One last...something

So I just got home from another home basketball game where I got to witness my brothers first win! It was exciting. Neat. Cool. It's different for me this year. If you're a reader, you know that last year I pretty much devoted myself to school. That has not been the case this year and my shoulders feel much lighter than they did last year. I also haven't been as concerned with my brother. He is who he is and at this point all I can do is be his big sister, by being who I am. At some point, hopefully, he will figure things out. Until then, I'll be there for jam sessions and movie nights but that's it. It's interesting how having a different perspective can change so many things. I can't believe that I blogged (almost) every day this month. I can't wait to see next month. I've decided next month will be prayer, seeing as how advent starts tomorrow and I have a prayer book with prayers from each day. It's something I can do whenever, wherever. There's no reason that my book can't follow me every where like my phone does. So farewell November! Maybe I'll do this again another month....eh.

No surprise!

So, if you have been reading my blog this month, or longer, you probably have picked up the fact that I'm a bit of a procrastinator. It's probably one of the things I wish I could change about me the most. If you were to look, I'm sure that 96% of this months posts were written after 10:30 PM. That's not a coincidence. It's not like I'm one of those moms that has to wait until their kids go to sleep. Of course, if you know me, you also know that I'm not just sitting at home twiddling my thumbs each night. I do have a lot to do. Tonight, I'm procrastinating at my finest. I'm sitting at school waiting for a parents night to start, getting caught up on grades. This one is new for me. I'm usually quite good at staying up with grades. However, as you can tell, I'm not just doing school work. I did get some work done, my motivation was through the roof there for a while. But then it just plummeted. I unfortunately get more work done when people aren't in the building. Saturdays and Sundays at work are very productive! Of course, that's also cause I want to get in and out, and because there isn't anyone else up here to distract me. That's not saying much though, I'm very easily distracted! Like just now, I took a two minute break to do something completely unrelated to this blog! Oh it bothers me that I'm not more motivated! Well, here's hoping I get something done! Only one more day of November!!

Isn't there a song?

So today, I'm just tired. It just seems like there is so much going on right now, I don't know where to even start. I've gotten behind on SO many things that its not even funny. The worst part is that I just keep saying yes to things. Honestly, I work better under pressure, some sort of crazy adrenaline thing....it's annoying but effective...ish.

Ya happy now?

I don't really like the prompts for this last week, I feel like they're just a bit lame. However, over the past few days, trying to find time to finish my blog before midnight, I've found myself wondering what else I could challenge myself to do every day for a month. The thing about blogging is that I can do it wherever and whenever I want. I need to think of somethings to challenge myself soon though; December starts very shortly! I could do some sort of "exercise" or stretching. I could do something with photography. I could read as many books as possible, but that would be hard to do "every day." I could write a letter to someone every day!! Ooh, I like that one!! That is a close top runner! It could be like my way of sending Christmas cards this year!! Feel free to comment if you have any ideas! I'm always surprised at the things that I don't think of! Only three more days of blogging every day left!!!

Not so fast, Batman...

So I only have five more days of this and of course this week is like the busiest week ever. And of course, I almost forgot today! As long as I get it in before midnight! Today was the first day back after a five day weekend, and I'm not going to lie, it was not easy. I could have gone for a nap after lunch, but no such luck. Tonight was night 1 of basketball games; there are 3 nights of BB this week. There's also a dinner theatre, parent night and a Christmas gathering. I guess it is just that time of year! I had an odd thought this evening when I was eating supper. I guess it is a sign of growing up, which I guess it is about time that happens, ha. So as a kid, and for most of my adult life, I've not enjoyed spicy food or scary movies. Within the last two years I suppose, I've really started to enjoy spicy food, especially my dads homemade salsa. And now, I just recently saw a preview for a scary movie, that's also about zombies, that I want to see. I have a hunch it may be more about Brad Pitt than the movie, but I think I'll end up seeing it anyway. I don't think this will be the start of me liking scary movies though. I'm just too terrified of the dark for that to really go anywhere. I've tried to watch scary movies and I just can't do it. It never fails, I'll watch a semi-scary movie and I'll lay in bed all night imagining that someone is trying to kill me. In fact, just typing about this is giving me the willies!!

A lost day

So the 23rd is a lost day. I'm not sure what that means that I missed a day of blogging. I will say that this challenge as me wanting to start other monthly challenges. I mean if I can find time to blog every day, who knows what else I could do. Especially if I just took it a day at a time for one month! I may see if I have time to blog an extra time this week, just so I'll have 30 blogs for this month! I can't believe it's already time for December! With December comes advent, and Christmas, Christmas break, holiday parties, traditions, and so much more! This weekend was pretty great. I am so grateful for the circumstances that led me to a full time adoration spot: Saturday at 2! Yesterday was my "first day" and it was awesome! Near the end of the hour, I looked at my clock and thought "Whoa!! Already??" It was a great hour! It "interferes" with Saturday afternoon plans, but not really, it's pretty easy to plan around it! If you don't know what adoration is, you should google it. If you do know what it is, go spend an hour with your friend!

Blame it on Texas

So I'm going to write two blogs today, cause I missed yesterday. I thought about doing it once, but decided I had more time.. I was wrong. So yesterday was another good day. Slept in after seeing a late night movie on Thursday. Then a friend of mine brought out her cousins, nephew, grandpa and a friend out to the house to shoot fire arms. It was fun! The good news is that it is only the second time I've shot a shotgun and I did pretty good. I'm not going to lie, I was a little surprised when I hit one! Then the handguns came out. I've shot handguns before and I was looking forward to doing it again. I wasn't too bad. I'm not like a future sharp shooter or anything, but I had fun. The cool part was that my brother was there and got to shoot the handguns! I think he liked that too! He wasn't too bad either! Then since my friend, Betsy, doesn't live here and everyone always thinks we're sisters anyway, I decided to join their family for dinner and of course, the after dinner activities. Did I mention the cousins were navy pilots? I think you can all imagine how much fun we had! Lots of laughs on the car ride home! I'm going to include a few pics from the shooting festivities!

Turkey, Dragons and Canada!

As I've blogged recently, I was trying really hard not to be disappointed that I was "just" staying at home this year, as opposed to my last thanksgiving or visiting family in other parts of Texas. I now realize how silly that was! Today was a great day! I started out the morning sleeping in! Then drove out to my parents house where my niece and nephew had spent the night. Of course, I made it just in time for breakfast too! The I decided to enforce a no technology rule, no technology until after we ate lunch. Which surprisingly, everyone was ok with, we'll almost! My nephew Andrew was NOT a happy camper. He decided our games were boring, which I don't understand because we had SO MUCH fun! No one was a sore loser! We laughed when we lost and when we won! We probably played games for a good 4 or 5 hours this morning! Of course, Andrew never really caved. He played for about 30 minutes and about two hours later, grandma caved cause she was tired of the pouting. The of course, the eating! That's what I like about thanksgiving. Family gathering without all the pressure of gift giving. One thing I would like to do as a parent one day, is find some way to take the focus from gift giving at Christmas time. I remember having things I wanted at Christmas and I was slightly disappointed when those things didn't appear on Christmas morning. I don't remember being rude about the presents I did get though. In recent times, I'm just grateful that someone has thought of me to get me something. I put so much pressure on myself to get good gifts for people though, it's exhausting. HOWEVER--it's still thanksgiving!!! So for now, I'm just going to be grateful for this wonderful day and time spent with family! Here's hoping wherever you are that you spent time with your loved ones!


PS. the title has a few pretty funny stories, if you wanna hear them, sometime!

What'd that be like?

This is a very interesting thanksgiving for me. I LOVE Thanksgiving! It is easily one of my favorite holidays. I love hanging out with the family playing games and eating and drinking. Always a good time. So last year, I spent thanksgiving in Paris! It was odd for me, I mean, I was going to Paris!! How can you complain about that??? But on the other hand, I was missing thanksgiving! Of course, I got over that! Hahaha, I'm not a stupid girl and after all I was in PARIS, FRANCE! So this year, we are staying in Amarillo for thanksgiving. The rest of the family is gathering in Dallas for fun and festivities. So in order to not be sad for something so ridiculous, I'm just viewing these days as a vacation. Today AMC is showing "Gone with the wind" all day. I've only ever seen parts of it..never the whole thing. So this morning, I watched part one and now I'm just waiting for part two to come on again and re watching part one. But I started thinking about something, and I'm sure ill dream about it this evening. But I'm also posing this question to the people of the Internet. What would life be like if the South had won the war? If the South had seceded from the North? Would we still be existing as two separate nations? Would we be the "powerhouse" of the world as we, at least once, were? Would something have brought us back together? World War I or World War II perhaps? Or would our division just made us an easy target for these wars? Would people in the south still be living like they were back in those days? Just something to think about as you enjoy turkey, friends, family and loved ones.

Decisions, decisions...

So this post is more of a question for you, the readers. How do you make decisions? I'm guessing that people with families take the needs of your children and spouses into consideration. But even then, how do you do it? I think this is where being a math nerd is not helpful. I feel like there should be some formula or math equation that I can plug all of these things into to get an answer. What are some of the motivators behind the decisions? Money? Love? Work? Friends? Family? Opportunities?

Btw, I wrote this on Tuesday....just fell asleep and forgot to hit publish...oops!

No Thanks!

So since I haven't remembered what I was thinking of blogging about the other day, I'm using the prompt again today. "If you had to get locked in some place (book store, amusement park, etc) overnight alone, where would you choose to be locked in?" And I will have to say none of the above. The idea of getting locked in anywhere is appalling. I remember this one time that we were shopping at Kmart for like school clothes. I must have been like 7-9 years old. I remember that we were trying on shoes and it was nearing closing time. They came on the speaker and announced that it was time to finalize your purchases and make your way to the front. I don't remember if they made a second announcement or not, but I remember what happened next. I freaked out and started kicking off my shoes, desperately wanting to just leave so they wouldn't lock us in. I vividly remember imagining the lights going off and my mom, sister and I having to just sleep in the shoe aisle because we couldn't leave fast enough. I honestly think it is because I have always been a strict rule follower. I, fortunately, had a friend in my early 20s that was ahold/bad influence on me. I've learned to, mostly, balance my neurotic tendency to think everything must always be as it is supposed to be, you know?

What was that again?

So I'm pretty bummed. Yesterday, at some point during the day, I had an excellent idea for a blog. However, I decided to wait until today to blog about it, so that I could remember what it was. Now, after an eventful Saturday and a semi-eventful Sunday, I'm lying in bed, almost asleep trying to remember my brilliant idea. I'm hoping it pops into my head at some point. Until then, I'll just have to relive my Paris trip! It's crazy that a year ago this week, I was getting ready for it!, right now there are no major trips coming up. Oh well, I need a year to recuperate. It's odd how once an idea is in your head, turns into something completely different by the light if day. Well, unfortunately, I really am quite tired. So here's hoping I figure out what they were dancing too.

Just FYI, I could have changed the last sentence, but decided to leave it cause it's funny and it shows just HOW tired I really am...ok. I have to stop typing now!

...in giving that we receive...

I just got back from doing something that I've always wanted to do. Well not necessarily EXACTLY that, but something like it. I went with a friend to deliver Thanksgiving meals to families in need around Amarillo. After starting out the month of November, doing a service project with my coworkers at Eveline Rivers Christmas Project, I feel like issuing a challenge to myself to do things like this more often. And not just in the holiday season! I will make sure I make an effort through this holiday season, so I don't forget about it. If you have any ideas, let me know!

So this is actually a two part blog. In a few short hours, I will be attending the funeral of someone whom I've known since I was a small child. I was privileged enough to get to work for her and later with her. I used to love going into the kitchen yelling her name with a thick Texan accent, "Spoooons!" At least once a week, she would make pudding, chocolate, vanilla, or swirl, but always with shortbread GS cookie crumbles, for me, since it is my favorite dessert out at camp! The service she gave to so many hundreds of Girl Scouts is indescribable. I know her family is quite proud of her life. I'm going to multitask as well this afternoon. My grandparents, are buried in the same cemetery. So I'm going to stop and get them some flowers for Thanksgiving. Well, I'm going to take a nap before the rest of my day. So I leave you with this final thought, "When was the last time you gave something to someone with out expecting anything in return?"

No time for you!

So I'm blogging about nothing. Maybe cause I've been talking about Seinfeld today or maybe cause I don't have much time. Either way I don't really have much to say, but I just can't miss a day. Some of you may not understand that, but I don't really care too much. Just like George and Jerry didn't care their show was about nothing and Elaine didn't care about her dancing skills and well, Kramer was just Kramer. Someone recently compared Seinfeld to a new show that I enjoy watching, New Girl. I don't see the resemblance but it is a good show. You should watch it. Really. You'll like it! But don't take my word for it!

Almost forgot

So I almost forgot to blog today!! Ahhh! I've made it to day 15 so I can't mess it up now. I'm halfway through with this crazy mission!! So since, once again, I'm waiting until the last hour, this will be short-ish. So today's prompt is about my favorite pet. It's a close call between two dogs: Chloe and Ginger. Ginger was my first dog, a beagle, that was part of the family until I was about 9 or 10. She ate home-made ice cream with us and even occassionally sampled dad's beer. She was chill but a good dog. Chloe was Nanny's dog, a Boston Terrier. She was almost like a cousin that was adopted into the family. Whenever Nanny went out of town, Chloe stayed with me, she's the only dog that I've let sleep in the same bed with me. She would curl up under the covers and lay there like a little person. I loved playing with Chloe. She had a rope or a doll that you could play tug of war with and we would just hit it and yell "shake it, Baby" and she would just shake the crap out of the doll. Chloe left with Nanny's ex-husband, the only man I've known as Grandpa, just before she passed away. We've had so many pets between Ginger and Jessie, our current dog. Lots of stray cats and puppies. Oh, I also had an imaginary pet bird, named Becky, when I was younger. Becky the bird would definitely be a close third for my favorite pet!! :)

Stink, stank, stunk

So a week from tomorrow is Thanksgiving! I don't even know how that's possible. It seems like it was just a few days ago that I was preparing for last thanksgiving- my trip to Paris!! But I'm not talking about that right now. As I was flipping through the radio stations today, I came upon Christmas music. Of course, it was Michael Bublè so naturally I listened! As I did, an odd mixture of thoughts popped into my head, so naturally, I'm sharing them with you. I was thinking about the people complaining about Christmas starting early and how ridiculous that is. I think it stands as a well known fact that I LOVE music, so it's undeniable that I LOVE Christmas Music! Actually, I think that's backwards, Christmas music is the reason I LOVE music. Listening to a Christmas song can bring back so many memories all at the same time. That's what I look forward to each year at Christmas and always have. It has nothing to do with the gifts or the sales. That's actually what I found kind if ironic. People who complain about music starting sooner are usually the ones that say that people are focusing on the wrong message of the season. When actually, by worrying about what other people are focusing on, you're not focusing on either! I mean is one week really that much time. What difference does it REALLY make, especially when you're not listening to think of all the things you're buying or receiving! The next time someone mentions Christmas, I challenge you: don't grumble and think "Oh no! It's too soon!!" Instead, think "Oh yeah! Christmas!! I can not wait to make more wonderful memories with my friends/family that we will think of for many more years to come." After all, you never know who you will be celebrating with next year.

Big words & Fancy clothes

So, instead of blogging about my day, I'm using the prompt. I'm struggling with it just a little bit, but the fact that I don't have much time will definitely help. The question is "What is the Bravest thing you've ever done?" That's tough for me. I did just blog about something like this though. I'm having trouble picking a favorite, as usual. The more I think I about it, the easier it is, although my answer may be not what you expect. Some people are brave with big leaps or giant steps, like a trust fall. They are overcoming this fear of water dwelling raccoons by becoming friends with one. I like to think that I'm brave by taking small baby steps in a new direction, you know like Bob, in "What about Bob?" He takes baby steps everywhere he goes. While I'm not as funny as Bill Murray, I hope you get what I mean. If not, go back and watch the movie. Then take a few baby steps or Neil Armstrong steps and help your bravery become a bigger part of your life!

Well then!

So today has been interesting! I'm currently sitting on a very comfortable bed. Let me give a quick shout out to La Quinta Inn; I always have a choice when I travel, and I usually choose La Quinta! Comfortable beds, good breakfast, free wifi. I love traveling with my students, even when they drive me a little crazy and I'm trying to figure out where an actual mall is, instead of a fake mall. Even when, I start out the day much earlier than planned, because of a slight misunderstanding. Even when, I fall back asleep and wake up 8 minutes before I told the other teacher I would be at school. Even when, every other word is "like" or "right." I can't really tell you in words why I enjoy these trips, I think you just have to experience them. Let me just say that everyone should have a "Taylor Swift Jam Out Session" with a car full of teenage girls and boys at some point in their life. Our choice of song today was "You Belong With Me" but I'm sure any of them would work. Tomorrow is our One Act play performance. I'm really excited. The kids have done really well!! So think about us tomorrow around 2:30!!! I'll let you know!

Don't forget your toothbrush

So this blog isn't going to be very long. For one thing, it's dangerously close to Midnight. For another, I still need to pack for my trip in 9 short hours. Today was unique. I woke up in a not-very-good mood. I had to wait for the suddenlink guy to leave, to make it to the turkey dinner with my family. Then I went shoe shopping, after yesterday's 5K, I was in desperate need of new shoes. After being severely disappointed that apparently shoes in my size are a rare find, I went and tutored for an hour. Then onto my nephew's birthday party, which I found out about AT THE TURKEY DINNER...Then I decided to go back to Kohl's and try again to find shoes after someone suggested that I try men's sizes. I had to go back to Kohl's though, I mean, I had a coupon!!! Then I had time to eat dinner and put on my men's size 10 and 1/2 shoes (GOOD GRIEF RIGHT!?!) before heading up to school for one last dress rehearsal for the one act play. Then I had to finish my sub plans. The whole day though, I just hated everything! And then I hated that I hated everything- it was just this vicious cycle that just SUCKED. So I get home, start my laundry and get a text message from my "adopted" big brother that says "Wanna hear me sing?" At first, my hate mood was like "Ugh, Adam...what do you want!?!" But I didn't say that. Instead I said "Um, Maybe? lol" So he called and sang! haha. His phone was about to die so we decided to keep talking until it died, mostly to see who would get the last word. He was hoping to win with "For the love of God, please wear deodorant!" Alas, he underestimated the power of the iPhone's battery. I just got a text saying that I won the last word award with "I don't mind dogs sometimes.." I'm not going to lie, that just made the day not SUCK! For one thing, I like winning. For another, someone sang to me.

Snap yo' fingers

So today is November 10th. Today would have been my grandmother's, aka Nanny, 80th birthday. We called her Nanny because she said she was too old to be a "grandma." Nanny was 69 when she died and she did not look 69, she never looked like a typical grandma though. But then again, she was anything but typical. Nanny is and always will be the coolest person I have ever known. My sister and I would spend a week or two at her house each summer. Most days were spent in her kitchen watching TV and playing cards or driving around shopping at garage sales. A lot of times there was music playing if the tv wasn't on. If music was on, Nanny was dancing. Nanny had the cutest dance. She would snap her fingers and "sing" along, I saw that cause she wouldn't actually sing the words. I chatted with nanny about so many things. It's odd that so many years later, I still wish I could talk with her about things that are happening in my life. It is not weird that this many years later, I still remember the moments leading up to her last moments on earth. All the family had come down, it was Sunday morning and summer time, which means I was scheduled to head to camp in a few hours. Everyone left to get food, except for mom and I. I could list the ways that I was influenced by nanny, but that wouldn't do her justice. In this month of thanks and remembering the dead, for us Catholics, I feel like nanny is closer to me. Usually November reminds me of her absence. So I guess this is what progress feels like...

It might sound strange

So with a little less than an hour to post my blog today, I'm feeling a sense of writers block. So I'm using today's prompt, but even that is stumping me. "If you could change one thing about your life right now, what would it be?" So I'm taking that as "If I could snap my fingers and make this happen..." I mean my first thought is being in shape. But I, honestly, know that if something just happens, no matter what it is, I won't appreciate how hard it was to accomplish that and it would be too easy to just go back to how it was. So instead, I feel more like a 'herder' slowly moving my life into the kind of life that it should be. Gotta cut it short tonight; I'm doing a 5K in the morning!

Home-cooked ridicule

I am typing this blog from my parent's kitchen table. I missed the last Sunday dinner so I made it up tonight. My dad made sausage and potatoes, which might be one of my favorite meals, which also tells me that he misses me, just a little bit. Now my brother is working on his math homework and I'm waiting for my nails to dry to paint the other hand. My mom is walking around somewhere, doing something. My family, and I don't mean just my immediate family, has a unique relationship. Basically, if they're aren't making fun of you to your face, they're probably talking about you behind your back. Hahaha. We're not really that bad. Just call each other out on their BS. It really makes family gatherings, of any size or reason, pretty enjoyable. This evening, there was just four, but the laughter was just as enjoyable as if there were 20. So, if you haven't seen your loved ones recently, call em up and give em hell. Let em know you appreciate them.

Journals, blogs, and what not

I'm getting a head start on today's post, so that I'm not trying to think of something at the last minute. I just think it is curious the different ways people record events in their life. I know some people that don't have to write anything down and can tell you exactly when something happened and what else was going on in the world at the same time. Sometimes I can string a series of events together that way, but not nearly as well as these people. Many of these people go on to be "historians." I have also known a few people who are faithful note takers, keeping record on an almost daily basis of the on goings of life. I'm always amazed, when these works are later published, that the writer managed to describe in such detail exactly what they were feeling. I have, from time to time, gone back and re-read my own personal "captain's logs." I have probably filled maybe 4 journals of various sizes in my short 28 years. I can tell you, oddly enough, the exact date that I began my diary, as I called it back then. For Valentine's Day in 1993, my mother gifted me with a small pink teddy bear diary, with lock. I think that got me through junior high, I skipped my high school years, which lets face it, doesn't skip much. Nowadays, people have video blogs, blogs, journals, diaries and so many other things. Honestly, you could take all of the pictures and status updates from Facebook as a type of journal. Interesting how these things have changed, and by doing so have changed the way the world works. I leave you with this final thought: how would the world have reacted if Anne Frank had a video blog or Facebook page?

this is harder than it seems

So, confession time: When I started this, I thought it would be easy. Let me just say right now, IT'S NOT! I was thinking the whole way home this evening about something I could blog about. I think I had an idea, but I've done forgot it now. (Decided to throw a little Texan in there for ya..) I could blog about the election, and I will just to say that it's going on. I'm not sure what will happen. I could stay up and watch, but instead I'm in my bed making youtube playlists, blogging, about to watch this really awesome TV show that was just introduced to me. If you're looking for something new to watch, might I pass along a recommendation to you, "Foyle's War." It is really quite good. I love watching CSI type shows, or "whodunnit" type shows. Usually though, I'm disappointed because I can predict the ending in the first five minutes. That's actually true for most TV shows and movies though....This however has not been the case in the first three 90 minute episodes that I've watched. Even better is that it is set in World War II in England. It is really quite good. I'm telling you, man, I never know who the killer is until the very end! It is on Netflix, if you're interested. Well, time to finish my Michael Buble Playlist, maybe some others, too. Adios!

Blog for blogging sake

So, I'm not sure what to write about today. The prompt for today is about the election tomorrow, which I'm not going to write about...I could write about Friday's prompt since I didn't use it. It was "If you could live anywhere, it would be..." I'm having trouble answering that question. I want to live lots of places, not just one. Why does the question always make you choose one thing? I guess that is how life is supposed to work, but I don't like it....

You should be laughing, Yea!

So this blog is about one of my favorite things to do of all time: LAUGHING! The best thing about laughing is that you can do other things at the same time. It's not like an exclusive activity where only certain people can do it. Anyone and everyone can laugh at any time of day or night. I love making people laugh, either at me or at other people or just at something! This afternoon I played volleyball with some friends in preparation for the upcoming city league season. Now I played VB in like elementary school and I remember practicing for hours in my parents front yard, hitting the ball off the front of the house. I played in sixth grade and got discouraged by a not very good coach and quit playing. I really regret that decision, now I don't think I would have been like a future volleyball ALL-STAR or anything. I just wish I had played through MS and/or HS. So I guess my point is that I'm glad I have some basic skills to play, but I can also laugh at myself when I do something ridiculous, which if you know me, usually happens. So I hope laughter finds you or you find some laughter in your life today! :)

Not that kind of blog

So. I almost messed up- On DAY THREE. I have 9 minutes and counting to get this blog in. As I noticed that fact, I thought of the JT and Madonna song "Four Minutes" where in the video the world is collapsing and they sing and I guess the premise is that at the end of the song they will have saved the world?!? Honestly I never really cared for that song, but it was made during the time of the Timberlake. Everyone wanted to make a song with Justin Timberlake....y'all remember those days? I can't decide if they were good or bad, or just like that annoying friend/family member that doesn't really bother you but isn't really helpful either. Well, five minutes left so that's my blog for today! Adios!

Like a new life

I love the start of a new month! I know it is really nerdy, but actually I like starting new things! Love it really! The start of a new month always feel like a fresh start to me. I remember playing Mario Bros as a kid with my sister and dad. I loved the excitement as we would start a new session. Six whole lives, six chances to make it through the fire pits and water scenes. The anticipation of wondering if this will be the time that we make it to the end and save the princess, just thinking about it gives me goose bumps! I've talked before about how I like accomplishing things. It's probably the main reason that making to-do lists has been a success for me. I love crossing things off the list. So this morning, since we didn't have school yesterday, as I changed all my calendars (I have 4...at school..) to the new month, I feel a sense of rejuvenation. I was almost giddy changing the months, except for the one that had a spider crawl out of it--that was just creepy...

Isn't that what the Lion asked for?

Hello internet world. So I've been blogging for about 5 years, I guess, maybe 6 actually if you count the myspace blog. For the first probably 2-3 years, I was a very dedicated blogger. I've typed around 60 blogs in this many years and around 48 of them are from the first two years. I've blogged everything from big announcements to random thoughts. Unfortunately, in recent years, the amount of type I've had to blog has decreased, by like a lot. So after discovering a blog this week, I discovered that November is like "National Blogging Month" so I decided to pick up this old hobby again and will be blogging every day this month! 

 (I promise they won't ALL be this long, just had to re-introduce myself.....)

So they give prompts for during the week and since my blogging skills are a little rusty, I'm using it today. So today's prompt is about my favorite quote. If you're a regular, you know that I'm not a big fan of choosing favorites. But there was one quote that came to mind; I think it is from a movie. "Courage is not living without fear, courage is being scared to death and doing the right thing anyway." I want to start out by saying, I don't think I was one of those super scared kids growing up. Compared to my sister, I was though. I always let her try all the new things growing up. I didn't really do much that was very risky...definitely wasn't my thing. Until I grew up, which I think is the best time to start taking risks. You know as a teenager or a young kid, the "big risks" include all kinds of really stupid stuff that I'm actually very glad I never got involved in. Not saying I was perfect...just not much of risk taker..when it came to anything. I don't know that I could really tell you when I stopped being such a scaredy cat. I just noticed one day that I was saying yes to more things. Some may say that I said yes too many times...but that's just a matter of opinion...I do think I had to say yes sometimes when I was supposed to say no, and be ok with the outcome in order to be the person I am today. It's kind of like the movie "Yes Man!" You have to be open to the possibility not just say yes to everything. That's actually a fun thing to learn I guess, haha. Getting back into this, I feel like I could write a lot more. However, I think I'm going to cut this short. I hope it makes sense. I was multi-tasking as I was writing. I could go back and re-read, instead, I'm going to just hit post instead! See ya tomorrow! :) 

It's been a while

So quite a bit has happened lately and I realized that I haven't blogged in 4 months, so ta-da: A BLOG!
I've just about spent a two whole weeks at my "new home" and I have to say that God is good! I knew it was time for me to move out of mom and dad's. My debts were MUCH lower than they were a year and a half ago. In fact my car is dangerously close to being paid off!! As is my credit card debt, thanks to dads awesome generosity and assistance! So in August I researched lots of apartments and picked one out. Put in my application and paid my deposit and waited for September 22nd to come around. However, I wasn't really excited about the apartment. The only preparation I had made was to call my insurance to make sure I had renters insurance when I moved in. So the week before move in date, a friend of mine from Young Adults posted that she really needed a roommate and the rent would be cheaper than my apartment. At first I just thought it was bad timing, I mean I already had an apartment. But after talking to my dad about it, I realized that it was worth losing my deposit to save money each month. So I met with Elizabeth, her middle name is the same too, I'm sure the mailman just thinks that she is a secret agent and is getting mail for her spy self at her house now. Anyway, it was great. The room was much bigger than any room I had lived in for a while. So it was decided. My only hesitation was that after living with all of those people (my family) again, I was really looking forward to living alone. But after my first weekend in the house with Elizabeth out of town, I was very grateful for the company on Monday. So now Elizabeth, Elizabeth and Daisy May take turns cooking dinner and watching Grey's anatomy and other shows. Well, daisy doesn't cook, but I do which may shock a few of you! But it's true and it's not horrible!! Lol.
But I have a new address if any of you would like to send me something! So far I've received something from my insurance and that's it.
The other good news is that it's October!! It's one of my favorite months to teach and work in school. It's when students finally start acting like the students that I want them to be instead of the students that they were. I also don't have a whole lot of extracurricular stuff going on, so I have time to hang out with people and go to Young Adults. It's also when I volunteer for more things cause I'm so bored; my spring self really hates that. But I also have a chance to catch up on shows that I didn't see in the spring and read books that I haven't read. This October is really exciting cause my cousin Todd is getting married. I've been to 3 family weddings, with the exception of my sister's. I was 15 at the first one, 18 at the next and 25 at my cousin Duke's wedding. This is the first Pace family wedding where I will be 21+ and I could basically add "Weddings" to my resume because I've gone to so many!! So I'm pretty excited!! Plus it's in Fredericksburg so I'm going down early to visit with people. Betsy lives in Austin and Rachel just moved to San Antonio so I've got lots of options to entertain myself in my free time!!
Well, it's Friday so I'm going to get lunch today so I better jet! This was fun. We should do this again sometime soon. :)

Give a little Heart & Soul

Had to share a quick piece of news with all of you!!! Especially those of you not on Facebook. Tonight was our school's award banquet and there's a relatively new award that they give out known as the "Ray Huseman Heart & Soul" award. It's given to a member of the community, either parent, faculty, staff or volunteer who goes above and beyond. Since I stick my nose in everything, my asst. head of school told me yesterday that someone else was getting it, someone I thought was quite deserving of this award. Well what do I know? They gave it to me!!! I cried and had to give people all kinds of hugs. As a teacher, I'm not really in it for the recognition but I just had to say that it's quite a nice feeling. So thank you to all of you have helped me get to where I am. Looking back at the shy 16 year old kitchen aide from 12 years ago, or the geeky little trombone player with a loud mouth, I can't believe it. I'm looking forward to continuing on this journey!! There are too many people to list and too great of a chance of me missing someone. So just consider yourself thanked!!! I've included a picture of my plaque that will now hang in my school forever. Wow, so typing that just now was surreal. It's the same school that my uncle, aunt and dad once attended. The REALLY COOL thing is that my grandmother and namesake once worked at the same school. It's really awesome to be able to carry on her name and legacy!!! I hope that she is up there bragging to her friends about me tonight. (This thing has me a little emotional....sorry about that. I know better than to BUIE - blog under the influence of emotions!!)

Alright already...

So I've been teasing to write one of these for a while. Not sure how this is going to work. I'm typing it on my new iPad...I know, I know, did I really have to go there? Yes, yes, I did. :) but I apologize now if there are mistakes.
Wow. I really have only written ONE ALL YEAR!! That's nuts! (but also reflective of my hectic, insane, super busy semester...) Last spring was pretty busy but this semester has taken the top prize. It started early too, January I was traveling already, I had my Campus PSIA Invitational Tournament, then February was more traveling with TWO district Academic competitions on the same weekend. Of course I was also preparing for the trip to Italy & Greece, then in March was the actual trip. As soon as I got back, I had two State meets in Austin to get ready for, back to back. Oh then there was this whole Spring Formal thing. In the meantime I was teaching classes, although I didn't teach a Whole week from February to April 21!! Oh and I've taken on two more students to tutor, although that extra money has been nice. Now Spring Formal is almost here, along with Semester Exams and then of course camp is right after school is done. I feel like I've left something out...but just writing all of that makes my brain hurt. In the next few weeks, I will finish up my FIFTH year of teaching and begin my TWELFTH summer at camp! In September, is my 10 year high school reunion...ugh! There are a few things that make ALL OF THAT worth it. One of those things, my AMAZING FRIENDS!! Some people would include coworkers in that, but I'm fortunate enough to be able to call my coworkers my friends. I've said it before but my all time favorite (free) extracurricular activity is laughing!! I'm so glad that I've been blessed with a sense of humor! I've met a few people who barely even crack a smile, and that's just SAD! We had a school luncheon/pot lunch today. I tried my first kiwi. No, I didn't like it, the taste was alright but--texture!! Ugh! To make a long story short, as I was trying it, almost the entire staff stared and watched and waited with enthusiastic anticipation to learn whether I would enjoy eating a kiwi! While this may sound odd and not at all boring, I found it funny. I'm not sure how I got to where I am. Sometimes I think back to the frightened 13 year old that I was back in the day, when everyone liked mmmbop! (Sorry, had to throw that in!) but if you had told me I would be THIS person, no one would have believed it. Confidence is such an odd thing, a tricky thing. It's a very fine line that if crossed, either way, can be dangerous. So thank you to everyone that has helped pushed me, one way or another, to stay balanced between cocky and self-conscious.
I don't really have much else to say really. I am going to a formal high school dance for the first time in probably ten years....should be interesting!! Oh, while I'm thinking of it. Can you guys help? I'm completely on the fence about my hair, big deal right, but I've included a picture with both blonde and brunette hair. I'm letting you decide. It will be done before spring formal. My abilities to make a decisions have not really improved this year, as you can see......
Until next time!

Oh, what a year!

[Writer's Note: Sing the title of the blog like the opening lyric of The Four Seasons, "December, 1963"]
First of all, HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope 2011 was good for you. As I do most years, I'm going to take a few moments to reflect on this past year. Even though most of you reading this don't blog, I hope you all take some time to do the same. I'm not sure who said it but "if you don't know where you've been, you can't know where you're going." I'm also including some of the music that really truly shaped this year. Every year, I've said how important music is to me, but this year that was so very true! So press play and read on. :)  And don't worry, it's not ALL Hanson. :)



So 2011 meant a great many things for me this year. One of the most noticeable, fun and hopefully long-lasting things was TRAVEL! I traveled more miles this year than I have I'm going to say my entire life. Being the math nerd that I am, I've figured it up for you. This is in no particular order and includes travel by Plane, car and bus and in some cases just the total distance away from home. I'll do a list so I don't ramble...

• Austin, Tx (3X) = 3,000 miles
• Lubbock, Tx (2X) = 500 miles
• Dallas, Tx (3X) = 2,100 miles
• Tulsa, OK = 700 miles
• Niagara Falls, Canada = 3,000 miles
• Albuquerque, NM = 600 miles
• Houston, Tx = 1,200 miles
• Corpus Christi/San Antonio, TX = 1,400 miles
• Paris, France = 10,000 miles
• TOTAL= 22,500 MILES

That's alot of stinking miles and it's REALLY STINKING COOL!! Most of you know that a few years ago, I had aspirations to join the Air Force. I don't know that I really wanted to join the air force. I wanted to get in shape, travel and get my master's degree. This year will bring almost as much travel as last year with my academic competitions and my spring break trip to Italy & Greece! Here's hoping 2012 brings my travels to wherever you happen to be!

The next thing that comes to mind is my workout regiment. Thanks to my new workout buddy, Kristi, I joined a gym last January and worked out regularly for about 4 or 5 months. Now unfortunately, the fall semester did not bring me to the gym too often, but I think having done it regularly like I did will make it easier to go back. Looking back on where I was 3 years ago, I've lost 40 pounds! I'm hoping this year brings significant changes to my health goals. For one thing, I want to be proud of the pictures I take with my kids in Italy & Greece. Also, CRAZINESS- this year is my 10 year high school reunion. So I've started the year off right so far. I haven't had a soda since Tuesday and I'm hoping I can kick that awful habit this year. If I could go back to my 13 year old self and tell her to never drink a Dr. Pepper, I would do it in a New York Minute.

The next thing that was dominant through out the year was MUSIC! Most of you know about my rediscovery of Hanson. I'm still so blown away on the effect seeing that music video on VH1 in a hotel in Austin has had in my life. There may be people reading this that I only know now because of Hanson. I've had a very interesting reaction from lots of people to it. I've brought some people along with me. I mean, I saw Hanson 3 times this year!! I even got to meet them twice! I have to say that they were some of the nicest celebrities I've met, and yes I've met a few. I was able to go back and discover all of the music that they've been making the last 15 years and realized that I really liked it. I've also become more sure of the fact that I do not like listening to Amarillo Radio. I'm happy with my iPhone playing the music I want to hear, not what other people say I should want to hear. I also discovered new talent, Meiko, thanks to Hanson. In fact some of her stuff is playing on my playlist.

This year has also brought me to my 5th summer of being Assistant Camp Director. I'm in the middle of my 5th year of teaching! I can't believe that I've been doing it this long- either of those things! This year also found me back home with my family. It's been odd timing, cause I've been able to bring Bobby to school with me everyday. That has been an adventure as well! You know they say it takes a village...Oh, I've also spent this year tutoring one of the hardest working students I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. She's a senior and is looking forward to graduating this May! We worked hard all summer and got through all of her TAKS tests! I look forward to working with her cause I know she'll do great things!

I spent a few minutes reading some old blogs, some from this blog and from myspace blog. I started blogging 6 years ago! Reading a blog from 3 years ago, I was lost and confused and had no clue where my life was going. Something has happened in the past 3 years so that I'm no longer worried about where my life is going to be. I only focus on where my life is right now. That doesn't mean that I'm not making plans for the future. One reason I've been home this semester is to gain control of my finances. I'm so close to paying my credit card off that I can smell it. Now, sure it's a light smell, but it's better than nothing. One thing I do want to say, so it doesn't seem like I'm living with a blindfold is that I realize that life has not been great all year long. I'm just not sharing those things cause I think I'm still learning some things from them. One of those things is dating. 2011 was the year I gave dating a try. I'm not so great at it. Mostly cause I'm an awkward kind of person and I just need to find someone that finds the awkwardness charming. hahaha. But I did learn some things from it. One thing I learned this year, and I can't tell you exactly when it happened, is that even though things aren't always great, you can't focus on the bad. I'll give you an analogy, you know I love those! I'm terrified of the dark, it's one of those irrational fears that I've held on to from childhood. But I've learned to deal with it over the years, as long as I don't focus on the darkness. You have to focus on those small bits of light that help show you that the scary monster in the corner is actually just a coat rack and the man trying to grab you is just the window curtain.

Alright, that's what I got for my end of the year breakdown. I look forward to sharing what 2012 brings! HAPPY NEW YEAR! Make sure and listen/watch all of the videos on my playlist! You won't be dissappointed! :)