My Thoughts

Is it just me or has there been an obscene amount of sadness this week?

I can't even imagine what went through the minds of those runners and fans in the first minutes of that chaos. What must it be like to witness that? To smell the burning flesh and fumes from the bombs? It just breaks my heart with a sadness and helplessness that is only comparable to the feelings I felt the morning of September 11, 2001.

What makes someone hate THAT much? Don't get me wrong, I have stumbled across people throughout my short time on Earth where I thought, "Ugh. I hate her/him!" But I've never hated someone so much I literally wanted to take their life, and I can't even begin to wrap my brain around wanting to annihilate an entire country and culture of people because of my hatred.

What do we do when the world seems so desperately dark? What do we do when we feel a sense of hopelessness for our future and our childrens' futures? How we do continue to see the good in humanity when it seems like there is no goodness left?

Some people pray. Some people cling tightly to their family or their friends. Some people go out and do good for others to remind themselves (and others) that there is indeed some good on Earth. Some people just retreat further into their holes, imaging a sense of safety in their solitude.

What do I do? A little bit of it all, I guess. I have faith and a loving, forgiving God that I turn to for comfort. I have family and friends that I want to hug and simply say "I love you". I try to give someone an extra smile or a little bit of extra help just so they know not everyone in the world is bitter and afraid. And yet in spite of this, part of me still wants to hide under my bed with my baby, husband, and dog.

But we can't. We can't hide from our new reality and our new world. Why would we want to? Because as much as that part of me wants to run scared, I know I can't. We can't. Because if all the good people run and hide, then they will have won. They will have achieved their goals and we, as a nation and as a whole subset of good people, will have lost.

There is a quote floating about on The Facebooks from Mr. Rodgers (as in PBS' Mr. Rodgers' Neighborhood) that basically says something like "When something bad happens, look at the people who are helping". And I'm sure you've seen video footage from Boston where dozens of people are running toward the smoke and carnage to help the victims.

There is the good. And there is indeed, a lot of good.

I Heart Karaoke

Here is a little known fact about yours truly...I love some karaoke.

Have you ever seen someone get onstage, grab the microphone, and just completely silence the crowd with a totally Idol-worthy performance of "Fancy" or maybe even "Purple Rain"?

Well, that's not me.

Don't get me wrong, in reality I completely realize that I am by no means talented. I can carry a tune, and maybe even do it halfway decently, but NO ONE is mistaking me for Carrie Underwood. (And it ain't just because of my legs). In my head (and in the privacy of my shower) I sound ah-mazing!

But here's the thing about karaoke, and it's what makes me love it even more...

You don't have to be great, you just need to commit.

I am a self-proclaimed karaoke professional, performing in exciting venues from Troy, AL to the famous taverns of Dauphin Island. (The Pub and The Oarhouse, maybe you've heard of me?) What I have found to be true across the nation (or southern region of Alabama, whatever) is that the crowd just wants a show.

So whether it be a version of Salt & Peppa's "Push It" or an old classic like "Freebird", you just have to entertain. Nobody expects it to be perfect, but everyone expects it to be funny, loud, and sang with enthusiasm. And, if at all possible, get the crowd involved. Everyone loves to sing along with "Sweet Caroline" and Heaven help us all, "Sweet Home Alabama".

Just grab the microphone, and take the stage like you really are Carrie Underwood. Or a white-girl version of Salt & Peppa in a Banana Republic sundress and cardigan.

I have a couple of songs in my wheelhouse, and I tend to stick with what I know. For instance, I can't sing high notes worth a darn, so I like to go with some Janis Joplin or Bonnie Rait. Or maybe even some Jimmy Buffett or Alabama if the mood seems right.

And although there was that one time I sang 'Wind Beneath My Wings" on a dare in college, I usually play it safe. (By the way, the wager was free drinks all night if I would sing it a la Bette Midler, and I totally. rocked. it.)

That's why I like karaoke so much -- it's not so much about the talent, it's about the effort. And if you're in the audience, remember to cheer. It takes a lot of testicular fortitude to get up on stage and sing in public, so remember to clap and sing along like you're watching the next big thing on the music scene.

Unless you happen to catch me singing "Wind Beneath My Wings" again, in which case just sit back and enjoy the experience. And record it on your handy-dandy iPhone for future blackmail opportunities.

Playing Catch Up

Everytime I log into my blog, I think "I've GOT to write and update more!" How am I ever going to get a book deal like a bazillion other bloggers if I don't actually blog? It seems that the ones who do make it "famous" are the ones who write and update every single day. So I'm trying.

Quite a few not-so-exciting things have happened since my last post, so I hope you're sitting down while you read this.

H and I went to Baytowne Wharf for our anniversary last month. Here was the criteria for our vacation destination:

A) Must be within a few hours drive from my front door
B) Somewhere we had never been as a couple
C) Easy access to meet the babysitters, aka Mimi and PawPaw

So we settled on San Destin, and it was really nice. Baytown Wharf was cool and really different from the places we normally go (New Orleans, Orange Beach, Dauphin Island, Kinston). It's funny because the vacations we used to take were full of wild nights on the town, sleeping until noon or later, then starting the cycle over again. These days, our vacations are a little more subdued. Ha!

H is all like "I can't believe I forgot my golf clubs because there was a threesome of snowbirds I could have joined up with!" and I'm all like "Let's see where I can find some bubble bath before I go to bed at 6:45"

I'm only partly kidding, but I did try to invest a little more in the 'ol sleep bank while I had the opportunity. And we did do a LOT of eating. Overall, it was a wonderful little getaway where someone else cooks and cleans, and I got to take an afternoon nap while H watched basketball. We celebrated our sixth anniversary and realized why we liked each other in the first place. 

Apparently we are funnier and nicer to each other when we don't have the stresses of everyday life making us ill and sleep deprived. Who knew!?!?

And even though H probably won't read this until sometime in mid-June...

Happy Anniversary! I'm glad one party at your fraternity house turned into all of this. Even though we aren't perfect (and that's putting it nicely), I sure am glad you picked me to be your wife and the mother of your adorable little girl. You've given me many years of laughter, love, and dirty laundry, and I look forward to many more!

Or at least until I find a good prospect for my second husband! (Haha! I'm kidding...maybe!)

All About H

I saw this on another blog last night and I thought it would be great to do a little Q&A about H. I know the guy pretty well (if I do say so myself!). Sometimes I feel like I talk alot about myself and about Charlotte, but I don't pay as much attention to poor 'ol H. (Somewhere he is reading this and nodding his head.)

And, considering, our sixth anniversary is in 5 days, now is as good a time as any!

1. He's sitting in front of the TV, what is on the screen? ESPN
2. You're out to eat; what kind of dressing does he get on his salad? Ranch
3. What's one food he doesn't like? He would say coconut even though he eats it in cakes and loves it!
4. You go out to eat and have a drink. What does he order? Steak and Bud Light or Diet Coke5. Where did he go to high school? Murphy
6. What size shoe does he wear? 10.5 Wide
7. If he was to collect anything, what would it be? Nothing, he's too ADD to stick to a collection
8. What is his favorite type of sandwich? One with a variety of meats (and lots of it)
9. What would this person eat every day if he could? Foosackly's chicken fingers
10. What is his favorite cereal? Kellog Fruit & Yogurt Burst11. What would he never wear? A pastel-colored shirt
12. What is his favorite sports team? Alabama or Saints football
13. Who did he vote for? He didn't vote. (I know! I know!)
14. Who is his best friend? Me :)  or Zach Gradwell
15. What is something you do that he wishes you wouldn't do? Worry about things
16. What is his heritage? Irish Catholic
17. You bake him a cake for his birthday; what kind of cake? Chocolate or Red Velvet
18. Did he play sports in high school? No, but he did in elementary and middle school
19. What could he spend hours doing? Playing golf
20. What is one unique talent he has? He can carry all of the grocery bags in one trip

I bet H would know the answer to these same questions if they were asked about me! It's important to know what's important to your spouse, and it's important to pay attention to the things they love. I'm not saying a husband and wife have to love the exact same things (for instance, I am an Auburn fan and H is a die-hard Bammer), but we can all benefit if we respect each other's likes and dislikes.

 

 

A Day in the Life

I have once again linked up to Kelly's blog for a little "Show Us Your Life Friday!". Today's topic is a "A Day in the Life" so brace yourselves for lots of exciting, nail biting, edge-of-your-seat type of situations.

Totally kidding, by the way.

But here is what I do on a daily basis (or at least during the weekdays).

6:30 am - Alarm goes off
6:45 am - I actually get out of bed and stumble to the shower. Next is makeup, hair, and trying to find
something to wear to work even though I have NO CLOTHES.
7:45 am - The nanny arrives and I head out for work. Sometimes Charlotte is awake, but most of the time she is still snoozing when I leave for work. No morning kisses. :(
8:00 am - Arrive at work, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed! Again, totally kidding. And if I'm being completely honest, the time should read 8:05.
10:00 am - I work in sales, so my goal is to be out of the office by this time. From then until about 3:00 I make cold calls, ride the market, check in with existing customers, take meetings, etc.
5:00 pm - Head home to my second job
5:15 pm - Get to my house and spend a little time with Charlotte. Most afternoons Charlotte, Charlie (the dog), and I usually head outside until it gets dark. Sometimes I have a glass of wine on my neighbor's porch while the kids and dogs play in the yard.
6:00 pm - Start dinner
6:30 pm - Charlotte eats dinner and watches Disney Jr. while I get our dinner ready. I try not to cook a separate meal for her because I want her to eat things besides french fries, chicken nuggets, and mac n' cheese, so she typically eats whatever we are going to eat with a few minor adjustments. (Although sometimes I do just slap a PB&J together because it's easy and I'm running behind)
7:00 pm - H and I try to eat dinner. Charlotte is normally tormenting our poor dog, watching Disney Jr, and running around like a madwoman
7:30 pm - Bath time and bedtime routine
8:00 pm - Our pjs are on so we usually go upstairs to the playroom. It's easier to relax up there and wind down from the day without quite as many distractions
8:30 pm - Bedtime!
After 8:30 pm - This is when I clean the kitchen, fold some laundry, and do the general tidying up. I try to catch up on my DVR'd shows at this point, too. I'm a multitasker, what can I say?
10:30 pm - I'm usually already in the bed at this point, but I'm either reading or watching television.
11:00 pm - Out like a light, ready to do it all over again the next day!

And that's it! Just like "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" except without the Botox and jaunts on private planes to Las Vegas.

If you are wondering where H is during all the this...who the heck knows?!?! Just kidding, but he works a swing shift where it's 2 weeks of nights, then 2 weeks of days. Sometimes he is home and sometimes he isn't, so it's hard to do a "typical" day or night with him. Let's just conclude there is a lot more ESPN and a lot more yelling. But also a lot more laughter and a lot more fun!

I hope you enjoyed a day in my life! I'm not saving the world or saving lives on a daily basis, but I'm pretty happy with the little life we've built for ourselves. And luckily, I can't wait to wake up and do it all over again next week!

Shameless Plug

Sometimes I stumble across a blog and instantly bookmark it. If you read blogs very often (which, duh, I'm assuming because you're here reading this!) then I'm sure it happens to you to. When you read a person's words and see pictures, it kind of gives you a view into their world and makes you think, "I would totally be hanging out with this gal if she lived here!"

Well, that's how I feel about Melanie Shankle at www.thebigmamablog.com . She is just hilarious! I love her sense of humor, and her family-that I swear I'm not stalking but sounds a little weird way-just seems awesome in the way they interact.

Bottom line - her writing is great and she just published her first book. It's called Sparkly Green Earrings  and seriously ya'll....buy it now.

My copy just came in the mail and I can't put it down.

It's about marriage and motherhood and all of the day-to-day happenings that make life so darn good. The good, the bad, and the ugly. And don't forget the funny. It's also got Bible references and lessons in faith, but not in a "religious-y" kind of way. You can just tell that this is a person with a personal relationship with God, but without it being "preachy" at all.

If you're looking for a quick, good read--please go buy this. Don't check in out of the library or borrow a friend's copy. Just buy it. This is a woman who (obviously) loves to write and truly has a knack for it. She's been blogging for years and has somehow managed to parlay the blogosphere into a successful writing career.

Honestly, I'm jealous and I want to know how the heck she did it!

I want to support her, and I ask that you do the same by buying her book. I promise it will be $12 well spent! If I ever write a book, which is kind of my dream, I just pray that people would buy it. The scariest part of writing is wondering if no one is gonna like what you produce. I sort of liken it to having a baby and nobody cares that you were pregnant or even that the baby was born. And then the people that do show a little interest tell you it's ugly. Yikes.

But Melanie's baby is definitely NOT ugly! You can purchase it at Amazon or Lifeway, plus I'm sure every other major bookseller in the country. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have!

Busy Busy Busy

It's been a busy, sad, busy, stressful, happy, and busy fast few weeks. Did I mention we've been busy?

First things first, we are in the heart of the Carnival Season. In other words...It's time for Mardi Gras, ya'll! There is something exciting in the air when you first start seeing those barricades go up along Broad and Government Streets downtown. Last year's straggling beads that still remain in the oak tree are just begging for company. Street vendors are setting up their signs and plastic display of funnel cakes. The local radio station starts playing anything with a trombone, and everyone who's anyone knows it's time to take those formals and tails to the cleaners.

Speaking of formals and tails....we need some help keeping up with our crap. Last year H couldn't find his tuxedo pants. I was pissed because he only realized it about 2 hours BEFORE we needed to leave the house for the parade and ball. Plus, who is the heck loses a pair of pants!?!?! The only silver lining was him getting felt up by a very amorous gay man at the tuxedo shop. Hahaha! So anyway, I gave him such a hard time and lo and behold...I couldn't find my dress this year when I went to wrangle up our attire to take to the dry cleaners.

Who loses a formal dress!?!?! It's not like I'm Lady Gaga with a plethora of floor-length Givency haute-couture gowns in my closet. To make a short story long, I finally found it in the bottom of my dry cleaning bag that I was supposed to drop off last year. Oops. Thankfully Dillards let me return my new dress so no harm no foul.

Other random thoughts throughout the past few weeks:

1.) Has anyone else been watching Downton Abbey? Oh. My. Word. This show is SO good it makes me want to move to England, marry someone with a title, and speak with a British accent like Madonna. The sadness of the past two episodes was about to do me in, though. I don't want to spoil it for you, but just beware that tissues will probably be a necessity.

2.) Teen Mom 2 - Is it just me or has that poor little girl Chelsea been trying to get her GED for like, 6 years now? She could be a doctor at this point!

3.) I'm also convinced that Mississippi and Alabama are totally getting a bad rap. I've caught quite a few new television shows recently that take place in West Virginia, and can I just say...Yikes. Alabama folks always say, 'Thank God for Mississippi!", but it looks to me like Mississippians should be saying, "Thank God for West Virginia and at least we don't live in a Holler!"

4.) Work stresses me out. The end.

5.) We got to see my parents quite a bit over the past week. It's always nice when they visit because I finally get a little bit of a break. It's really tough when you have to work 8 hours a day, then come home to your other job. Between working, cleaning, taking care of a 1.5 year old BUSY gal, cooking, laundry, running errands, etc, etc, etc....there needs to be about 2 more mes to get it all done.