Bible Study

So the high school girls want to organize a summer Bible study where they teach the middle school girls. Is that not the sweetest thing?
I am really looking forward to seeing this work. I have (potentially) offered our tiiiiny apartment to them for their weekly meeting. Hopefully I can sign up Kelly to attend these with me, and possible teach/lead one. I am certainly no expert on the Bible, but between the two of us we could come up with a seriously kick-A lesson.
I am so proud to see these girls take the initiative on this. It is a great opportunity to learn from each other, but also to teach others and help them grow spiritually. What a blessing to use those gifts God gives us! Sure, sometimes I wish God had given me the gift of mass-money-making, but I can work with what I've got. ; )
I hope I can be helpful to the group in this endeavour, but I am most excited to sit back and absorb - I'm sure these girls can teach me a thing or two!

Money is a Gas

Grrrrr
Yesterday Brad's car was hit on 249. He is OK (thank the Lord) but his driver side door is completely jammed shut. He got the insurance and info from the other driver (it was her fault) so now we are wading through all of that mess. We had to go get a rental car this morning, and it was so stressful. We were supposed to get a "free rental" on behalf of his insurance, but we still have to pay for gas on it. I am wondering if they wouldn't reimburse us for it; we should ask. So we have that HUGE additional expense (because we got a truck, so gas would cost loads more than filling up Brad's little car).
PLUS they re-imaged the computers at work, so now everything is all wonkified! It looks like all of my iTunes library was wiped away (twitch), but the IT guy left me a note that said, "I'll get your iTunes stuff back !!! : ) " So I will cross my fingers on that...
I have been having short dizzy spells on and off for over a week now, and I am sick of it. I was going to go to the doctor, but I'm starting to wonder if what I need is an optometrist. I haven't been to an eye doctor in a reeeeeeeeeeeally long time, and the headache-y dizziness usually starts behind my eyes. It is probably strain. So I may get hot new shades soon. My benefits are pretty good, so I'm gonna see if I can afford the kind that get dark when you are in the sunlight. That way I wouldn't have to worry about sunglasses! Who knows how long that will actually take me, though.....

Basically this week has been kind of BLECH, with some wonderful exceptions. And at least I have LOST to look forward to tonight, and Nick's dance show. Le sigh... life goes on.

Updates

The Astros won the game last Tuesday; won it like a bunch of awesome! It really was a great game. We got free green caps AND free tote bags. Brad doesn't want a man purse so I got tons of shwag.

I have been in a LOST-related shock for several days. Last week's episode was so hardcore that I was shaking afterwards, at which point I watched Step It Up and Dance. They were doing STOMP, so I only became further riled. I recognize, btw, that this show is horrible. Really, it is bad, BUT I will continue to watch it in support of Nick. I hope they do something he can show off at soon...

If you, too, are a fan (or obsessee) of LOST then I recommend you read the review/recap posted by Dan Carlson weekly. LOST airs on Thursday, the article usually goes up Monday. To be honest, my favorite part is the comments left by fanatics; you hear amazing and ridiculous theories!

My buddy David is riding in one of those crazy-long bike rides to raise money and awareness for MS. I am so proud of him; I talk a big game about changing the world in little ways, but I don't do anything like that! I really should, too, because not only is he raising money but he is in great shape. Its OK, though. He is going to teach me to break dance. It might not change the world but I might finally develop some upper body strength!

Kelly had a very successful interview for a job the other day (fingers crossed and prayers loud) so we are awaiting results. Go Kelly!!

Work has been pretty stressful lately. My boss keeps trying to give me more responsibilities. On the one hand I am flattered that he thinks I can handle it and appreciative that he is trying to make me indispensable to the company. On the other hand, STOP! My brain is overflowing with stuff I didn't entirely understand in the first place! I need Adderoll, but my stupid old-fashioned doctor doesnt seem to believe in it (am I not a poster-child?!?) He has me taking B-12 shots, which I do think has helped but not much. BOOO!

Its only 8am and I already have a stack of things to do, so I'm gonna go now.

Updates and such

I don't seem to update this blog very much, so here I go:
It is April 22nd. Tonight the Astros are playing the Padres, and Brad and I will be there to cheer them on! If we can actually get there on time, we will get green Astros caps (Go Green! Night). Over the past few weeks Brad and I have made our reservations for (and the trumpets sound) DISNEY WORLD!!!!! I have so uber-excited!! I have already planned most of the trip; I want to be organized, but leave time open for discovering new things. We are going in August (the 10th through the 15th to be exact), so it will be SCORCHING HOT. I don't mind; bring on sunscreen, a tan and two awesome water parks!! We are trying to save up extra money, too, for food and a crap load of souvenirs. Seriously, I will come back with a Disney Tattoo if they offer them on site.....OK, that's a lie.
I have gotten involved with the teen girls ministry at Bammel. I am loving it, and I have Grags to thank for being a wonderful inspiration to me!! We are planning some summer Bible studies and get-togethers. I'm vying for the Chocolate Bar - who's with me?
Brad and I have joined and committed to a Connection Group, and we are LOVING IT! How could we not with the incredible food, furniture and worship?
I am practically counting down the days until Morgan moves back home (which happens in roughly 8 months) so that we can watch Runway and SVU until our eyes bug out. I MISS YOU, ROOMIE! We have much mischief to manage, so hurry home!
We are adjusting slowly to living on a budget, especially now that we are trying to set money aside for WDW. I am cooking more, often for my folks as well. It is just easier to prepare a meal for four, you know? We don't get to Alvin very much, so we miss his folks and Michael. We are going out there this coming weekend, which should be fun. And I have got to find a way to get that baby gift to his cousin soon...hmm...
Now comes the arduous and slow-moving task of losing weight, or at least shaping up. If I'm hitting Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach frequently in the heat of August then I had better feel good in the bathing suit! Both of us get winded just walking up to our apartment (a third floor walk-up), so perhaps a workout is in order.
I have been warned not to drink the water at work thanks to an "outbreak" of pregnancy around my office. I dont have the heart to tell them that is not how you get pregnant. Maybe I will schedule a "Birds-n-Bees" conference.
That seems to be everything I can pull off the top of my head.

Effing Fridge Thief

AAARRRGGGHHH!!!!!!!
The stupid annoyances I suffer at work are multiplying!
Someone in our office or cleaning staff has been occasionally stealing food from the fridge and/or freezer. How sad is that? How destitute do you have to be to steal food from a company fridge? You know what, if I believed it were someone who truly needed food, and not just a jackass, I wouldn't be angry. Annoyed perhaps, but sympathetic. However I have no reason to believe that is the case.
This morning I went in to get our frozen waffles out of the freezer, and when I picked up the box it weighed nothing. Someone not only ate my waffles, but they put an empty box back in the effing freezer! How ridiculous is that? This feels like dorm life, except that I had great roommates and in a dorm you would know who the culprit was!
A month or so ago, my mom and I had Chinese food for lunch. We brought back leftovers. The next day, her doggie bag was empty and mine was half-empty. HALF, PEOPLE!! Someone ate a few pieces of my Honey Chicken, then stopped and left the rest for me (thanks!) Ew, it was so disgusting! I mean, really, who does that?
After that incident my mom left a sandwich in the fridge with this note on the box:
"To the Lunch Thief - Really? Well, I sure hope no one has laced this sandwich with mass amounts of Ex-Lax... or worse."
How much does my mother rock?

Inspiration without Perspiration

I consider myself very blessed. I have achieved and been given a lot of great things in my life. I am easily inspired. A good book, an encouraging story from a friend, a great sermon; I am lit on fire! I have spent a great deal of my adult life planning great things.

Here is the part where you ask how many of those great plans came to fruition... wait for it: Not very many...

I am lazy. I missed the go-getter gene, or more likely, Alex took it all from the womb. He is just packed FULL of go-getter, and I am stuck with "But it is all the way over theeeeere...".

I was really hoping that my B-12 shots would help with this. To be fair, I need to be more patient with it. But with ADD, patience turns into "What was I talking about?"

Then, in addition to those issues, I stand in my own way. I am really good at convincing myself not to apply for greatness. What if I am never home? What if I fail? Or worse, what if I succeed?!? I dont really like responsability - there, I said it! If I work extra hard to get an advancement in my job, guess what- I get more work to do! I come home exhausted as it is, just from sitting at a desk staring at a computer all day. What if I had to work more hours? Overtime is great (I get paid time-and-a-half), but I would rather get a little extra sleep in the morning, or have dinner on the table when my husband comes home, or hell, sit around doing nothing and watch my shows!

I truly pray that I can learn to get out of my own way. It is different being married, because even when I could finally get off my butt and make a decision I have to consider if it is best for both of us. I love my husband, and I am so thankful to have him. I just have to stop making excuses and get things done!

The World, the War and the Wall

It is so easy and so desirable to stay safe behind the wall of America. Think about it: we live in a country were we have news channels, but they mostly report with celebutante is in rehab this week. We live in a country where women bawl and wail and gnash their teeth if their wedding cake is the wrong flavor (on national television). We live in a world where basically anyone can wear anything at anytime, and where teens complain about wearing uniforms for a few hours in school.
It is as if we know nothing of the rest of the world.
There are countries where women are beaten to death in front of crowds because their hair was showing out of their veil (this makes them a whore in the eyes of the punishers).
There are countries where women bawl and wail and gnash their teeth because they have just seen their husbands, sons, brothers and fathers shot like dogs in the street.
There are countries where women are kept in rape camps, camps that function only to imprison women so that soldiers can get their rocks off whenever they please.

I find it so easy to be ignorant to those other worlds. That is what they are, complete other worlds. They are practically other planets when you consider our country.
I hate that I am blissfully ignorant, but I am scared to allow it to be real. When I truly observe and absorb the pain and suffering and reality of these womens' lives I cannot even breathe.

If only more of us could be as brave and talented as Eve Ensler. We need Vagina Warriors in every city and in every country, fighting to keep women safe. How is it that we abandon our sisters? Can't we see we are abandoning ourselves?