Girlfriends are the Best!!!!

For years I was "just one of the guys." I spent the best part of my college years playing fooseball and pool and drinking beer with the guys. Those were the best years of my life.

Tonight though I am thankful for my girlfriends. It was a sucky day. Things didn't go the way I planned and I was mad about that. Unfortunately for my friend Laura, she called right in the middle of my personal stewing and was dealt the brunt of my frustration (it had nothing to do with her).

Even though I was not on my planned schedule I did follow through with one of my plans and went to the gym. After a great workout, I called Laura and apologized for lashing out at her. She's so good, because she said "Oh I didn't think you did that at all." We then talked for thirty more minutes about "stuff" and realized that we're really pretty normal.

After eating dinner, I saw some interesting information on Facebook. I knew I had to call my friend Deanna to confirm what I read. (Deanna and I worked together for two years, and she's one of the best teachers I know.) I talked and laughed with her for half an hour too, as she shared insights about her "normal" family and the invention of the "cup," among other things.

Then my friend Pam called from Colorado. We had a great time gossiping and solving "the world's" problems. If we ran the world, everything would be A-okay! But we really don't want to run the world we're just happy being cogs in the machine.

It is because of these three friends that my day has done a complete 180. I am so thankful that I have them and others who will listen to me bitch, laugh with me and tell me where the best pizza in the world is. I love my guy friends, but they would have been done the minute I started bitching and would never have lasted 30 minutes on the phone.

Now girls - who wants to play fooseball?

Thumbs Up

Happy 2011!!!!

I've got a notebook called "100 Things to Do in My Life" - it has 61 things in it, but that's okay because I can still add to it.

Number 19 is "Host Fabulous Parties." I've put this off for some time because I live in an apartment and thought it would be too small for a fabulous party. But if I learned anything in 2011 it's that life it too short, so I decided to have a small fabulous party. I'd make pulled pork, baked beans, macaroni and cheese and cola cake! I was so excited!!!

I got up early on New Year's Eve, went shopping and cleaned most of the day. Yesterdy (New Year's Day), I got up early to put the finishing touches on the party set up. I had a timeline all mapped out in my head. 12:00 the pork was going in the oven. Well, the best laid plans . . .

I had to run to the store for more paprika for the rub, so I was off to a late start. It was fine though, because I knew this would be good pork!!!! I got the rub mixed, got the cutting board out, started cutting the fat off and sliced right across my thumb!!!!!

So many people told me it was a horrible way to start my year, but all I could do was laugh! Rub and blood!!!! I did manage to get the rub on the pork and the pork in the oven. And I am very thankful for my friend Patrica who came over to sit with the pork and straighten up while I was at Primacare.

In the end, things turned out fabulously!!!! And if this is the worst thing that happens to my in 2011 then it will be a great year!!!!

So Thumbs Up to 2011!!!!!

My mom

I'm recently back from spending three weeks in Florida with my family. I had a great time! I'm so lucky to have a wonderful family, even when I don't always appreciate them all the time (do any of us?).

My mom and I drank together, laughed together until we cried, went shopping, watched "In the Line of Fire" and recited the lines word for word for the umpteenth time, and so many other things.

Unbelievably after three weeks, for the first time in five years, I wasn't ready to leave. I was sad to leave. I was going to miss spending time with my mom. Who would shop with me or laugh with me when I got home? Sure I have friends here but it's not the same as having my best friend.

All my life I wanted to be just like my mom. When I was little, I played house like nobody's business. I remember saying once that when I grew up I wanted to be a housewife, because that's what my mom did. Even now at 40, I strive to be like her. I make crafty things at Christmas like she does. I shop for bargains (most of the time), I say what's on my mind because that's what she does (always in a kind way). I still to try to play tennis, because she did (I started at7 or 8). I pray to Mary, because that's what she did. My mom made me everything I am today.

Today I was cleaning out my place - "cleaning like mom" I say because I throw a lot out or put it in a bag for Goodwill. While cleaning I came across a letter she wrote me almost 25 years ago when I was getting ready to go on a retreat. In it she wrote that she wanted for me all of the things she never had.

How funny, all of these years, I wanted to be her and she wanted to be me. . .

Weight Watchers

It's official - I went back to Weight Watchers. The great thing is that one of my best friends has also gone back too! It's wonderful to have the support of not only the people at the meeting, but my friend too!

I have found that Weight Watchers helps me to control not just what I'm eating, but lots of other things in my life too. I'm better about following through on my "To Do" list when I'm doing this. I do more around the house (although it doesn't look like it right now).

Let me know if you want to join in on this with me. The more support the better!

Grab Life . . .

Life is short.

That's it.

I've had constant reminders around me the past few weeks of how short life is. The frailty of it. The beauty of it. The saddness of it. And the sheer joy of this life.

I have a wonderful life (thank you Clarence for letting me borrow your line). I have family and friends that love me. I laugh with them, agonize with them, cry with them. I'm so lucky.

I'm going to go out and live my life to the fullest, because I don't know what is going to happen tomorrow, next week or next year. Too many times I can get bogged down with the ridiculousness of life, the unimportant things. I think the time for that has come to a stop.

Who's in? Who's going on this ride with me?

Unconditional Love

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves."
-- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7



When I was in eighth grade I had to memorize this Bible verse. It's one that I can always recite at weddings because of Mrs. Mitchell in 1983.

Yesterday, being Valentine's Day, I got to thinking about unconditional love. I know my family loves me unconditionally, but that love is something that has always been there since I was born. Kind of like breathing, in some sense I suppose, I've taken it for granted because it's just always there.

Since I moved to Dallas though I've been lucky enough to experience unconditional love in a different way. I always felt like I should live here and the birth of my Godchildren solidified the feeling. Even though they're five, there is nothing they could do that would turn me against them. They've thrown fits, puked on me, peed on me and on one unfortunate occassion, pooped me. Through it all I love them like I've loved no one else.

I've cried when I knew their feelings were hurt. I've been overjoyed with their accomplishments. I'm almost always sad to leave them. They can make me laugh like no one else. I do things with and for them that I would otherwise never do. If I wasn't sure before, I know now that I am capable of loving someone unconditionally.

The other thing that amazes me is that they love me just as unconditionally. To them I can do no wrong. Any decision I make is okay with them (granted they're five and don't know any better). There is a beautiful picture that their dad took of them a few years ago where they were sitting up in a tree and I had just arrived at their house. In the pictures I know they're looking at me and the sheer delight on their little faces is pure love.

How lucky am I, this day after Valentine's Day to be able to have two shining examples of what Paul wrote in his letter to the Corinthians. Two beautiful hearts that love me unconditionally. (Ali and Jen, if you're reading this - it's pretty close to the same thing I feel for you, but thankfully I didn't know you in diapers - <3 you).