Random samplings from the "Good Life"...: May 2007

More weird and 'wonderful'??

After some un-savory comments and a suggestion or two that things on my "weird" list weren't really that weird, I have some additions to make. I'm feeling weirder by the second!

Tan lines. LOVE 'em. Well, in particular, I love my watch line. Won't lay out w/out my watch on. What can I say....I like to track my progress.
I cannot STAND for my nose to be touched by anyone else--particularly pinched. Don't try it...I will hit you.
I'm kind of scared of 'little people' and DEFINATELY am scared of clowns--thanks to Stephen King's "It" and the fact that "they all float down here!"
There is a blog that I accidentally came upon one time, and now I read it consistantly. Don't know the person, never will--but something about it draws me in. I kind of feel like a stalker.
I really want to drop the "professional" part of my life and work outside--like in a nursery (plants) or as a lifeguard or something like that.
I can watch re-runs of 80's sitcoms or those stupid MTV shows (real world, road rules, etc...) for DAYS on end. And have...

McMurry-ful....

So here's the follow-up pics from the trip to Williamsburg (which I didn't even get to see one colonial anything!) to visit Susan--Anne's cousin....fun times!!!

In Susan's living room...

During the great yard project....you can see where it's headed, right??

We sure do look happy considering all our heavy lifting!!

TADA!!!! There are more rocks that have to be added around the Pompom grass bottom left corner...but otherwise, it turned out great!!!

Yeah! All done (except for what wasn't done! :)) Hope it all came together, Susan!

Best day...

We had so much fun at the beach on Saturday!!! It was pretty much a perfect day, all around! You just don't get enough of those in life. We were in chairs, umbrella set up, towels laid out by 10:30. No traffic, nice and fast, and with 3 stops! We made great time! Laid on the beach all day, played in the freezing water for a brief moment, got a bite to eat, napped, laid out some more. We left the beach about 5:15--headed to the outlets--got a snack and headed to Kent Narrows where we had a fabulous supper at a fun crab shack place. If you read my previous posts, then you know I got up at 4:30 in the am...so on the way back to Dawson, I crashed like Lindsay Lohan. Got home, applied some aloe vera and slept like a sunburnt baby. Ahhhh....life just doesn't get any better! Thank you, girls, for a fab day!!!

Anne and I enjoying the beach!

Me and Loverman (Lisa Overman)

Being silly

Heading to the car after a long, fun day....

Big pimpin'...

Heading to the beach! It's 6:38 in the am...I've been up since 4:30 and I'm waiting on my girls to get it together so we can make like a baby and head out!!! So excited!! Hope it's sunny and we have no traffic! I'm going to celebrate our troops by baking myself! Happy Memorial Day!!!

VIOLATED!!!

Grrrr....so, last nite, I was waiting for Anne at a Starbucks in Georgetown to go for a run. I was sitting and reading the newest edition of Bicycling magazine (and a very good one, I might add...a huge section just for the ladies!) when the barrista came up to me all frantic-like and told me that a guy just stole my wallet from my purse. My purse was hanging on the back of my chair (bad idea according to the po-po AND the S'bux manager--thanks guys!) and some random guy in a suit, walks in, sits down behind me and rifles thru my purse. So the barrista is watching the whole thing, but the guy is WATCHING HER while he's doing it, so she's scared to say anything! In the meantime, I'm getting robbed. Oiy vey. Long story short; call the police, file a report, try to protect my identity, gonna spend enormous amounts of time trying to replace everything--blah, blah, blah. We did have a good run, tho, which is nice. And since I'm sans $, cards, etc...Annechovie gave me her AmEx. Anyone wanna go to Mexico with me??

I stole this idea...

from someone's blog I've never met...but who has a link on a friend's blog. So technically, they could be my cyber-acquaintance. But now I've read their blog--I feel a little stalker-ish...anyway...TMI.

Here are 7 weird things about me (of course if you know me, you probably already know some of these--I tend to be fairly open--ha). And as for follow up, I tag the following people to do the same on your own blogs.....Amy James, Chad, Loverman, Maradee, Shauna--since you don't have a blog, do it in the comments on mine. On your mark....get set....GO!!!

1. I tend to count in my head or spell words out in my head when I'm talking or typing. I don't do it as much anymore, but if I'm tired or nervous, I really do it. I don't even realize it sometimes. I've read that it's a form of OCD. Shocker.

2. I'm obsessed (speaking of OCD) with the hair on my arms. I blame Robin Tolson Rudkins who used to tell me I had man arms because hers are as smooth as a baby's bottom. I think the real reason I love getting a tan in the summer is b/c it bleaches my arm hair!

3. As much as I love to travel, stay w/ friends, etc...I cannot sleep or relax in new places or with "strange" people. By strange I don't mean weird--or even people I don't know--I just mean unusual. They could be people I'm really good friends with, but if I've never spent the nite w/ them, traveled with them or slept in the bed w/ them before, I just will NOT be able to rest. It is PARTICULARLY bad if it's a group trip. So now you know why I always want to stay in the room/share a bed w/Anne or Shauna....if it's w/ you, I won't be able to sleep! Exceptions are Amy and Maradee--come on....I did nothing but sleep w/ ya'll in college! (In the same room/bed...obviously not in a sexual way!!!!)

4. I don't really like cats. I love MY cats. Alot. They are precious and sweet and they are great company. But PLEASE stop giving me cat cards!!! I don't want to be your token 'cat lady friend'! I don't even like cats that much!! I mean, I am DEFINATELY an animal person...but cats aren't my fave. (Don't tell my cats, tho!! Wow. that sounded totally cat-lady-ish.)

5. When I am cold it makes my stomach hurt. I hate being cold. I don't mean chilly, everyone hates to be cold-I mean bone cold. The thought of being cold will make me seriously avoid something. Snow, cold water, etc... That's the real reason I didn't do that stupid waterslide when we went camping at Ohio Pyle a few years ago (I regret it still)---but it was so cold my stomach seized up like I had the freaking cholera or something! It was a REAL big deal when I did the polar bear plunge for this very reason.

6. I can down boxes of orange tic tacs like nothing you've ever seen. Big props to Anne for keeping me in business!! She's a very sweet friend who is generous w/ her gift-giving habits (take note slackers)...and she always puts my fave things in her gifts...including tic tacs!!! She's also seen me eat like 4 boxes at once--enough to make myself sick.

7. I go to the bathroom like 2-5 times a nite after I've gone to bed (the difference b/w 2 and 5 is a good next day or not!). When I walk to the bathroom, I don't turn on the lights, and I don't open my eyes. I guess I'm scared of the dark, kind of...but mostly, I try to pretend like I'm sleepwalking so I don't wake myself up.

Tag! Your turn!

Strange and wonderful...

Here are some things I've noticed lately that I find fabulously strange and wonderful:

1. Flowers are so cathartic. There's something about playing in the dirt and actually seeing beautiful things grow, that is incredibly healing.

2. Fruit punch makes me happy. No matter when I drink it. I LOVE it. I don't even care it's just liquid sugar. Seriously, it is like a shot of b12 or crack or something...it makes me smile.

3. Training an animal to do something. It's so powerful to know that we can do that! I have been secretly training my cats to obey certain commands--get down, come, whatever--but without the normal voice fluctuations or hand motions that REALLY tell them what to do. Yesterday, Nixon obeyed perfectly like 3 times in a row. I was shocked and awed.

4. I love riding my bike in my bike shoes. I feel very cool and powerful while clipped in...even tho I kind of feel like I might die, too. I think it's worth it....

5. MaryMary--the Christian duo--they sing this song "Shackels" and I can't stop singing it on repeat in the car AND in my head. Just ask poor Anne--she's been subjected to it all weekend. But I LOVE it. I can't NOT dance. It's like a phenom--like Ice, Ice Baby...only better.

This list is by no means exhaustive....maybe I'll add more later! ;)

Working hard...or hardly working--depends on how you look at it!

Well, I'm on day 3 at my new job! So far, so good, I guess! There are some things I'm not enjoying...but overall, I'm happy to have a job and be back up and running! Don't have a lot of time (since I'm at work) but I hope to do an in-detail post very soon! In the meantime, had a great trip to Williamsburg/Norfolk/VA Beach this weekend--shout out to Susan McMurry--you're an awesome host! Saw Franklin Graham and had some fun working in the yard. Looking forward to Memorial Day. How sad is it that I need a day off already?!?!

Bored...

I'm trying to be positive!!! But I'm SO FREAKING BORED!!! I have had enough days at home, Lord! I'm ready to go to work!!! Well, at least I could maybe enjoy the time off if I knew a definite start date at my new job!! As is, my day consists of not a lot of anything--although it has been so cool to get to have really long quiet times. I mean how often do you get to do that? Oh, that and take a nap like 3 x's a day! ;) Well, also, I have gotten to meet up with several of my new friends, too--stay at home mom's who can hang out during the day. I had lunch with Stacey yesterday at Cracker Barrel--be jealous, Amy! We had a really fun time! Today I came over to the Dawson House to go bike riding w/ Loverman...but she is currently backing out on me. So...I think we're gonna walk to Pollo Rico instead. Ahem. Tomorrow is Allison Krauss. Fun times. But jeez...I need to read a book or something!

Grateful...

Here I am with no job (well, I have a job, but not working yet...)and still can't seem to update my blog very often!!! So sorry! ;) Anyway, it's been busy around these parts. Looking forward to seeing my Tres Dias friend, Stacy, today. Have BSF tonite--my last real one (next week is share week, no lesson)--and I'm sad! I have loved studying Romans, and I can see SO many ways God has blessed it. I've been quoting Romans 15 all over the place! Anne and I leave on Friday to head down to Norfolk/VA Beach for a visit w/ her cousin Susan, some beach time, and the Billy Graham Crusade! I'm so excited for the music and the powerful word--and most of all the chance to pray for all those people who will hear the Truth about Jesus. What an incredible chance to pray for the harvest! I'm hoping to start work next week--I've touched base w/ the recruiter at my new job and he's working on a temp placement at headquarters until my background investigation comes thru--please pray that all goes well and quickly! In the meantime, I am having some of the sweetest time during these last couple of weeks. It has been a unique opportunity to spend alot of time alone (which you know I don't always like!) and a neat time to spend time with the Lord (also, shamefully, which I often don't take advantage of). It's been awhile since I've been "grateful"...so here's my list for today:

1. My mom--and all the women who have been like a mom to me. I have been blessed with a mom who loves me unconditionally and who has always said it. "I love you's" have never been scarce in my house, and I am grateful. My mom loves the Lord and prays for me, too. And I can't imagine a better gift.

2. Freedom--freedom to worship, freedom to pray in public, freedom from pain, freedom in Christ. We take our freedom so for granted. When I consider the ways I have been blessed with freedom, I am so humbled.

3. God's word--there are still places where the Bible is not translated into the language. I have like 5 copies of it just here in my basement! I have taken it for granted so much! Here I am privy to the Truth, the whole Truth and nothing but the Truth!

4. New friends--I have met a few incredible women lately who have been so precious to me. It's so fun to make new friends!

5. Old friends--slow and steady wins the race. You know who you are. ;)

Remiss...

I have been on the road for 2 weeks...and home for 3 days. I've been crazy busy playing catchup and am remiss in my blog postings! There is so much to talk about....I got a job--am waiting on my security clearance before I can start. Drove to AL, stayed w/ Shauna a day, then drove home for 5, drove back to AL, stayed w/ Shauna 3 days then back to DC. THAT was a loooong drive!!! Went to weekend women's retreat that was INCREDIBLE! Made some fabulous new friends and got to hang with them this week. Today, I am hanging at home, trying to do some stuff that needs to be done--in particular, getting on my bike and riding it! We'll see if that works out for me! I'll post more later...but in the meantime, some pics from the trip home....