Simple

I love Mars Hill Church. LOVE it. When the collegiate minister at our church mentioned a job opportunity for my husband in Seattle, he said no. I said maybe. That's how much I love Mars Hill. I listen to Mark Driscoll's podcasts (and Rob Bell's) frequently. If you haven't checked them out, DO SO NOW. If I ever get the opportunity to visit Seattle, you best believe I'm going there.

The point of this blog is so not about my love for Mars Hill and its ministry. I am a facebook "friend" of Mark Driscoll (of COURSE) and he posted a link to the Mars Hill blog about underage prostitution. Click here to read the information. (FYI, I have been told the link is not working, so if it's not working where you are, just copy and paste this: http://blog.marshillchurch.org/2009/09/30/seattle-and-underage-prostitution/)

Did you read it? Good. Cause I'm not rehashing it here.

My heart breaks for those girls -- and for the boys/men who are using them. My immediate thought when I read something like that is, What can I do? Can I donate some money? I can't go up to Seattle, so what can I do?

I didn't see a link to donate, so...pray.

If you haven't gathered from previous posts, I am a FIRM, STAUNCH, RELENTLESS believer in the power of prayer. I don't think when we pray to God that we're just thinking "happy thoughts" or "wishful thoughts." I believe we stand in front of the throne of the Almighty, and I am His daughter.

Wow. That's just so cool.

Anway -- again, I'm a little spacey this week (needing to write an 18-page paper by Monday will do that to you -- oh, and having NO TIME to do it) -- please, just pray for these girls. I wouldn't think many people are praying for them.

Sorry for such a downer blog, but this is just something that needs to be distributed. =)

Caffeinated Randomness: Rock on

I try to listen to something upbeat on the way to work. Marc Broussard, Grits, the Derek Trucks Band...something that kind of gets me ready to face the day, you know?

So I turned on some Marc and started driving the seven miles to my workplace, thinking about my 5k next week and if I could trash talk the preacher any more. What? Did I not mention this?

Sunday night we were over at a friend's parents house, and the pastor and his wife were there, too. Dr. R asked me how my 5k the day before had gone, and I told him we'd finished, but our time was bad. "Well, what was it?" he asked. I told him. He. Straight. Up. Laughed. Laughed!

"I could CRAWL faster than that!!" he exclaimed.

Smart aleck. "Well, time for you to prove it," I retorted. "There's another one in two weeks. Are you ready, or are you scared you're going to get beat by a couple of girls?"

I'd like to say I scared him when I challenged him. Maybe I did. He's hard to read sometimes.

At any rate, I planned for the shirts Rindy and I could make for this next 5k. I'm not sure what they'll say on the front, but on the back, they'll say, "How's the view look from back there, R?"

Hehe.

I might have also shot R an e-mail Tuesday with the form to fill out for the 5k with three words under it: "Eat my dust." Yeah...

At any rate, I'm not sure if he's signed up or not. I suppose we'll find out Sunday. If he did, I gotta pick up the pace. If not...well, doesn't that mean I already won?

Anyway, back to the story. As I was driving in the minimal traffic our city has, I was stuck behind this red truck, and I noticed the driver, the only person in the vehicle, jerk his head erratically, as if he were mad at someone. Curious and stopped at a red light behind him, I watched closer.

He was air drumming.

Now, granted, I've been known to cut a rug or two in the car, but I have never seen someone so intently focused on playing imaginary drums in a vehicle that it actually shook the vehicle. No joke.

I was fascinated by his dedication to the scene in his mind, especially during his morning drive. From the stickers on the back of his truck, I could tell he went to high school, and he had curly dark hair.

I had to see who this air drummer was. When the red light changed, I sped forward, knowing he'd turn right in less than a mile, and I did not want to miss seeing what he looked like.

It took some fancy manuevering on my part to stay between the three lanes of traffic, and then my car voomed forward until my car and the air drummer's red truck were side by side. I looked to my right.

Turns out I recgonized that face.

Turns out...it was the preacher's son.

I have no words.

For more Caffeinated Randomness, visit Andrea!

Home improvements

It was a lovely evening in the Super household.

Rindy and I had just run two miles, Superman and I had fixed and eaten dinner, and we were watching TV, curled up on the couch with Superdog. And, being the Super couple we are, we decided after our show was over to put up the two big boxes that hold my fall and winter decorations in the attic.

I handed Superman the heavier box and then poked my head in the bedroom to say something sweet to Superdog that would make her tail wag. Mission accomplished.

"Okay, Lois, I'm ready for the other box!" Superman called down to me.

I handed him the second box and slowly made my way the two steps back to our bedroom. As I did, I heard this sickening, awful BOOM.

"Oh no," Superman said. "Tell me I didn't do what I think I just did."

I just KNEW that Superman had dropped the heavier box somewhere, and it had fallen through the ceiling. I just KNEW it.

I was close....



Our ceiling, like many, I assume, is very precarious. When we moved in, Dad and Superman put extra boards in to help the situation so things like this wouldn't happen. Unfortunately, Superman missed one of the boards and kicked a hole in our ceiling.

I just stared in shock. I couldn't even answer him. Superdog had immediately dove under the bed and had taken to digging imaginary holes in the carpet. I think she was trying to dig herself out of the situation.

I didn't know which was worse. The hole in the ceiling...or the disaster on the floor...





Still not sure.

Superman was amazing, though. We immediately went to work to clean up Disaster Zone 1 (the floor). After that was fixed, we debated for about a minute about what to do with the ceiling. And, in true redneck fashion, we fixed it the best way we knew how to at 9:30 p.m.



Duct tape can fix anything.

FYI, we're not leaving the duct tape there. The ceiling will be fixed soon. We're just hoping the tape stays until the weekend.

Superdog did crawl out from underneath the bed after we "fixed" the ceiling. Acted like she hadn't been terrified at all at the ceiling coming down on top of her.

She's such a poser.

5K survival

Well, ladies and gentlemen, we did it. We ran our first 5k. Our time was not what I had hoped, but it wasn't too bad, either. But the most important thing? We did it!



Before the race. Before we died.

S, with the pink hat, did not run with us, and Christina, beside her on the left, passed me and Rindy within the first mile. I am told that our route led us through some of the prettiest homes in the city. I'm not really sure. I was looking constantly for mile markers.

The race was for cancer research, though somewhere between Mile 2 and 3, Rindy and I were literally shouting that we were racing for pancakes. And orange juice. And coffee. And eggs. All from IHOP. A lady running next to us cheered.

But we did finish.



Some very sweet women were waiting on the other side of the finish line with water for us. They handed me a bottle, and the first words after I finished my first 5k were to that woman as I said, "I LOVE YOU."

Rindy was right after me.



And, yes, we did get our pancakes.



I hear rumors that another 5K is taking place next month. I'm ready!

Caffeinated Randomness: In less than 24 hours...

...I'll be on the starting line for my first 5k.

I'm not nervous about it at all. I know I can run three miles, so it's one of those things where my attitude is, "Okay, so what am I doing after the 5k?"

(FYI, my entire Saturday is planned. And it's very busy.)

Rindy and I ran/walked around three miles last night. I had such high hopes for this new route I planned out around my house. Turns out it was an EPIC FAIL.

Problem No. 1: Cars
Since we've been running on treadmills, sidewalks, and early in the morning, cars have not been a problem for us. However, the new route was up and down hills and curves, and cars aren't known for driving slow in those parts. Coupled with the increasing darkness, and I was realizing that this route would not be repeated.

Problem No. 2: Wild animals
My dad walks a lot, and a couple of weeks ago, he mentioned he saw a black bear when he went walking. Naturally, my paranoid state kept me looking for bears, even though we live within the city limits. Not that there's not wildlife around...

Right after when we decided to cut our three mile run into about 2.5 due to the darkness (and the only thing reflective on our attire was Rindy's shoes), we heard a dog barking nearby. Hoping that the dog was a) on a leash b) in a fence or c) nice, we picked up the pace a little bit and suddenly noticed a huge animal rushing our way.

I. Nearly. Died.

I just KNEW it was a black bear. It was too dark to make out the animal at first, and as it came closer and closer, it darted across the road in front of us, and rushed into the trees on the other side of the road.

It was a deer.

Not that deer can't mess you up. Especially in a car. But it was nice to know that it wasn't a black bear. Or a mean dog.

Problem No. 3: Hills
All the routes up to this point have been mainly with no hills or small hills. Last night's route had HUGE hills. I discovered the joy of running downhill (It's fantastic) and the agony of going uphill (I'd rather collapse). I decided we don't need to train running uphill. While I'm not sure how hilly our 5k will be, our half-marathon is in New Orleans. Does New Orleans even know what a hill is?

We ran fairly well last night, though both of our knees were hurting. I need to keep a better record of our running activities. I'm thinking that we were sore because we ran so late at night, and, if I had a record, I could look back and tell.

Therefore, I'm guessing the blog is going to be my record keeper. Because I'd lose it otherwise.

Happy Friday, everyone! For more Caffeinated Randomness, visit Andrea!!

Prayer request

Pray for the Maxey family. Their baby daughter, Annette, passed away last night. I know a lot of you were involved with the "Hope for the Maxeys" project.

A day in the life of...

I’m teetering on the edge of panic every day.

First, my job. I love what I do for a living: I teach. It’s fantastic. I love my students, I love the information I teach, and I love the hours. But there are other things that I hate which probably cannot be written on this blog. Panic Button No. 1.

Grad school. It’s rough being a doctoral student. It’s even rougher having to commute seven hours for class. I don’t have the opportunity to really get to know my professors, which, as it’s really all political anyway, is a pain. Plus, if I have a question, I have to pray that they check their e-mail or pick up their phone. I can’t go to the mass com building and hunt them down like I would do normally.

Training. Don’t get me wrong; I love running. Okay, I don’t love running – I love the feeling I have after a run. But it takes up some serious time, either early in the morning or in the afternoon. Time is money. Speaking of which…

Money. Isn’t money always a problem? Sometimes I just want to escape and live on a beach where I’d fish for my food and not worry about money. But then I’d probably have to walk around nude, I’d starve because I wouldn’t catch any fish, and Hubby would miss his Saints football.

I panic on a regular basis. It’s just who I am. Last year, my first year of teaching, I was so nervous that my eye twitched for a month.

I’m living on the edge, and if I fall, they’re probably going to lock me up in jail or a mental institution and throw away the key.

So what does a panic-stricken girl do? Drink a lot of coffee and pray. No, I’m serious. Praying’s always my best choice (though I do appreciate a good cup of coffee, too). Sometimes I choose less-than-fantastic options, but I have learned that praying a) calms me down and b) makes me feel like I don’t have to worry about this anymore.

I had a revelation on Sunday, and it was pretty ridiculous – that I didn’t already figure it out, that is. “This is it, Lord,” I thought. “This is all I can do. My life’s in your hands.” And then I thought about that last statement. It was like a brilliant light bulb went off in that dark attic of my brain, and I was just stunned. Like I said, ridiculous, right?

Before I go any further, don't think that I'm sad or depressed or anything like that. Life rocks. It really does. I have a fantastic husband, a great family, wonderful friends, and, really, everything's going well. But I'm always living on that edge...

As a side note, my hip feels better today. I did run (don’t hate!) but it was only because around 2, it stopped hurting. No running today, but I’ll do three miles tomorrow, rest on Friday, and then 5k on Saturday.

But if I need it, just pour me a cup of coffee, okay?

Training: Week Four

Houston, we have a hip problem.

My first 5K is this weekend. YEA!! Totally psyched about it and all that...buuuuttt...my hip hates every part of me. It hates when I walk, and it most certainly hates when I run. I think. We haven't really gotten that far yet.

Apparently, Superman was correct in his statement that I run funny. I did run funny yesterday. It was due to exhaustion and a need to visit the little ladies' room but not wanting to mess with my pace. Then it was probably not helped with the 7-hour car ride to Super Duper University and back (3.5 there, 3.5 back).

Today I need to run two miles. It says so on the schedule. Yes, I could alter the schedule, I assume, and use today as my freebie day. I suppose I should. But Thursday (my official No Exercise Day, according to the schedule) is the day that The Office and Fringe return. I kind of want to get prepared for that. Is it bad that I just want to down a few Excedrin Back and Body pills to get past this so I can run two miles today? And, seriously, two miles at this point is a breeze. Not as easy breezy as one mile, of course (or no miles), but it is not bad.

(My mom at this moment is dialing my number to tell me to take it easy.)

Why does this have to happen THIS week??!!!

Caffeinated Randomness: Time machine

I'm taking a lead from Rachel and pulling out some blogs from about four years ago -- before I was married and before I graduated with my bachelor's degree. I have two blogs I want to share, both from May 2005 -- about three months before Superman and I got married.

Monday, May 02, 2005

As I have 20 days before the dreaded graduation ceremony, I thought I would share with you what I have learned through my three-year college career.

Class attendance is overrated. Even though I'm always on Superman to go to class, I have learned that mandatory attendance...isn't mandatory. I made great grades during my freshman year, and I slept an average of four hours a night (I had an 8:00 class), skipped all the time, and made all As and the occasional B. Now, as I go to bed early, get 7-8 hours of sleep, go to class, I have As, Bs...and the occasional C. Of course, maybe I'm wrong with my theory. My grade slippage could be from my way fun house, my sexy fiance, refusing to study or do homework...Oh, the list goes on.

You can break into any house or dorm room with an ID card. From a co-worker of mine, I even heard you can do this while drunk. So leave your keys at home, but make sure to bring your ID card!

Being stuck in an elevator will make or break a claustrophobic. Memory: Friend from high school. Me. Between 4th and 5th floor of the dorm elevator. My friend, hitting all four sides of the elevator, and then collapsing on the floor. Me, the worst claustrophobic of them all, hitting the alarm button. Both of us calling the police. The police taking a very, very long time to get there...

Pictures are evidence. Dispose of them. (BCM girls know what I'm talking about).

124 days until I become Mrs. Superman!

Monday, May 16, 2005

Wedding countdown: 110 days to go.

So, as I have six days before I walk down and become an alumna, I got to thinking. I have three months to go until I get married. That's a big WOW.

I don't believe I would take one thing back from my college career. Everything I went through made me the person I am today. I used to wish that Superman and I had started dating when I first came to college...Then I realized how silly that was. Superman and I both were not ready for each other. Neither of us really knew how to love. I was demanding, he was indifferent. I don't think we would have stayed together had we began dating in 2002.

Three years at this university...So many memories. I'm taking away so much from this place. I've learned so much, like no matter how many purple kool-aid packets you put in the fountain, it doesn't turn colors...I've learned s'mores and your closest friends are the best times... you and your two closest friends getting the three best parking spots at the dorm is the most satisfying experience in the world...midnight runs with toilet paper, forks, and flour are incredibly adventurous...jumping in the fountain at the town park at night is not cool when you don't have a towel to dry off on...

I've learned friendship, not lust, starts the fire of love...only your true love will hold your hair back while you vomit into his toilet from food poisoning...peer pressure can be fought...never sit back; always stand up for what you believe in...some people are just mean, and there's nothing you can do about it...never let anyone tell you what you can and can't do...stress is overrated....class is overrated... I'm madly in love with my fiancé.

This is the week of my graduation.

For more Caffeinated Randomness, visit Andrea!!

Why we don't have cats (Don't read on a weak stomach)

(NOTE: Running time last night: First mile in 11:10 mins, shaved off 14 seconds. 5K -- 3.1 miles -- in 34:29. Shaved off more than a minute!! *Cough* Not that I'm timing myself or anything...)

So while my running buddy is living it up at Disney World this week, she asked if I could run by and feed her cats. I said that wasn't a problem; I've done it before, and I like her cats, even though I feel like one of them is plotting to overthrow the world. But that's another story.

Superman sweetly agreed to go with me yesterday, and we found both cats eager for human attention and for more food. I refilled their food and water bowls, and I told Superman to see if their litter box needed emptying.

Please note: Neither Superman nor I have ever taken care of indoor cats. We had one cat for about six months, but he lived outdoors...much to his chagrin...which is probably why he found another family that made him wear a purple collar...again, another post.

Turns out the kitty litter box was FULL. Superman gagged, mentioning something about his week stomach, and I rolled his eyes at this obvious melodrama. "I'll take it outside and dump it," I said, thinking this was a logical situation (Right?). But there was a problem. The box was too heavy for me to easily take it outside.

Superman saw the problem. "Grab one end, and I'll grab the other," he offered.

As the cats ate dinner, we took their bathroom outside and prepared for the dump. We both poured. And Superman gagged again...and dropped the box.

Thank goodness it was almost empty, but he ran over to the side of the yard and vomited on the grass.

Okay. I know this is mean. But I did laugh.

A lot.

And maybe cried from laughing so hard.

Poor thing!! We're still not 100% sure why he reacted in such a way (as our pup has left us MUCH WORSE "presents"), but I think I'll be handling the kitty litter box solo next time.

Or maybe he can just hold his breath. We'll see.

My new goal

I ran my required two miles last night in 23 minutes -- which means I ran a mile in about 11:30 each time.

I was discouraged Monday at my seeming lack of improvement after two weeks exercise, but yesterday, I realized something.

I never ran ONE mile until I started this half-marathon training. I've NEVER been a runner. I'm a walker at best. A Wii Active exerciser on most days. Running a half-marathon was my goal for six months' time.

And then I realized it last night. I'm not hear to break records or run multiple miles under 10 minutes. I'm here to finish.

Wow. It was like a revelation.

My personal goal is to finish (in a decent amount of time). I'm slowly improving, and, I have only been training for two and a half weeks. But running is my stress reliever, not something to add stress. I don't want to get all in a tizzy because I'm not shaving full minutes off my time.

So. I'm running for fun. Maybe next year I'll run for time, but, for now, my runs are for fun.

And my time last night? It was a minute better than last week. Not that I'm counting or anything...

Tuesday is a day of randomness, too

Why is it so stinking hot outside? Seriously. I don't know how it is where you live, but I'm sweating bullets. In a skirt.

Running outside is a definite NO today. Treadmill, here I come.

Speaking of running...yesterday was bad. Really bad. I was discouraged, I was tired, and I only did 2.5 miles, not 3 like I was supposed to. I'm blaming it on a variety of reasons (i.e. I'm full of excuses): I ate before I ran...my running buddy's in Disney World for a week (wonder how hot it is there...)...my iPod earphones hurt my ears...Hopefully today on the treadmill will be better. BUT I've got to learn to run on pavement. I mean...my 5K next weekend isn't going to be on a treadmill!

UGH!!

This has been such a busy day. Get stuff ready for graduating seniors. Two meetings. Three stories. One three-page paper. Guess which one I haven't gotten done (Answer: It's the last one).

OH! And I read Ted Dekker's "Green" this weekend (Happy Labor Day to me!). It's the "Book Zero" to the Circle trilogy (though I guess it's not a trilogy now, hmmm...). You're supposed to be able to pick up Green and then read the first three books or read the first three (Black, Red, and White) and then read Green.



Let me put it this way: Dekker was trying wwaaayyy to hard to make the series a "circle." That's why I was mad.

I already had some beef with the book as it gave no character identification (you're supposed to gleen the relationships between people from previous books), and one of my favorite characters from Black was NEVER EVER mentioned. Superman will also be highly displeased because she was his favorite character of all.

THEN...the ending. I won't give anything away, but...it didn't end. Seriously. It's part of Dekker's "pick up any of the books and start reading" idea. And it stinks. The climax was fantastic, I loved the storyline...and I hated the ending with every ounce of my being.

If you've read the Circle trilogy, pick up Green. It answers some interesting questions that I had been curious about (such as regarding the "spaceship" from the beginning of Black), but the ending will most likely tick you off. Maybe not. Let me know your opinions!!

Like I said, it is Random Tuesday...

Caffeinated Randomness: Training Day 13

I love the way I feel after running, even if I’m collapsed on the floor, unable to move and hoping not to pass out (which happened Wednesday). I love feeling like I can eat more “treats” (mochas, ice cream, etc.) now than before and not really gain weight. I love the sense of accomplishment I feel when I reach my goals – this week I ran a mile in 11:23 and three miles in 35:33.

However, I HATE the way my calves are starting to look.

They are HUGE. My thighs, which didn’t start hurting until this week, are getting more toned, too. Granted, I am glad that the massiveness is from muscle and not fat, but…DANG. How big can they get?

And, almost ironically, when Rindy and I ran Tuesday night, I whined about how sad I was that my arms weren’t defined. Hers were because at her job, she lifts heavy boxes. So she has muscles in her arms. Me, not so much.

That was Tuesday…

Turns out when I run, I clench my fists together and move my arms back and forth. Turns out that on Thursday, I discovered that I have arm muscles. No, they’re not as cool as Rindy’s, but they’re there. And I was excited (even though Superman pretended to peer through his glasses to see my new guns).

I signed up for my first 5K. It’s a Run for the Cure or something like that. My big goal is that I’ll finish it in 30 minutes. My secondary goal is to finish it in 35:00. I could do that now, I believe, but I’m hoping to shed time in the next two weeks.

P.S. Yesterday was the bestest (yes, I pulled out the “bestest”) anniversary ever. Superman cooked my favorite food – chicken Verona – and had it waiting for me with candles lit on the dining room table. AND to make it even better, we ate in sweatpants and then moved to the living room for some Bridezillas and Mad Men. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I had a fantastic anniversary. =) And, to make it even better, we’re going back to that super awesome cooking school in three weeks! AND staying at the super duper hotel, too.

Four years, and it just keeps getting better!

For more Caffeinated Randomness, visit Andrea's site!

The proposal

On Oct. 19, 2004, I got some bling bling.

I had already picked out said bling bling. In fact, I designed the ring ring (sorry, couldn’t help myself). That’s what happens when you date your best friend and can’t keep any secrets from each other. You start planning your wedding before any sparkling diamond is placed on your finger.

Not that I did much, mind you. We picked out a day…that had to be changed later, but we knew we wanted to get married sometime in the summer or fall of 2005. That’s about as far as “planning” as we had gone.

He had asked my dad to marry me – after one or two failed attempts. Practice does make perfect.

My four roommates and most of the BCM were involved in my proposal. I honestly thought I knew when the proposal was going to happen, so I felt smug because, after all, I KNEW more than they did.

Wrong, oh, so wrong.

It started on Monday, Oct. 18. I “knew” I was going to have a ring on my finger by my birthday (Oct. 25), so I didn’t notice all the signals I should have. Like when my roommate, Keri, offered to straighten my hair. Or when Jennifer stole my blinds (there was a reason) and Keri made my bed. Or when I, again, acting smug, said something about getting engaged soon, and they all exchanged a Look, wondering if I knew…

I had no stinking clue.

I was a BCM group leader, so while I had a romantic evening with Superman planned, I had to wait until my group activities were done – which, in my mind, weren’t that important. Okay, the speaker WAS important, but I figured I could head out early when we all went out to barbecue at a friend’s house. So I casually mentioned to Keri that I thought I was going to head out early. She immediately got worried, knowing the plan, and ran up to my co-leader, Justin, and gave him direct orders, “Make. Her. Stay.”

Justin, being a sweet and easy-going guy, had no idea what he was going to do, and asked Keri for advice. She had none. So he had to play it by ear.

A few minutes later, I told him that I was about to leave, and he looked at me with a solemn expression on his face. “Um, Lois, I don’t think you need to leave right now,” he said. “You need to set an example to the group and stay til the end.”

I was MORTIFIED. I mean…I’d just been called out, and my face was burning. I probably mumbled something about, “Oh, yeah, you’re right,” but I don’t remember.

Grrrr…

The barbecue probably did not hamper my efforts to see Superman except by an hour, but I don’t think he was sad about it. He watched the rest of the Red Sox game with the boys at the BCM (Game 4 – the one that turned the tide and ended up with the Red Sox winning the World Series, fyi), and then sweetly treated me for ice cream. Signal No. 5 I missed – Superman did not eat his ice cream.

I know. How did I miss that one? We sat outside Kalidoscoops, and I didn’t notice that he was barely talking or that his ice cream had melted in the cup. Oblivious, I know.

He said later his stomach was in knots.

When we got back to my room, my room was filled with burning candles (Missed Signal No. 6), and I gasped in surprise. And Superman had my favorite romantic movie waiting for me (Missed Signal No. 7), and we watched it in the candlelit room. Super romantic.

After it was over (and I was bawling), Superman said he had to leave as it was a little after midnight, and I started to blow out the candles. “No, don’t do that,” he argued (Missed Signal No. 8). “You can do that after I leave.”

I agreed (still crying from the movie) and walked him to the door. Jennifer and Keri were sitting in the living room, and I joined them for some fun girl talk…until I heard music.

I frowned. “Do y’all hear that music?” I asked.

Neither said a word. I think they were assuming I would get it quicker than I did (Missed Signal No. 9).

I walked over to Rachel’s room. “Did Rachel come back?” I asked. “Is she playing the keyboard?”

“No,” Keri said. “She’s not back yet.”

“Is the stereo on?”

“Maybe the music is coming from your room,” Jennifer suggested pointedly.

“I bet the DVD started back up again,” I agreed and walked back to my bedroom.

There he was. Standing in my candlelit bedroom with music (specifically: Dashboard Confessional – the song playing on my blog) playing in the background.

Missed Signal No. 10 – “How did you get back in the room?” I asked.

Ridiculous, I know.

(For those of you who are curious, Jennifer had opened the window so he could crawl through after he “left.”)

And then he got on one knee…and all the missed signals of the evening suddenly added up…

I cried some more. Of course. Absolutely bawled. I don’t really remember him asking me “Will you marry me?” though I know those words came out of his mouth. I just remember kneeling beside him and holding him…and crying…

In fact, apparently he did not take my tears of joy as an obvious answer because he said, “Umm…so…what’s your answer?”

“YES!” I exclaimed (apparently loud enough that my roommates could hear…they heard the crying, too…).

He put the ring on my shaking finger, and I knew exactly what it looked like before I even saw it: an emerald-cut diamond with baguettes on both sides. White gold. Beautiful.

“I think some people are waiting on us,” he said.

I was confused, and as he led me out, Jennifer was leaning out of the front door, motioning people in. Apparently all of my friends had been waiting at the BCM (we lived in the BCM house next door) and were now able to come and celebrate the news.

It was 12:35 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 19. And I was engaged.

(Needless to say, I skipped my internship the next morning.)

It was such a happy week. When we went to the BCM the next day for lunch, everyone cheered and clapped when we entered, and Superman held my hand up high so everyone could see the ring. And we finally set a date.

Sept. 3, 2005.

It’s been four years, each one better than the first. The wedding was just the beginning.

Happy anniversary, darling. I love you.

WYAW: The work edition

YEA!! It's time for What's Your Answer Wednesday -- the reason I get up on Wednesdays! And, just for kicks and giggles, it's a WORK edition!!!

Sorry. Too little sleep, too much coffee.

Okay, back to bizness.

1. What job did you absolutely HATE and why?

2. Who was the craziest co-worker you had to deal with? What made them "crazy"?

3. Have you ever experienced one defining moment with a job, when you realized, "Ah, yes, THIS is why I'm doing this"?

4. What do you do now?

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My answers

1. While I didn't HATE working at the coffee shop in New Orleans, it definitely was the scariest job I had. First, I had to beat the stupid huge black "water bugs" (whateva, N.O., they are ROACHES) off my front door (seriously -- I would kick my apartment door from the inside to startle them) BEFORE dawn (I had to be there usually around 5 a.m.). I had to drive into New Orleans from Metairie (and then from Luling...I've told that story, right?) and hope that no one attacked me as I walked from my car to the coffee shop (my aunt sent me a LOVELY e-mail about r*pes and how, basically, I was a prime target). Then, once I got there, I had to deal with a few rude people (but revenge is best served in a coffee cup...That's all I'm sayin'.), a co-worker who stole my tips (I'll beat her black and blue), a knife-wielding co-worker (part of her job making sandwiches), and an owner who usually came in to show us pics of the North Korean "woman" (If she was a day older than 18, I'm 60) he was supporting and trying to get her to come over here to marry him. It was...ahem...interesting...but I did get free coffee. ;)

2. There are so many to choose from...seriously, I've talked to Rachel and Misti about this. I seem to attract the crazies (somewhere, Rindy is laughing because she has similar experiences...). BUT I'm going to go with C as the craziest, mainly because he drove ME insane. It's hard to deal with a co-worker who a) tells the major of the town that you (and the other girls in your workplace) are his "harem," refuses to do his work but complains when YOU don't do it for him (no joke, this actually happened), and then tells you that he's going to do some work...and goes and visits his wife at her work (verified evidence). Now, that part's crazy enough, right? But, honestly, he could be nice when he wanted to be. But...you never knew when that could be. I could go home from lunch when he was in a great mood and come back, and he'd be in the worst. mood. ever. So that's why C gets Craziest Co-worker Award.

But, yes, Rindy, L is right behind...It's hard not to say that she's a runner-up as she took personal photos of herself and her husband...with a work camera...and decided not to delete the evidence...

3. Yes, with my current job. I'll keep this brief because it's fairly personal. I had a student who was dealing with a lot of issues, and, because I was worried, I turned this student into the counseling services. It was a hard choice, because some people are offended by the idea that they need counseling, but this student needed help, and I couldn't help like a professional could. Afterwards, the student came to me and thanked me, saying that it had been a difficult time lately but the student was glad that I cared enough about all my students to make the call. That was really one of the most defining days of my career.

4. I work at a university. We're not really sure what my title is at this time (long story). I teach, and I write press releases.

Your turn!! And for more, WYAW fun, visit Linda!

New look!

So...what do you think of the new look?

As an early birthday gift (over a month early, haha!), Rachel over at A Future Pastor's Wife offered to redesign my blog. Did I hesitate? HECK NO!! I'm fairly computer illiterate (especially for someone who actually runs a Web site...), so it was a great opportunity for me to have a fun make-over.

(P.S. If you want a new blog look, I'd HIGHLY recommend her!!)

Now, on to more serious issues. Such as my coffee cup is empty, and I need to refill it.

Done. Better now.

My legs are ACHING right now. Some friends and I got together for a Redneck Water Park on Saturday, and my ribs are just now beginning to recover. What is a Redneck Water Park, you ask? Well, my dear friends, it's when you take a 100-ft long piece of visene (sp?), put it down a steep hill, pour baby shampoo and water all over the slide (and yourself) and slide down, praying to God that you don't hit the pipe that's hidden somewhere in that area and break an arm. Oh, and you also hope that three guys don't fly down right behind you, run into you, and cause a four-man pileup. Yeah, that happened. I think I accidently smacked Doc in the face with my elbow. Sorry, Doc.

And, of course, there's the training for the half-marathon. Rindy and I did four miles Saturday night in under an hour. We actually did not make the 52-min goal I was hoping for, but anything under an hour I'll take! Even better, yesterday I ran a mile in 12 mins -- a minute earlier than last week! AND I ran for ten straight minutes at one point. Yes, my face was unnaturally red from my cheeks to my forehead (and unnaturally pale from cheeks down), so I probably worked out a little too hard (the dizziness was also a sign), but I did it!

We also had my mom's 60th birthday party on Sunday, which was lots of fun! Family, cake, and presents (though not for me, sadness...lol!)! She has a lot of nice pictures with her camera, and she better get them uploaded to Snapfish quickly so I can order them!! ;)

So what was good for y'all this weekend? And how do you like the new layout?