Happy Little Trees

I keep having this feeling that it's somebody's birthday. And I'm missing it. It's a disturbing feeling. It's not nice to miss people's birthdays. And it comes back to haunt me during my birthday, when all those people's birthdays I missed then say to themselves, "Well, she never remembers my birthday! Why does hers have to be a national holiday?"
 
And what is the whole Belated Birthday thing? There are even cards for it. What is the appropriate time period for sending a belated card? Can I send out belated cards two months later? And how early can I send a card? I think there should be pre-birthday cards, as well.
 
 

---

The other season of giving begins 6/24/08. Check out the i'm Talkathon. Check it out!

I went to see The Happening last night. I should have brought a nice eye mask, because I watched most of the movie with my eyes covered. I kept getting scared and I didn't want my dream land invaded by gruesome sights.
 
If you haven't happened to see it, I'll tell you what happens in The Happening, but don't worry, because it's really not happening. Basically, the leaves and trees starting rustling (one of my former favorite sounds of all time), and then people start murmuring, and then get a far-away look, and then they want to hurt themselves. Bizarre.
 
I did appreciate that the Jeep Grand Wagoneer circa early 1990s made an appearance. It's my favorite vehicle of all time. But a horrible car for evacuation (which was attempted in the movie). Didn't the director realize that car gets about 12 or less mpg? Evacuating in that type of vehicle is completely fantasical. I might could believe the plants get mad at us, but going over 140 miles in one tank of gas in a jeep? Completey looney.

---

Need to know now? Get instant answers with Windows Live Messenger. IM on your terms.

I'm going to a pool party tonight. They loose their desirability at a certain age.

---

The other season of giving begins 6/24/08. Check out the i'm Talkathon. Check it out!

Can beauty change it's face? Just like Botticelli once defined beauty before Twiggy slid under the door (she could do that because she was skinny), my idea of car beauty is changing. I'm really started to grow attached to the Toyota Prius. And I think one reason that I might never voice (except on my blog) is because I know the Hollywood cool kids drive them.
 
There was a guy at my high school who drove an old light gray station wagon with tiny little pink palm trees and flamingoes on it. His dad owned a Chevy dealership, and he could have driven any car he wanted, but he drove that old wagon--and convinced all of us it was cool.
 
I drove an old Oldsmobile '98 (not the year, but the model) that was about 45 feet long and brown. The wheel was like steering the wheel on the Titanic. When I put my hands on 2 and 10, they were in different time zones. My mom wouldn't let me put pink palm trees or flamingoes on it, and I couldn't make it look cool. When my brother drove it as a youth minister, the kids nicknamed it The Brown Turd.
 
My other adventures with cars as a teen and a tweenty-something generates a whole slew of stories about being a humble driver.
 
Past cars after the Olds:
1992-1995 Oldsmobile Cutlass Cierra (also known as The Coffin Car)
1995-1997 Nissan Sentra (the titled said "totaled" but what do they know?)
1997-2000 Chevy Corsica (known as the Teal Mobile)

---

Earn cashback on your purchases with Live Search - the search that pays you back! Learn More

Saturday night, I hit the dancing circuit near downtown--which in my world means going to the church swing dance social. I normally have great dancing skills, but I wasn't on my game that night. Somehow the spinning, spinning, turning, and turning, didn't agree with me.
 
I got a headache, so I drank some water. Then I hit the floor again, and got spun around like socks in the dryer for about 10 more minutes, and afterwards, had the worst headache of my life. I barely could drive home, I was in such pain. I'm thinking that maybe it was something called a migraine. Not fun.
 
So, on Sunday I carried on with my workout antics by kickboarding in the pool as many times as my legs would take me, and then by yesterday morning, I had a bad kink in my neck. I sat at my desk all day yesterday with a grimace on my face.  I had no other choice. I called the Nordstrom Spa hotline. (And yes, Sister Nancy, I used your name as a reference--they love you!)
 
Since the spa is opened until 9, it gave me plenty of time to get home, eat some din-din, lift some light weights, and then get to the Galleria. I used my GPS (God Prayer System) as I drove, and found a way to get to the Galleria in 7 minutes (including garage time). I don't know why I've never figured out that path before, so indeed, it was a blessing.
 
I was ushered into the "relaxation room" and my feet were washed (how New Testament!). It was a little weird, but felt nice. Then, I got the massage. Since I had such a kink, it was a bit of a painful process, but the end result is a much less tense neck. I might have to start giving plasma so I can afford to go once a week.

---

Earn cashback on your purchases with Live Search - the search that pays you back! Learn More

When I was four, I distinctly remember having one freckle on my hand. It was always there, like my nose and my belly button (important things when you are four). No one told me that as I aged, a whole troop of freckles would begin their invasion on my skin.
 
My arm is pretty much completely covered by them, and my hands have about 40 - 50, although some are more clearly identified, kind of like looking into the nighttime sky where some stars are more visible than others.
 
When I'm out in the sun for about 15 minutes, new freckles start coming to the forefront. They used to fade away as I left the sun, but now, most are hanging around. This whole freckle phenomenon is not new, but I always forget about my freckles until summer hits. Then, I remember that I am a special branch of the caucasian race, the fairest of them all--the redhead.
 
In the winter months, I can pretend that my special race is not an issue, and I can more easily blend in with darker skinned friends, but during the summer, I stick out like a red thumb with my white legs peppered by freckles, and my constant stewing over sunscreen application.
 
I've been trying to fight the freckles this year, because they are a sign of sun damage, so I've been using a daily lotion with SPF, but the freckles are putting up a good fight. I took a quick swim in a shady pool on Sunday without any SPF, and I earned about 200 extra freckles for being too lazy to spray on my sunscreen.  I think my freckle count is currently about 20 per square inch. I'll keep you updated.

---

The other season of giving begins 6/24/08. Check out the i'm Talkathon. Check it out!

-My jeans are too long and keep sliding under my feet in my slip-on heels. It's driving me crazy. And interrupts the illusion that I am 4 inches taller. I should have worn my gold shoes with backs despite the fact I could not find my corresponding gold necklace. I'm wearing silver jewelry instead, so I opted for black shoes. This is a moment where if you are a non-metrosexual guy, be glad.
 
-My friend, Jenn, invented the word, 'Texosexual' to describe a male that had Texan manners with a nice sense of style, perhaps a little rugged, and owns cowboy boots. Maybe Clint Black, I guess, but I've never been in a situation where I've observed his manners.
 
-I've been invited to go to Schlitterbahn tomorrow which going there is one of my goals for the summer. I must be an adult and look into getting an oil change, and possibly new tires. And I also need to do other adult stuff like laundry and closet organization. Schlitterbahn, this is only a momentary parting! It is not good-bye!
 
 

---

Introducing Live Search cashback . It's search that pays you back! Try it Now

I bought some new yogurt at Central Market. It's called Spega and imported from Italy. I know that "spiga" is an Italian shoe, so for a yogurt with the same name, I knew it had to be top of the line.
 
The coolest part about the Spega yogurt is that it come in a tiny glass container. I'm going to save it and put something fun in it like paperclips or pennies.
 
The flavor I got this time was cinnamon and ginger. It tasted rather nice, but once again, I could have just been mesmerized by the clankity-clank of a spoon on glass (compared with the other less wholesome sound of plastic on plastic).
 
I paid almost $4 for two yogurts. Yes, a high price, but remember this is high class yogurt eating.
 
If you've gone to the grocery store lately, you'll notice that yogurt is pretty much out of control. There are a million and one selections of flavors and organic-ness. We're all obsessed with pro-bioticking ourselves. (Is a probiotic the opposite of antibiotic?)
 
And remember, dear friends, that Yoplait contains high fructose corn syrup which is an evil substance. And Dannon has a few lines that also have it as well. Read those labels carefully!
 

---

Earn cashback on your purchases with Live Search - the search that pays you back! Learn More

I got my one year bible back after leaving it at my mom's house for six months, so I'm back to reading a little OT, a little new, a little Proverb, and some of Pslams. I really like the one year bible. Reading the Old Testament has been the coolest.
 
One of my new favorite Old Testament characters is Elijah. The other day, I read how he needed to get somewhere fast, so God tightened his clothes around him, and he ran! It sounded like something out of Superman. I was thinking that was when pants may have been invented.
 
My spiritual meter kind of trips me up sometimes. There will be times when I read the bible, and I can't really retain anything, and I could have been reading Dear Abby for the day. Other times, I read it, and the words of the ancient manuscript speak to my heart and soul and overwhelm me with the way I am comforted and given wisdom about my own life. I love those days. That's when I understand how the Word of God isn't just words; it's alive.
 
I had a day like that yesterday. I wanted to keep reading. I love that feeling.

---

The other season of giving begins 6/24/08. Check out the i'm Talkathon. Check it out!

Just a few years back, I didn't even have a text plan. It was on a 10 cent per message basis. I used to get annoyed when I received a text. It took forever to type out anything, and it was costing me 10 cents! My philosophy was, just pick up the phone!
 
Within the last year, my ideas about text have completely changed. Now, sometimes I'd rather receive a text than a call. With cell phones, we are accessible anywhere. And sometimes those situations do not provide a conducive environment for a phone conversation. I'd rather get a text, and then call the person when it's a better time, than pick up the phone and have to give a five minute synopsis of why it's not a good time to talk. I've also found it a bother to sometimes listen to voicemail. I used to love my voicemail. I suppose I need to also include a disclaimer, that it really is good to receive a live call--especially if it's a birthday or a new relationship.
 
Texting is a quick way to communicate, and now my plan includes 1500 text messages a month. I'm not an addict, but it's fun from time to time. It's like giving a faraway friend a quick high-five. "What up, buddy!"
 
To illustrate fun in texting land, I've included a text that I've saved because it makes me laugh.
 
Text with BFF from KY (edited for content and public privacy--used without writer's permission):
 
Me: next time u see me be prepared. I'm going to have abs of steel instead of veal.
Her: Yeah me too.
Me: if we do get abs of steel, we'll get our pics at walmt together wearing haf shirts.
Her: Airbrushed halfshirts and feathered bangs
Me: ohhh...the picture I can see in my mind...we're beautiful.
Her: And hot. U flying yet?
Me: waiting to board. i'm ready to go. packed all ready material by accident. DOH!
Her: Stinks. It is skymall for u.
Me: I hv blind date thurs.
Her: Oh lordy. Hope he isnt a young tall serial killer.
Me: If I marry a Texas, it prob means i'll be buried in tx unless he likes bluegrass.
Her: Under pressure.
Me: Why did I just sing that high in my head?
Her: Maybe u will be covered in bluebonnets. Close enuf.
Me: Mom told her friend that when ur dead, there is no Kentucky. Wisdom of Mom.
Her: That should be our state motto.
Me: It would be nice on a t-shirt. Btr than "i got lucky in Ky."

Together...forever..together everyday..together...
 
The start of something neeeeewwwww....
 
Yes, dear friends, I broke down and watched High School Musical. And, the worse part is that I liked it. I also have a teen crush on Zach Ephron. And I'm 33. Help! My cougar claws are coming out! Aghh!!
 
I'm renting part two soon, and please don't spoil it by telling me anything about it--a girl's gotta have hopes and dreams.
 
 

---

Instantly invite friends from Facebook and other social networks to join you on Windows Live™ Messenger. Invite friends now!

I'm starting my career this weekend as a part-time Festival Attender. My friend, Jenn, called me this week with some big news: "B.R., there's a big lavender festival going on this weekend. I love lavender! Don't you?"
 
I do love lavender.
 
Jenn continued, "And we can take my company car, and we get free gas!"
 
Even better.
 
So, today we will begin our journey to the Lavender Festival.
 
Jenn has decided that she wants us to do a whole tour of festivals for the summer. She wants us to do the festival circuit: Tomato Festival, Blueberry Festival, etc. I told her I'm really not into tomatoes. I also tried to sound excited about the rest of the festivals, but I'm thinking this could be my one big hurrah for festivals this summer.

---

Search that pays you back! Introducing Live Search cashback. Search Now!

I found out yesterday that my debit card had been compromised. Poor little debit card. We've had such good times together. I'll be getting sent a new one soon. The one I have in my wallet now still remains, but since it's been compromised, the life has been stolen from it. It's dead to me.
 
I'm worried that for the next month or so, I'll have randomly inconvenient things happen, because my life is pretty much set up on automatic debit.
 
C'est la vie en 2008.

---

It's easy to add contacts from Facebook and other social sites through Windows Live™ Messenger. Learn How.

I had a dinner double date (that was not a date) last night with my husband, his roommate, my best friend, and man's best friend. Maybe I should explain that. Or maybe it will be a blogging riddle.
 
Who was at the dinner?

---

Instantly invite friends from Facebook and other social networks to join you on Windows Live™ Messenger. Invite friends now!

I found out that the Apple 3G release will be July 11th, and it's starting out at $199. I've been toying with getting a new phone that would make texting easier. And I've also been eyeing my friend Stan's iPhone because he takes fun pics with it. (Stan has all the cool tech toys--I tell him that he's an Asian Ken doll of sorts complete with tech accessories and sporting equipment for any occassion.) 
 
Several of the guys in my office (I'm in the tech world now) are buzzing over the new news about the phone. One of my co-workers is even going to take the day off to go pick up the phone on the 11th. I might wait to get mine until the end of the summer.
 
Reasons I Justify Getting the iPhone (I will use these in conversation, so I just wanted to prepare you):
1) I don't have a real ipod, just the old school shuffle.
2) I will use the camera to take fun pics.
3) I can use it in ministry to text high school kids.
4) It can double as a make-up mirror.
5) I promise not to drop it.
6) I can download cool programs--and some for free!
7) It will help me find a husband with the single guy GPS feature (currently in legal).
8) I can meet new friends by using the iPhone as a conversation piece.
9) It will support my pro-Apple views.
10) Because when I buy it, I'm sure Apple won't come out with anything cooler ever, and I will never want anything else expensive from Apple again in spite of their clever marketing commercials and catchy use of music, and tendency to upgrade the wheel every 6 months.

---

Instantly invite friends from Facebook and other social networks to join you on Windows Live™ Messenger. Invite friends now!

I like to drink hot tea, a healthy leftover habit from the days of trying to fit in with an old flame, and recently bought some tea that had strange ingredients with things like bark and weird plant leaves. When I made a cup of tea this weekend, something that looked like a worm had formed in my cup. I fished it out with a fork, and it looked like a clear slimy worm with a gray spine. I threw out the tea, and held back throwing up.
 
So, being the adventurous girl I am, I made another cup. This time, the formations were smaller, but each tiny bit had the same consistency as the original Prince Hermie the Wormie of Wales.
 
One point I left out is that this tea is called, "Get Lost" and is supposed to be an appetite suppressant. But the best I can figure out, is that this feature might be due to the fact that it brews up a tapeworm. Can anybody solve my tea mystery? What in the world is happening?

---

Now you can invite friends from Facebook and other groups to join you on Windows Live™ Messenger. Add them now!

-I tried to add fruit to plain yogurt like I saw Dr. Oz do on his show. I had to add about 50 blueberries to the goo, and tried to squish them to make it taste just like the pre-sweetened yogurt tastes. It didn't work. It was pretty disgusting, and took way too much effort. Forget that idea.
 
-Last night, I transformed the pet-made potty that was supposed to be my condo flower bed into Flowerland. It's going to be much better to come home to pretty flowers and mulch than the little "presents" left by an unidentified, small colon-sized dog.
 
-After playing Garden Planter Princess, I was hot, sweaty, and almost eaten alive by mosquitos. I took a quick shower, and then spent my evening exercise time in the complex's pool. It was heavenly watching the swaying trees above me that border the star-dotted sky.  I was entranced by the clouds that were still visible rushing through the sky with the wind. I suppose I'm a pool-vampire of sorts, because with my skintone, the only time I can safely enjoy the pool is at night.
 
-I get a couch this weekend, and after I get a kitchen table, my Barbie dream home should be complete.
 
-I've been trying to figure out how to really experience summer this year. I want to be outside more, and enjoy things of nature, even if in Houston that consists of marveling at the live oak in the yard. It's still beautiful, and God made it.
 
-Metro Live starts tonight. What a sweet summer treat. Thank you to whomever has put in the effort to keep Metro alive. I know it takes a village to put together Metro.
 
 

---

Search that pays you back! Introducing Live Search cashback. Search Now!

My choice of foods now consists of lean meats (turkey, chicken, and fish), non-white flour items, no unnecessary sugars (including desserts), and lots of fruits and veggies. And let me tell you, people, it's hard! So far, I'm three days into the plan. I expected to instantly wake up a size 2 after day 1, and it didn't happen. I think the vegetables have bloated me or something. Or maybe my body is trying to prove that healthy foods don't belong in it. I'm trying to remember, that eating right just isn't about the appearance of being thin.
 
I have a really tough time with vegetables. I really don't like them. For dinner last night, I ordered a salad, and it was healthy, but I really needed some bread and brie. It's so disappointing spending hard earned money on vegetables. It's so much more fun to spend it on gelato or a Starbucks drink.
 
My goal is to lose the few pounds I've put on since the weddings (not my own, but everyone else's) so my summer clothing collection fits well, and also to try to re-train my way of eating so I can keep the inside of my body ticking properly. On my maternal side, heart disease is prevalent, and on my paternal side, cancer is the evil beast. I realize that God knows the number of my days, but I'm assuming that he'd like me to live comfortably while I'm here. --And by that, I mean, not spend unnecessary time in a hospital due to bad food choices, or also being able to run around the block and climb hills without passing out. Disease still knows my address, but I don't want to make myself a homing device for it.

---

Now you can invite friends from Facebook and other groups to join you on Windows Live™ Messenger. Add them now!

Dr. Oz recommends walking for 30 minutes a day. So far, I've walked 30 minutes a day for two days total. Being a person that dabbles in running, I feel kind of like a weenie if I'm just walking on a treadmill, so the first day, I challenged myself by playing with the speed and upgrade of the treadmill so I would feel like I got a workout. I came home drenched in sweat, with a slight muscle cramp in my left quad. Yesterday, I had dinner plans, so I wanted to squeeze in a non-sweaty 30 minute walking session. After 30 minutes of 0% upgrade and 4.0 walking, I was sweating like Mike Jagger during a concert.
 
Perhaps I'm an uber athlete whose body quickly slides into cool-down mode. Or perhaps I live in Houston, and it's June. I could probably try to catch flies with chopsticks and achieve the same effect.
 
Last week, I raced Emily (7) and Marissa (11), my youngest nieces, and won. I told them, "I still got it!" I fear that by Thanksgiving they'll be leaving me in the dust, so I have to step up my game.
 
Marissa already has almost beat me in height. And Emily naturally does that sprinter super-kick when she runs. My only hope of winning is if they spend more time playing video games and get out of shape. Maybe I should send them a new Nintendo DS game...

---

It's easy to add contacts from Facebook and other social sites through Windows Live™ Messenger. Learn How.

Okay, okay, I SAW IT! And it was good.
 
I drafted a friend to go with me. I was turned down by a few who said, "I really don't think I should see that." But I was able to find that one girl who was brave, bold, and a little brash (in a ladylike fashion, of course).
 
And while I wished that it had been edited for t.v. so I could erase some things that were too graphic (I had to cover my eyes in scary movie fashion), I enjoyed watching the characters converse and examing in detail the fashions.
 
My friend and I decided that we would probably not try wearing pearls with our pajamas, and we decided we definitely need to buy more shoes. I also now am toying with highlights and will definitely grow my hair back out again (even though it's full length stops at just below my shoulders).
 
I learned this about marriage:
It's not the dress
It's not the shoes.
But it's the boy,
And saying "I do"s.

---

Search that pays you back! Introducing Live Search cashback. Search Now!

Last night, I landed back to Texas, and after waiting about 30 minutes for luggage, then found my shuttle to the extended parking lot. I was the only one on the shuttle, so the driver started having a conversation with me about vitamin K and sunburns and suntans. Apparently, he spends a lot of time at GNC, because he was quite knowledgeable. He had a short stature, longer gray hair swept back on the sides with a shiney scalp on top, and a white moustache. His voice was very raspy, but sounded strangely familiar. It took until this morning for my brain to process that he looked and sounded just like Clark Griswold's boss from Christmas Vacation.
 
He asked me if I cared if we journeyed to Terminal C, and I said no, and when we arrived a huge group crowded onto the shuttle. Many of the people were 20ish tourists of all different ethnicities. When the shuttle was too full, the driver had two people waiting outside the door, and said he just had room for a single. So a lady got on, and the man standing outside started whining about how two shuttles had already passed him up, and how he was tired of waiting. The driver apologized, and the man said he would stand.
 
Immediately, I did not like the complaining man. He kept on saying rude things to the driver and tried to get the lady formerly waiting with him who was now sharing a seat with me to agree with him about how the driver was incompetent and to join him in his negativity party. I kept getting more and more irritated, and couldn't even look at him for fear I would lash out at him with, "How rude." or "You must've forgotten your manners with your breath mints." or maybe, "Okay, Mr. Rudey-Pants. Point taken, now shut it." But then, I would be playing the rude-game right back at Mr. Rudeness.
 
I realized right then that my ultimate pet-peeve is rudeness. Not that I'm always Susie Sunshine Politeness, but I get really bothered when consumers treat people in service jobs like 2nd class citizens. I've even been out with friends to dinner where this has happened, and it's quite embarrassing. And on dates, this is definitely a deal breaker with me--an immediate flag on the play.
 
On the flipside, I also get bothered when people in service jobs treat customers like it's a pain to have to interact with them. But in this particular case, Clark Griswold's boss was not being rude, but he was getting treated that way.
 
I prayed hard to be compassionate to Mr. Rudeness. It was difficult. Everything in me wanted to be rude to him to pay him back. I tried to imagine that he might be an orphan or maybe as a child, he was the last picked for kickball, but nothing seemed to break my heart for him--except for thinking, "He just doesn't get it, but hopefully one day he will."
 
I noticed that as the driver let everyone out with their luggage, he let them struggle getting it off the shuttle. I was 2nd to last to leave (he apologized for the irony), and he not only took my luggage off the shuttle, he loaded it into my hatchback.
 
 

---

Change the world with e-mail. Join the i'm Initiative from Microsoft.