the picture, Sugar isn't a kitten anymore.

I had to be the bad mommy last week. One of my cats needed a pill. Cats don't take too kindly to pills. How shall I phrase it?...Cats like to eat only what they want. Forcing a pill down a cat's throat is, shall we say, difficult. I had Boots, my oldest baby, pinned between me and the corner of the couch. I needed both hands so this tactic was necessary. Eventually (like ten minutes later) the pill had been swallowed. Boots didn't speak to me the rest of the night. You cat owners know exactly what I mean by 'not speaking'.

With all the crazy things cats do, I must say I would not give up those moments. My cats are never more precious than when they are snuggled up against me and purring. The stress of my life steps to the side for that brief moment.

Valentine's Day song

Once again, I am posting a video from my friend Josh Wilson. This guy and his friends are so inventive. Sit back and enjoy!

Political rant

About a week ago The Tennessean printed an article on the dilemma black women voters were having this year. At first the article didn't bother me, but as time has gone on, I'm a bit irritated with it. I have looked through the archived stories but cannot find the article. I'll recap it here then tell my frustration with it.

The story spoke on the struggle black women voters have with this presidential election. They are torn between voting for gender or for race. Some people interviewed said they would be considered a traitor to their race if they voted for a certain female candidate rather than a certain male candidate. My frustration you ask?

Why is this a determining factor in who anyone votes for?! All my life I've been taught (and I believe rightly so) to look at someone for who they are on the inside not a skin color, see their character not their gender. Why is this moment any different?

If that certain female or male candidate was my choice, it would be because I see that person as the one who can lead this country better than any other one. My vote is based on if I think that individual would conduct the federal government's business the way I believe it should be done. It would have nothing to do with race or gender.

I know some will read this and get the wrong impress about me. I'm not saying with this post that race and gender has never been or will never be an issue with people. I'm not that stupid. But, if race and gender are to not be an issue, why the article?

Talk about timing!

Last night I was driving in Nashville when out of nowhere falls a piece of limb. It landed right on my windshield, as you can see from the picture. I was shocked, to say the least! I mean, what randomness!

Thankfully the repair will not be a drawn out process; there will be someone at my house tomorrow morning to replace the windshield. I'm still in shock from the experience.

It's a new year

It's the time of year for people to make resolutions. I've never been big on making them but...this year I'm making one. I've allowed myself to gain weight over the last seven years. The weight gain has been slow but I've known I needed to do something about it the whole time.

As I write this, three different people have walked by my window, walking their dogs. So, starting tomorrow morning I am getting my bottom out of bed in time for a walk. The reason I'm writing this online? When people know of your intent, you tend to stick with it.

Good luck to everyone who has a resolution for this year!

Road trip

Josh Wilson used to go to my church in Nashville. I hardly ever see him anymore. When I saw this video, I laughed and had to share it with you! He and his roommate made this short video while traveling from Tennessee to Texas in one day. Talk about suicide! Enjoy!

Confessions

This past weekend, I rented The Holiday. I was in the mood for a sappy, girlie movie. The movie hit the spot perfectly. The following thoughts are what came from watching it.

In the movie, two ladies switch houses for the Christmas holiday. Through this, each lady meets a man the other woman knows, one a brother and one a coworker. I'm sure you've already guessed that the women find love. So on and so forth...blah blah blah. It was your basic romantic comedy.

The movie ended, I sat there crying. I wasn't crying because of the movie. I was crying because of me. The movie brought to the surface a struggle I've had recently - loneliness. There is a moment in the movie when each main character realizes they are lonely and their chance at love is right in front of them, but it will take some work. Love has stared me in the face before, but it wasn't meant to be with that person. And ever since the day I walked away from that relationship, I've been lonely. Is that too honest? And since then, I've wondered if love will find its way to me again.

I can't count the number of people that tell me how wonderful of a wife and mother I will be, or that I must have three or four men on a line, just stringing them along. Then there are the ones that tell me how lucky I am to still be single and to not worry about when marriage will happen. They proceed with the lecture of how much better it is to be single and lonely than married and miserable. I know all that! What says if I'm married I have to be miserable?

Some of my childhood friends are in horrible marriages and life has been difficult. Of course I'm grateful for that not to be my situation! But, I still desire to share my life with someone. This post is not meant to stir up sympathy from people, I'm simply sharing what my thoughts have been lately.

Physically, I'm not exactly what men picture in their minds since early adolescence...and I know that. Part of that I can change, some of it I can't. My personality can be hard to live with...I know that, too. I'm making an effort to change.

Anyway, I wanted to post some thoughts while they were fresh on my mind. I recommend the movie, very well written script.

Overdue post

If this post seems disjointed, it is. My life has been in overdrive for some time now; hence, the long interlude between my latest post and this one. My life is busy with my full-time job and the new Pampered Chef business. As I type this post my eyes are closing on me, but I want to write some things down.

My job has been busy lately. I'm talking crazy busy. I have time for nothing but the bare essentials of the job. Many things are sitting patiently on the sides of my desk, awaiting their turn for my attention. We'll see how long that takes...

On a good note, the Pampered Chef business is going well! I've completed the shows and sales necessary for the full-time consultant benefits! Other than late nights on show nights, the schedule is not bad. And I thoroughly enjoy the business. Hopefully this job venture becomes more than a small supplement to the monthly income.

Ummm...I'm not drinking the water at work. Four women are pregnant! All due within two months of each other! My boss is out with maternity leave, so there were five pregnant women right before she had her child.

Ok, I'm going to bed.