Muscle spasms, sports, baby showers, skinny dads, dinner with cerebral palsy, season premieres

Much to discuss, not a lot of time. As Heather says, I'll outline for easy reading.

1. Strange as it is, I've had muscle spasms in my back since Thursday night. After a sleepless night and a rough start to the day on Friday, I knew that I had to do something if I was going to have to be at work until 11 p.m. while my back is knotting and pulsating uncontrollable and might I add, very painfully. I took my dad's advice and decided to go to the doctor. So I headed down the street to the "Doc In A Box" that my roommate swears by. He determined that I was having spasms, told me that I should find someone to give me a massage (Ok...awkward since I work with mostly men), go buy a moist heating pad and prescribed me three medicines -- a pain killer, a muscle relaxer, and a mild narcotic. Six days later. Spasms still exist. I've run out of painkillers and am now finishing off muscle relaxers and mild narcotics. What can I say? I have a high tolerance of pain and an even higher tolerance of medicine. However, today it seems like it took me an extra 15-20 seconds for me to process things and get my brain around things than it usually does.

2. How about my three favorite college sports teams being off to great winning starts? The MSU Bulldogs are 3-1 for the first time since 2000, the Samford Bulldogs are off to a great 3-1 start as well, and the Samford volleyball team has its best start ever of 8-5, 3-1 OVC. The team is nationally ranked in digs per game (66th), our Libero Courtney Gay is ranked 14th in the country is digs per game, and one of our middle blockers, Sheriden Stangohr, is ranked 48th in the country in blocks per game. It's pretty much the best team we've ever had and we've already won more game this season than we did last season (we went 6-21, 1-15 OVC last season).

3. I got to go home this Sunday to be at my sister's first baby shower given by her church. They got TONS of presents and they had some really, really good cake. Really good. I had to write down all the gifts and who gave them. I hadn't done that since her wedding shower so I was a little overwhelmed. Anyway, it was good time and I got to see my family, and my brother-in-law's family, which is like family to me. It was so good to see my daddy, who has lost over 120 pounds. It's incredible! I'm so proud of him.


4. Last night my Tuesday night bible study group got together and cooked an easy to eat mexican lasanga for some Lakeshore members (my roommate Kelly works there) who have CP (cerebral palsy) and don't get a good meal often. We had a picnic in the park close to their apartment building and it was lots of fun. They are so funny and love to make fun of themselves and each other. I wish I had pictures of the whole event. It was too much fun. I think we are going to try to make this a monthly thing.

5. Last, but not least, it's season premiere time. I can't be more excited about tomorrow night. Grey's Anatomy and The Office both premiere and at the same time. I'm going to have to tape Grey's and watch The Office because The Office is just funnier and take priority. Heroes premiere Monday and was as good as I thought it would be. I missed the whole Grey's spin-off with Kate Walsh tonight because I was at church at choir practice but I'm sure I can watch it online.










Ok, that's it. I've spent way more time on this than I should've.

For once, someone interviews me!

So Amanda Boo Cantrell's friend interviewed her last week on her blog and she opened up the invitation to interview others. I, of course, said, "Pick me! Pick me!", because I'm so diligent at work that I often run out of things to do by late afternoon. So here goes:

1. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? (And I am talking the 200 Crayola pack)
Wow...I'm going to have to research this. I think I'd want to be a cool color. One that has a neat name and makes people excited to use it because it's fun and interesting. I don't want to be one that is used all the time because I wouldn't want to be taken for granted. So...I'm thinking sunset orange. The traits for this hue are warm, sociable, good-natured, jovial, and glowing. Sounds like me. I think.

2. If you could change your name, what would it be?
Hmm...I really like my name so I don't know. I've always liked double names so I could deal with "Katie Jane" (which some people call me) or something like that. I also like the name Sophie.

3. What was the last really good book you read?
Oh wow! I'm in the middle of a book called "To Live Is Christ." It's about the life of Paul and it's really good. But I think maybe Blue Like Jazz was the last book that I just couldn't put down.

4. What is your favorite "technology" that has been invented in the last 10 years?
I was about to say the internet but it's been around for longer than ten years if we are speaking technically. I guess I would say the iPod. It's just great to have something so small that you can store so much information on. I hate Macintosh computers but I love so Apple technology.

5. If you could live in any time period other than now, which would you pick?
This is a very interesting question. I've thought about this many times and I change my answer every time. But right now I would have to say probably the 50's. It just looks fun on television.

If you want me to interview you, just let me know.

What a weekend!

Well...all I can say is GO DAWGS!!! It was a weekend full of Bulldog wins for me, both Mississippi State and Samford.

So let's start with Thursday. That's where my great weekend started. The Samford Bulldog football won their second game of the season over Presbyterian College (a pretty good team if I say so myself. Their QB transferred from the University of South Carolina and loves to use the shovel pass. He used it at least once a drive.) And even though it rained the whole time, sometimes little drops, sometimes big, sometimes sideways, sometimes straight down, the Bulldogs were able to pull out a win. Yay for Samford!

Onto Friday, I was only at work for three hours, which was fabulous in itself because I can only log 40 hours a week on my time sheet (Heaven know I wait for the day that I won't have to fill out a time sheet anymore). So after two tornado warning sirens and two hours of Facebooking, I decided to head to the house. Friday evening, I get a call from my cross country coach saying that our best runner has one the meet at Alabama and both our men's and women's teams placed fifth, which was good considering the teams we were up against, including the fantastic and nationally ranked Mississippi State teams. Then an hour later, my volleyball team won it's first conference game of the season. The first one played, the first one won. We had a player set three new career highs for herself. It was great to see. Considering they haven't had a good season since they've been in this conference and they won only two conference matches last season.

Saturday, I was able to sleep in. I set my alarm for 11:30 so I could just wake up and turn on the TV to the MSU-Auburn game. Going into the game, I wasn't really feeling good about it but when I woke up on Saturday, I just had a feeling that it was going to be a good day. Needless to say, almost a flawless four quarters (at least on the Mississippi State side) later, Mississippi State has won it's first SEC road opener in like seven years I think. I was so proud of how the team played and very impressed by the way that all of our QBs stepped up their game. I fell so sorry for Mike Henig though. He just can't seem to play a game without getting hurt. I can't believe he made it through LSU and then hits his hand on someone's helmet against Auburn and breaks a finger. It's so sad. And that kid has a huge heart. He wants to be in the game, but his bones are just a little too fragile I guess. Someone needs to just pump that kid full of calcium supplements for the next couple of week. Got Milk? Gives some to Henig.

I ended up watching football all day and all night. After the State game I had to go run some errands but I got back in time to see the second half of the FLA-UT game. I started painting a humongo canvas for my nephew's room and then ended up watching the Alabama-Arkansas game. I made it through the third quarter and I couldn't take it anymore. I got tired of seeing Alabama win and after the helmet throw into the face I couldn't take it anymore. So I turned it to Oxygen and watch back-to-back showings of the Olsen Twin's hit movie New York Minute. Needless to say, my attention was focused more on the painting after the channel switch.

To cap off the weekend, my volleyball team won its second conference match Saturday night over the team that was keeping them from being at the top of the conference and now Samford volleyball is off to its best start since coming into the Ohio Valley Conference in 2003, is 7-4 (2-0 OVC) and number one in the conference for the first time ever. Go Bulldogs!!!!

P.S. The Bears and Broncos won. Yay! Sweet Payton pulled out a victory. Yay! And Eli played hurt and still got beat. Yay! Ha!

Remembering...

Six years ago, today, the unthinkable happened. Hi-jackers flew planes into the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and thanks to a group of brave people on the last plane, a field somewhere in Pennsylvania. I remember exactly where I was when this happened. I was a freshman at State, studying broadcasting and I had big designs on becoming the next Katie Couric. I woke up for class and turned the TV on like I did every other Thursday but never would I have imagined what I saw on the TV. I remember noticing that something was on fire in NY, the World Trade Center, but didn't think anything of it since Matt and Katie on the Today Show we not alarmed...yet. I trucked down to the bathroom to take my shower, and I think I mentioned to someone on the way down the hall what I had seen on TV. When I returned to my room after my shower, I looked back at the TV just in time hear the news that the first tower was hit. As I began to get ready, I looked back at the TV in time to see the second plane fly into the second tower and the madness began.

All I wanted to do was stay in my room and watch the Today Show but I knew I had to get to class. I savored every moment I had to watch the news until I had to leave for class. Funny thing, the class I had was U.S. Government so I knew this would be a topic. My teacher was a pretty passionate guy about government and such so I knew that this would have a huge effect on class that day.

When I got to class, I sat down and it was just a really weird atmosphere. It was sort of quiet but you could hear the murmur rise as people came in and started talking about what was going on, some who already knew about it and some just finding out for the first time. When our professor came in, he addressed the issue briefly and then quickly moved on. I was very surprised, seeing that I figured he would linger on that subject for a while but we just moved on. He began teaching and I could tell he was a bit bothered. Not ten minutes into the lesson, he stopped and said that he was sorry but he couldn't manage to teach class while our country was going through what it was going through at that time. He dismissed class and told us to go home and what the news.

And that I did. I was glued to the TV. Of course I was interested in what was going on. I was confused and I remember my dad calling to check on me and just talking about how confused I was. But even more, I was just in awe at how the news personnel handled the whole situation. I remember discussing in class the next day how it all went down. Realizing that Matt Lauer and Katie Couric changed to darker clothes from their bright threads during a commercial break because it was more appropriate to set a mood. I think that was the day I realized I really wanted to be a news anchor. I wanted to change the world. I wanted to inspire people just like I had been inspired.

Needless to say, that lasted for only three years before I decided that I didn't want to be an on-camera personality. Oh well. But I digress.

Now we know today as Patriot Day. My roommate (Kelly) and I got kind pumped for this. Kel heard somewhere that they (the government, I guess) wanted everyone to fly the American flag, so she went out and bought a flag to put on our house yesterday. So last night when I got home from teaching a swim lesson and scouring the Birmingham area for The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir I'm Amazed...Live CD (of course, no luck, not even at Lifeway, but that's another story for another blog), we found a place on our old brick house, the only place on our house that is not brick -- the side -- and mounted our flag holder and then inserted the flag. I wish I had a picture but of course, the camera is still broken and the new one I ordered will hopefully be here Friday. (Why not just get the other one fixed you ask? It would have cost more to fix it that just by a new one.)

Anyway, I hope everyone has had a great day. Let's all remember what this day is about. Of course it's a day of remembrance and mourning for some, but it should be a day of celebration as well. We need to celebrate how our country has slowly bounced back from this horrible thing. We should thank the terrorists for giving our country a reason to come together like we have, even if it is for one day. And for helping us remember and helping us show the world that we have a military that is so dedicated to its country, men and women who love their country and family and friends so much that they are willing to put their lives on the line to fight for the freedom that we have. Not to mention, that God has been more evident and more apparent that ever before because we have leaders who aren't afraid to stand up in front of the country and on national television and quote scripture and pray to the only one who can save us and has saved us. Praise God for his presence and for using people to declare his glory throughout the nation! May it never stop.

Weekend Recap and VMA Review

Ok...I think I'm going to have to do my review of the MTV VMAs first because it's the most annoying to me and I need to get it out of my head. I wasn't planning on watching the VMAs this year because really, MTV award shows...well MTV period...is just getting a little ridiculous. I think the only show I really watch on MTV now is "The Hills" and that is even laughable at times. But I was working on a golf story and turned my TV on and the VMAs just happened to be starting. Let's just start from the beginning.

1. Britney Spears - Poor Britney Spears. I really felt sorry for her. I was embarassed for her. It was just sad. First of all, she wasn't singing, but really, who does anymore? Aside from her tan, that seemed to be applied the day before to hide the flab, she looked horrible. Ok, Brit, you've popped out two kids in the past three years. Granted you do look like you have tried to work off some of the baby fat but seriously, you're a mom. You are someone's mother. There is no reason you should be on stage in a bra and panties. What a role model! You're definitely teaching your sons what they should look for in a girl. Class. Yeah.

Moving onto the performance, it was just sad. She looked like she had choreographed the routine 2 hours before, which it wouldn't surprise me if she did. She staggered around on the stage, looking very confused. And the song...it just doesn't make sense. I'm saddened by the road Brit Brit has taken and I really hope she finds her way back home.

But to defend Brit a little bit, I did read somewhere that the reason she looked so confused and uninterested was because during rehearsal she heard Sarah Silverman's monologue and how she called her children "adorable mistakes". I think that I would be a little thrown off by that comment as well but I think it would have fueled the fire even more to show everyone that I mean business. But oh well.

P.S. Did you see the looks on everyone's faces during the performance. It's got to take a lot to put a look of shock and awe on 50 Cent's face.

2. While we're on the subject, Sarah Silverman should fall off the face of the earth. Ok, maybe that was a little harsh, but she really annoys me. Her bit at the VMAs was not funny at all and all she really did was just trash talk. I don't get it. Can someone please get on stage and do a comedy bit that is funny without taking cheap shots at people. It really shows how classy you are when you have to stoop to such a level to get some laughs.

3. Justin Timberlake, Alicia Keys and Chris Brown killed it. Those were some of the best performances I've ever seen. I randomly watched the JT Madison Square Garden concert on HBO last Thursday and I have to say, he's truly an incredible talent. Aside from being a great singer, he really knows how to put a show together and perform. Not to mention, that he played the piano and/or guitar on at least half the songs. Plus, he can dance. Really. (I wish I could find some good pictures of these guys but I've searched for 15 minutes and no luck. I quit.)

Now onto the next subject, my weekend. I had a pretty good weekend. I had to go to Atlanta Saturday for the Samford/GA Tech game. The department rented me a car so I wouldn't have to drive my own and I ended up with a yellow Exterra. It was one of the newer ones and they really drive great.

Anyway, to make a long story short. We lost. We lost bad. 69-14. And the third string was in for most of the game. They score four touchdowns in the first quarter. The FIRST QUARTER. It was worse that the MSU-LSU game last year. Oh, it was bad. However, there were a few positives we were able to take away but I won't go into that right now. Instead, I'll comment on how incredible the atmosphere at GA Tech is. They have a great game day atmosphere that made me want to go back to college and become an engineer. As most know, the mascot of GA Tech is a Yellowjacket. However, they are more commonly knows as the Wramblin' Wreck. So they have this car, the Wramblin' Wreck, that they drive across the field in every pregame. It made me miss the Mississippi State Bone Car but I digress. Here's a pic:

Anyway, their fight song is also a lot of fun. It's not very classy but it's really fun to sing. Here's the story about it from the program along with the lyrics:

It is doubtful that anything has ever meant as much to an

American college as has this Georgia Tech fight song, a curious mixture

of words and music that grew out of an old

folk ballad, "The Sons of the Gamboliers." Since the early 1900's,

it has been one of the most important vehicles in making

Georgia Tech's name known around the world and in the development

of the school as one of the most cosmopolitan institutions

of higher learning in America...In 1910, Michael A. Greenblatt,

Tech's first bandmaster, discovered the band playing "Ramblin' Wreck"

to the tune of "Sons of the Gamboliers," and made his first arrangement

of the song in the form of a handwritten manuscript.

When Frank Roman succeeded Greenblatt as bandmaster in 1911,

he wrote a new adaptation of "Ramblin' Wreck," accompanied by many

trumpet flourishes, that was played by every name band in the country

and became nationally known on radio.

His is the version that continues to be popular today.

I'm a Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech and a hell of an engineer,

A helluva, helluva, helluva, helluva, hell of an engineer,

Like all the jolly good fellows, I drink my whiskey clear,

I'm a Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech and a hell of an engineer.

Oh, if I had a daughter, sir, I'd dress her in White and Gold,

And put her on the campus, to cheer the brave and bold.

But if I had a son, sir, I'll tell you what he'd do.

He would yell, "To Hell with Georgia," like his daddy used to do.

Oh, I wish I had a barrel of rum and sugar three thousand pounds,

A college bell to put it in and a clapper to stir it around.

I'd drink to all good fellows who come from far and near.

I'm a ramblin', gamblin', hell of an engineer.

So that's that. I heard it so much that I found myself singing it when I woke up the next moring. It's kind of like "Rocky Top". It gets stuck in your head and it's hard to get out. However, it's a little less annoying than RT.

That's about it for my share time. We got home just in time for me to catch the second half of the MSU-Tulane game. I was glad to see that we were able to pull out a win, but we should have beat them my much more than that. But you know what they say, "A win is a win however you can get it." I don't know who says it but I've heard it many times before. Anyway, GO BULLDOGS!

Man vs. Wild -- A FAKE!

About nine months ago, I found a new favorite show and was inspired. Man vs. Wild. I knew after watching several episodes of this show that if ever I get lost in the woods, or the desert, or in the middle of Antarctica, I would surely survive due to the knowledge I have receive from Bear, "the Man vs. Wild guy". It made me want to watch the show even more when I found out that Bear was a devoted Christian and family man.

So it's no surprise that I was shocked and appalled to find out that Man vs. Wild was fake! A fake I tell you. I was shown this article by Gavin, one of our student workers, and another avid MVW fan. Needless to say, a moment of silence was observed in the office.

It seems as though, Bear Grylls, the star of the show, has had a little help going up against "the Wild". As the article states, the Discovery Channel has issued a statement saying that "isolated elements of the 'Man vs. Wild' show in some episodes were not natural to the environment, and that for health and safety concerns the crew and host recieved some survival assistance while in the field."

Survival assistance. I love that term.

It seems as though Grylls had spend the night in a hotel/motel at least twice when the show led viewers to believe that he was actually sleeping outdoors. Also in the episode supposedly set on a deserted island, was actually Hawaii, which is not deserted, it shows him building a raft which was actually made by professionals and then disassembled so that he could easily put it together.

But wait...that's not all. The article also says that although Bear claims to be a horse wrangler (Is this where the name for the jeans came from?), that the wild horses that he happened upon in the Sierra Nevade were not wild. They were from a trekking station.

Now it seems, to keep viewers from ditching the show, the Discovery Channel says that the show will be "tweaked".

"Moving forward, the program will be 100 percent transparent, and all elements of the filming will be explained upfront to our viewers," Discovery said in its statement. "In addition, shows that are to be repeated will be edited appropriately. Bear Grylls is a world-class adventurer and a terrific talent."

I do have to agree. Bear is a world-class guy and a terrific talent. He's easy on the eyes too, and his accent is great to listen to. His wife is a lucky woman.

I love the last paragraph in this article from ABC:

"No word on what 'transparent' means or how fans of the series will react, but perhaps Discovery should add a disclaimer to the show: Survival made possible by hotel stay and dramatization of events. "

Classic.

40 things you probably didn't know about me and don't want to know...but too bad...I'm bored

1. What is your best friend’s grandma’s name?
Well Lauren's is Dorothy and Jason's is Ruby, but those are the only two I know.

2. Where is the weirdest place you have a mole?
I don't really know. I have one on my belly.

3. Who was the hottest teacher you ever had?
I'd say Coach A, but if he ever heard it his head would explode with arrogance.

4. Have you ever made out in a movie theater?
Sadly, yes, and to think I'm anti-PDA. It was dark and there were probably two other people in there with us.

5. What body part do you wash first?
I don't really know.

6. Do you hover over the toilet in public bathrooms?
It depends on where I am. In Honduras, I definitely did.

7. What’s the strangest talent you have?
I can make weird shapes with my tongue.

8. Do you have an innie or an outtie?
Innie.

9. What’s your favorite flavored Pringle?
Cheez-ums!

10. Have you ever been tied up? Do you want to be?
Yes and not at this moment.

11. What was the last thing you ever got grounded for?
Probably not getting up when i was told.

12. Do you parallel park or drive around the block?
Parallel park.

13. Have you ever had two dates in one night?
Nope.

14. In one word, describe your butt.
Round.

15. Have you ever been to a gay bar?
Nope.

16. Girls: Out of Madonna, Aunt Bee, Oprah Winfrey, and Paris Hilton, who are you most like?
Besides the color thing I guess Oprah because I'm definitely not like Paris or Madonna and I'm really not old like Aunt Bee.

17. Is there one thing all of your love interests have had in common?
They were all boys.

18. Did you French kiss before you were 21?
Yes.

19. Have you ever been cow-tipping or snipe-hunting?
Snipe-hunting, yes. We used to do it all the time in my youth group at church.

20. Who is the last person you usually think about before you fall asleep?
Who knows. Last night it was my daddy. I really hope he doesn't have West Nile.

21. You’re in a public bathroom and there’s no toilet paper. What do you do?
Drip-dry. Ha. No really...probably ask for some or if no one's in there I'll high-tail it to the next stall.

22. What was your childhood nickname?
KateMo

23. When is the last time you played the air guitar?
I don't know.

24. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve done while driving?
Read lyrics from a CD book.

25. Have you ever bitten your toenails?
Um...ew...no.

26. How do you eat your cookies?
Fast.

27. When working out at the gym, do you wear a belt?
Um no.

28. Name something you do when you’re alone that you wouldn’t do in front of anyone.
Walk around naked.

29. Girls: Do you shave your toes? Guys: Do you shave your chest?
Yes...I shave my toes.

30. How many drinks does it take before you get drunk?
I don't know.

31. How often do you clean out your ears?
Every morning.

32. Do you scrunch or fold your toilet paper?
Scrunch.

33. About how many times a day do you pick a wedgie?
Depends on what kind of underwear I'm wearing.

34. Do you have any strange phobias?
Not so much. Just the usual fear of snakes.

35. Have you ever stuck a foreign object up your nose?
Nope.

36. What is the stupidest thing you’ve ever done at a bar or a party?
Said something I didn't mean.

37. Have you ever been dared to do something you totally regretted?
Nah.

38. Have you ever called your love interest by an ex’s name?
Don't think so.

39. Have you ever gotten caught farting while on a date?
Nope.

40. Do you want to bring sexy back?
Negotiations are in progress. I'll receive a contract in a few days. Keep your eye out. I will be bringing sexy back.

Labor Day and West Nile

So while most Americans have the day off because it's Labor Day, and supposedly you're not supposed to have to work on Labor Day, I'm celebrating by working. Yep, that's right. I worked all weekend, coordinating a volleyball tournament, worked until 8 p.m. last night and now I'm back at work again because sports don't stop for holidays, seasons, or Jesus. (Well, I'm sure if he came back during a sporting event, all play would be halted but I've missed many a church service and choir practice because of my work that has to do entirely with sports. Anyway, so will all of you people who get Labor Day off are enjoying your day off, eat a grilled piece of food and lots of chips and dip, and have a Coke and smile just for me. (Don't feel too bad. I did come in a 11:30 this morning.)

On to the next subject of my blog, send up some prayers for my dad. He's had this rash for a few days that they thought was the measles or something but then they found out it was a rash that is possibly a symptom of the West Nile virus. He went to MEA the other day to get it treated and found out it was in fact a viral infection but that he would have to wait until the test results came back to find out if he had been infected with West Nile. I've heard how many people have died from West Nile and I really don't want my daddy to be the next victim. I know that's a horrible thing to think about but when it comes to a girl's daddy, I tend to think the worst. So say some prayers for my daddy and hope that he gets better.

Happy Labor Day! Don't labor to hard!