Wonderful Weather

This weekend, we just had to take advantage of the wonderful weather (lower 80s). Can you think of a better way to enjoy it than walking to the beach? I can't. We even waded in the water, but it is getting a bit cold for the local wimps (including me). We'll leave swimming to the tourists from up north.

Not an Adult

No matter how old I get, I feel young. Of course, chronologically I am an adult and I have a lot of responsibilities, but none of the phases have made me feel so mature. There were all the obvious signs of adulthood.

It could have happened when I went away to college, or got my first credit card, or graduated from college, or got my first career job, or used only my credit to buy a car, but nope. I still felt young. How about turning 30, getting married, or having a baby? No, I am young! People my parents' age are adults. People in my age range are young. People 10 years or younger are kids.

I am beginning to wonder when the shift will take place in my mind. Will it happen when my parents are the oldest generation alive, when I become a grandmother, or when I am on my deathbed? Hard to say really.

Tags: adulthood, kids, being young

Momma Bear

Yesterday, I went to a luncheon that focused on a topic that has been on my mind a lot lately. The panel discussed the importance of surrounding yourself with good people. I believe it is vital for business and life.

Looking back on my life, I realize that I have been completely fortunate to have a family that has strong values. I guess that was deeply instilled within me because all of my friends have been amazing people too. Teenagers often experiment and try to find independence through partying, but I didn't. My group of friends in Texas was so fun and about the only "wild" thing we did was stay out late. It is not like we were the nerds of the school; two of the guys were stars of the basketball team. We were always together having fun playing volleyball, watching movies, playing video games, swimming, camping, and basically hanging out. We all just came from good families. (I should note that my dad was very anti- friend camping. He was very conservative & couldn't handle boys & girls camping together. Too much worrying on his part, because nothing EVER happened. We were all FRIENDS.) I think that is how the teenage years should be.

With Lexi in my life, I feel an overpowering need to only surround her with positive people. I want her to have the best influences, great experiences, and fun friends. I hope Steve and I can instill only wonderful values in her so that later she makes wise decisions about friends and her life.

I believe something crazy and amazing happens to parents, but especially women when they have a baby/child. Nice girls become exactly like momma bears. They are fiercely protective of their cubs and quite weary of others. We all know how momma bears react when they are trying to protect their young. It is just part of the love that comes from being a parent.

Tags: momma bear, protective, great friends

Lucky for Me

I have had so much crap on my mind lately, that posting has become rather difficult. Thank goodness the oh so kind and wonderful Princess has tagged me today. Here is a fun meme.

1. Explain what ended your last relationship.
We simply were not meant to be. After 4 years of fighting and COMPLETELY different plans for the future, we finally went our separate ways when he moved back to the Middle East.

2. When was the last time you shaved?
This morning. I am wearing a skirt today, plus I hate stubble & shave often.

3. What were you doing this morning at 8 a.m.?
8 am means I have been at work for 15 minutes. At that time, I am still checking millions of e-mails.

4. What were you doing 15 minutes ago?
Wishing it was 5pm, so I could be wrapping up work & heading home.

5. Are you any good at math?
I was great until I hit calculus in college & then realized I hated it. Now, math only involves spreadsheets & I can't function without them.

6. Your prom night?
I graduated early & was gone by the time prom came around.

7. Do you have any famous ancestors?
Do you mean infamous? My mom's side dates back to the royals of England. Actually, King Henry the Eighth's Grandfather. Later on, quite a few were sent on the Mayflower because they were a pain in the butt to the royal family. One ended up being the first pilgrim executed for murder. Yeah!

8. Have you had to take a loan out for school?
I worked through school & my parents were fairly generous, but I had a few loans. Fortunately, I paid them off rather quickly. I should have kept them & paid of my credit card though...dumb.

9. Do you know the words to the song on your Myspace profile?
I am way too old for MySpace.

10. Last thing received in the mail?
For some reason the post office has yet to forward any of our mail (did the form online over a month ago), so we mainly get pizza coupons.

11. How many different beverages have you had today?
two: diet coke & water

12. Do you ever leave messages on people's answering machine?
Sometimes

13. Whom did you lose your CONCERT virginity to?
Hall & Oats (sounds extra kinky with 2)

14. Do you draw your name in the sand when you go to the beach?
No. If I didn't see the beach very often, maybe I would.

15. What was the most painful dental procedure you have had?
Got my 13 year old molars removed.

16. What is out your back door?
Our back door leads to the same hallway as our front door.

17. Any plans for Friday night?
No specific plans, but we usually stick Lexi in the stroller & walk to a nearby cafe for dinner.

18. Do you like what the ocean does to your hair?
No, makes it look like messy dread locks.

19. Have you ever received one of those big tins of 3 different popcorns?
Only at work & I left it for the office to share.

20. Have you ever been to a planetarium?
Twice in Houston & twice in Salt Lake City, but only for laser light shows. Seemed like there was a time when guys liked to plan that for first dates.

21. Do you re-use towels after you shower?
Yep.

22. Some things you are excited about?
Thanksgiving Baby!

23. What is your favorite flavor of JELLO?
I don't eat jello.

24. Describe your keychain(s).
A pewter key chain with a moose on it that says New Hampshire. Sometimes, it gets my purse searched at airports.

25. Where do you keep your change?
In my car for parking meters.

26. What kind of winter coat do you own?
hmm..it has been so long since I have used one. When I go on trips in the winter, I usually take rain coat and warm clothes. I have a nice ski jacket somewhere in storage.

27. What was the weather like on your graduation day?
I didn't attend my high school or college graduation. For high school, I graduated the beginning of my senior year & by May, I was so over high school. I finished my last classes of college in June. By the August graduation ceremony, I was living in the Middle East.

28. Do you sleep with the door to your room open or closed?
B.S. (before Steve) I slept with it closed. He prefers open and it isn't a big deal to me.

I tag WizeUp, Anna, & anyone else interested (let me know & I'll tag you next time).

Election Day Countdown

For over a month, I have anxiously been counting down to today. My anticipation for Election Day has nothing to do with being excited to vote or in finding out which party will dominate. I am looking forward to the end of campaigning. Honestly, all the money that is thrown into ridiculous commercials, banners, flyers, etc is a complete waste. I am not trying to down play the importance of democracy, just empty campaigns.

What are they all really telling us?

After every commercial, I find myself saying so what???    Ok, every opponent sucks and this candidate will work to reduce property taxes and home owners' insurance. Blah, blah, blah every candidate says the same crap. If they are going to pay for publicity, can't they at least come up with entertaining commercials? PLEASE STOP HIRING ALL THE SAME CAMPAIGN MANAGERS!  I have a great suggestion for the candidates ~ Hire ad executives!!!


That would be the perfect solution.  Ad executives know all about being creative, skewing ideals and images to fit the masses, and entertaining the pop culture audience. Candidates that have oodles of money can hire the same executives that do the Superbowl commercials.  For less fortunate candidates, may I suggest interns? There are thousands of creative students who would jump at the chance to work on these types of projects. Florida candidates can try any of the major schools or even the Miami Ad School.

All I am saying is that for the money, candidates could do A LOT BETTER!   Either hire better people or give the money to needy people.

Tags: election day, campaign ads, ad executives

Too Much and Not Enough

Have you ever sat down to write a post for your blog and realized that you have too much swirling around in your brain to come up with an idea? That is me today. There is so much garbage to deal with and freaky bits of this and that, so I end up with nothing. Do I go on a tirade about a certain person that isn't living up to his end of the "we paid you off to get out of there bargain," or do I think about my crazy workload, or the relatively boring weekend I had while Lexi recovers from being sick, or blahblah blah? Maybe I should just day dream about what I would like or things I am looking forward to like Thanksgiving. All in all there is just too much and not enough going on in my blonde head today.

Sharing the Celebrity Sightings

Going along with yesterday's topic, I decided to mention the celebrity sightings I've had. They absolutely don't compare to Steve's football legends, but here goes. Well, the ones that come to mind this morning anyway.

First and most famous was Robert Redford. Early spring of 1995, I was hiking in the mountains (of Utah) and walked down into the middle of the Sundance Resort. I was looking around at the scenery, but was aware of a few men nearby. When I got closer to the men, I glanced up and locked eyes with Robert Redford. We both smiled and I went on my way. He was directing the guys on future construction at the resort. I must say that I was a bit surprised by how short he was and how old his skin looked. Film makers do wonders.

Second and less well known was Thomas Mikal Ford, who played Tommy Strong on Martin Lawrence's sitcom. He is the tall bald guy. This sighting was about 6 years ago. At the time, I was dating a guy who was simply addicted to that sitcom. While on a lunch break at the Dadeland Target of all places, there he was with his family (& very high maintenance wife). I wasn't expecting to see him. The cashier that ringing up my stuff looked like she belonged on the show so I told her that Tommy was standing over there. She got excited and informed me that he lives around here and comes in every once in a while. When I left, I saw a bunch of young guys run up to him for an autograph.

The third one is very bizarre. In fact, I just went to google to type in these words: female tv evangelist pink hair. I guess only one person fits that description because there she was, Jan Crouch. I saw her at Paradise Island in the Bahamas during Christmas of 2001. At that time, I was working in the Bahamas and decided to use my Christmas break to experience Junkanoo. My old connections got me a cheap rate on Paradise Island. I saw her several times in the Atlantis Resort and she was wearing her big pink wig and fake eyelashes. Other wise, I would not have recognized her one bit.

Those are the celebrity sightings that I can remember today. Odd...I know. Hope everyone enjoys the fact that it is Friday. I'm dealing with a very sick baby today, which means I have to cancel and important lunch meeting with an executive client. I also have to try to battle a crazy workload while taking her to the doc & trying to keep her happy all day. If today wasn't Friday, I'd say just shoot me now!

Tags: celebrity sightings, Robert Redford, Thomas Mikal Ford, Jan Crouch

Steve's Ideal Day of Work

Steve's company is hosting a huge training seminar at Shula's 2. During the lunch break, he decided to peek his head into the restaurant. He had no idea that he would experience a fantastic fanatic fan moment. At a table, he saw Don Shula, Dan Marino, "Mad Dog" Jim Mandich, Joe Rose, and one other old time Dolphin player that I have never heard of. Basically, yesterday was probably be best day of work he has ever had.

What I want to know is when am I going to see some completely amazing celebrity in person while working? Perhaps, I need to talk my boss into moving our office to the Beach. Plus, I can't even think of a celebrity that turns me into a crazy fan like Steve is with these guys. I guess I'd settle for the hilarious celebrities like Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, or Jackie Chan.

Happy to Be Featured

Eric from A New Eric has a weekly feature called Know Your Blogger. He sent me an e-mail a few weeks ago asking me if I would answer the questions & then I'd be featured. Fun, right? I feel honored to be selected for this week's interview. As an added note, I am working on a new blog design with an even cheesier freckle face girl cartoon. I am just having a few problems with the code, so it may take a few days to get it up and running.

Lincoln Road Halloween Extravaganza

Matching Tinker Bells

Mr. Cat Woman
Bumble Bee Family

We went to Lincoln Road last night for Halloween Festivities. The place was CRAZY packed. From 5 - 7pm, the festivities were geared toward kids. Tons of kids were everywhere running from store to store to get their precious sugar fixes. It was fun seeing all of them. From 8 - midnight, the party was centered on adults. That was the plan anyway, but people will still coming with babies and kids when we left.

Lexi and I got there at 6pm and Steve joined us at 7pm. We walked around and grabbed a quick bite at Pasha's. Mostly, we were there for people watching. Let me tell you, that there were definitely interesting characters. If I was bolder and the batteries on my camera weren't dieing, I would have better pictures for you. Plus, we left at 8:30 just as more fascinating partiers were arriving like the gay bondage couple (one with a whip & the other in chains), plenty of authentically flamboyant drag queens, a hooker rainbow bright, etc. The typical trick-or-treat crowd you see in any US neighborhood, right?