You're welcome.

Blog-Linkity Goodness 10.26.10

Here are a few links I've found interesting recently.

1. This has to be the greatest capitalization of the dumbest reality TV move ever. Mad props to Bachelor Kasey (or the person who approached him with this idea)! Click here for a refresher of the dumbest reality TV move ever.

2. This post of Annie's I really loved because a) I love surfing and 2) I can totally relate.

3. I haven't heard much from Andy Merrick in a while but like always, when he comes back, he comes back with a bang. I may or may not have read this post four times today already.

4. In six days, it'll be November. Which means it's officially acceptable for me to listen to Christmas music. And I can't wait to purchase this. And this.

5. I guess when your job is done, your job is done. His reward awaits him in Octopus Heaven. Also, please look at the writer's headshot and tell that doesn't look like a police mugshot. I dare you.

6. I'm sure this comes in handy at some point.

7. And lastly, I also may or may not have watched this video (and this one) about seven times. I can't get over just how humble this guy is, but I guess after all that he's been through and what God has pulled him out of, there's no other way to be. I strongly believe that God does great things through people who constantly point back to him and since we are talking sports, I'll just mention a few names -- Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy (and here), David Tyree and Kurt Warner.

I'm not talking prosperity gospel, I'm talking about a God who uses people for His glory and people who live their life to make His glory known throughout the world.

That's inspiration enough for me.

Marcel

Thanks to Annieblogs for sharing Marcel today. Marcel just made my Monday. I hope she makes yours.

MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON from Dean Fleischer-Camp on Vimeo.

5000 Question Survey (Part 12)

1101. Continued...Let's see if I'm psychic.

You wrote three yes or no questions. Now I will answer them.

1. yes
2. no
3. no

Did I get any right?
No because I didn't write any.

1102. You wrote one question that can be answered with a color (example: what color is my car). I say....
White.
Is it true?
Maybe, sometimes the sky it white.

1103. You thought of a number between 1 and 100 and typed it down.

Was it 14?
I don't remember. But probably not.

1104. You wrote one more question, anything you wanted.
The answer is yes, 42, orange, Matt, Josh, Kim, Nicole, whatever or your mom. Does that answer your question?
No. The answer as penguin.

1105. Do you think that Britney Spears would make a good Bond Girl?
Absolutely not. I don't think Britney Spears would make a good anything until she gets her life in order. And I don't think that will happen until people leave her alone.

1106. Have you read anything by C.S. Lewis?
Yes, most recently, Mere Christianity.

1107. What is your favorite movie with Bill Murray?
There are a few. Off the top of my head? Groundhog Day, Ghostbusters, What About Bob.

1108. What is your favorite movie with Jack Nicholson?
Batman

1109. What is your favorite movie with Christopher Walkin?
I don't have a favorite. My favorite thing he's done is just about anything on SNL.

1110. What is your favorite movie with Johnny Depp?


What's Eating Gilbert Grape?

1111. What is your favorite movie with Orlando Bloom?
Elizabethtown

1112. What rhymes with 'orange'?
Sporange. Look it up.

1113. Why do guys have nipples if they will never need to feed a baby?
Because God made them that way. And they would look weird without them.

1114. Some people think that couples should be screened before they are allowed to reproduce (so that people who cannot afford to support a child don’t have one, or so that a child won’t be born into a dysfunction family or to unfit parents). What do you think about this?
I think God chooses to give people children for a reason. And no matter what happens, God gets the glory from those situations. I know plenty of people with sucky parents but they've turned out to be some of the most Godly people I know.


1115. Have you ever swallowed an object by accident?
I've swallowed candy and ice by accident. That's about it.

1116. Did you get it back?
nope

1117. Do you prefer He-Man or She-Ra?
He-Man

1118. Are you proud of yourself?
Yes

1119. Who should go to hell?
That's not my place to judge. The Bible says that those who reject God will go to hell.

1120. Is your eyesight 20/20?
Not at all.

1121. Have you ever had insomnia?
Don't think so.

1122. Does it bother you when people touch you?
Depends on the situation


1123. Is it better to get too much or too little sleep?
In my opinion, too much.

1124. Have you ever given away something you made? What?
I've given away several paintings as gift and I used to make stuff all the time for my mom and dad when I was little.

1125. Is it better to have kids when you are in your teens, 20s, 30s, 40s, or older?
Never in your teens. Mid-to-late-20s and after is good.

1126. What gets your adrenaline pumping?
Being a spectator at a sporting event, doing something adventurous, or being attacked

1127. Is hell all fire and brimstone or is it personal for everyone like in Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey?
No one knows.

Or does it not exist?
Oh, it exists.

1128. Do you ever talk about yourself in the third person?
Yes.

1129. What's your favorite radio station? What kind of music do they play?
Broadway on Sirius XM. The title explains itself.

1130. What did you think of these movies:
Election? Saw it once and didn't really get it.
Gone With the Wind? I've never seen it all the way through but it's one of those that as girl, you're kind of obligated to see.
Fight Club? Never seen it.
Spider Man? Great.
The Virgin Suicides? Never seen it.
Resident Evil? Never seen it.
Signs? Great.
Muppets from Space? The only Muppet movie I've never seen.
Pearl Harbor? Great.
Halloween Resurrection? Never seen it.
The Dark Crystal? I know I've seen it but don't remember much about it.

1131. Is everyone special?
Yes.

1132. Are your toes:
Painted (what color)? A pinkish-red
Manicured? not anymore
Sparkly? no
Soft? yes
Wearing a toe ring? no
Do you have hobbit-feet? no

1133. Do you believe there is anyplace still undiscovered in all the world?
There has to be.

1134. Whose picture would you like to paint a target on and throw darts at?
I can think of a few but I won't say.

1135. Is love all you need?
Should be.

1136. Ever caught a fish?
Yes.

1137. Are you adventurous?
Yes.

1138. Are you afraid of mediocrity?
Yes.

1139. Would you rather die tomorrow or have all your friends die?
Die tomorrow.

1140. What are 3 things you don't understand?
1. Homosexuality
2. Calculus
3. Why I'm so tired after eating at Salem's

1141. I would do anything for love but I won't do 'that'. What is 'that'?
Eat bugs

1142. Has your diary ever been rated?
No

1143. Do you do more than kiss on the first date?
No

1144. Are you very liberal or conservative?
Conservative

1145. What do you like about your neighbors?
They aren't too loud

1146. I read that by 2010 they expect to market a gene therapy procedure that will increase the life spans of adult human beings by double or triple. If this happened would you have it done?
Nope

1147. If you're happy and you know it clap your hands. Did you clap?
No

1148. Was this year a good year for you?
26 was trying. 27, good so far.

1149. What are you looking forward to next year?
Changes

1150. Are you a Jim Henson fan?
yes


1151. What do you think of these diarist names?
ToxicToast:
Solitary Music:
gemini_wish_star:
juneberry:


I don't care.

1152. Do you read the Diary Master’s diary?
No.

1153. Have you ever made an enemy on OD?
I don't know what that is.

1154. Have you ever (or do you know anyone who’s) been deleted from OD?
I don't know what that is.

1155. Were you ever in the first row of a concert?
Yes. Casting Crowns at my sister's church.

1156. Did you ever meet a celebrity? Who?
I've met several. Erick Dampier, Robin Roberts, Dick Vitale, Ethan Zhon, Sandi Patty, that's all the "celebrities" I can think of right now.

1157. Do you have any autographs?
Dick Vitale, Ethan Zhon, there are others.

1158. Can you visualize whirled peas?
No

1159. Are there some situations where love just isn't enough to keep 2 people together? When does that happen?
Abuse

1160. Do you have no attention span?
I have a small one

1161. What do you think of these entry titles?
me. back. home:
steak and butter:
The Smurfs Go Communist:
The controversial Athens:

I have no opinion.


1162. Have you ever been wrongly accused?
Yes.

1163. When you wash your hair do you blow dry it or let it dry naturally?
Blow dry.

1164. Where does your family go on vacation?
The beach.

1165. Have you ever been to:
Newport, Rhode Island? No
Dutch Wonderland? no
Salem, MA? no
Niagara Falls? no

1166. Have you ever given money to OD cares?
No

1167. Have you ever created an OD interest?
no


If yes, what interests did you create?

1168. What do you think of these entry names?
DEAR SOUL FRIEND 57 Loss:
I had a good title but i forgot it:
Left Alone:
yeah yeah...he kissed her:

These are dumb questions.

1169. If you have aol what is your 'you've got mail' sound?
I don't.

1170. What will you never have enough of?
Family

1171. Who can you only handle in small doses?
Jay Leno

1172. You are at a magic auction where you can bid on impossible things but you only brought enough money to buy one thing. Out of these..which would you buy?
entrance into whatever afterlife you believe in
a guarentee that you will have at least 3 books published in your life
a new car, house and boat each year
unending creative inspiration This One
ultimate compassion and acceptance of others
a trip into outer space
perfect health for the rest of your life

1173. In the above question if finding perfect love was a choice would you change your answer?
no

1174. What food is so fattening or unhealthy that you would NEVER touch it?

a fried snickers bar

1175. Which do you love more, your country or your planet?
my planet

1176. What do you think of:
Abba?
Brian Adams?
No Doubt?

They are all okay.

1177. Are you more logical or emotional?
emotional

1178. Do you think that tattoos and piercing are overrated?
no

1179. What do you think of these diary titles?
The Seamless Garment:
Your eyes can be so cruel:
What was, is no more:
shock me sane:


I'm tired of these dumb questions.

1180. Do you believe that Michael Jackson molests children?
I think Michael Jackson was severely scarred as a child and I don't think it's in my right to judge what he has done.

1181. Hypothetically, let’s say that he did molest them. Who would you feel should be held MORE accountable, Michael Jackson or the parents that allowed their children to go to Never Land Ranch unsupervised for sleepovers?
This is dumb

1182. Have you ever been to:
Manhattan? Yes
Disney? Yes
Paris? Yes
Anywhere cooler? London and the Netherlands are cooler, temperature-wise.

1183. What 3 music videos should everyone download?
I don't realy do music videos

1184. If someone bet you ten dollars that you couldn’t sing the whole Gummy Bears theme song, would you be able to do it and win?
I could do maybe the first two or three lines

1185. Do you like Bjork?
One song of hers

1186. How about the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club?
Never heard of them

1187. What do you think of Moby?
He's okay.

1188. What do you think of Alien Ant Farm?
They are okay.

1189. What do you think of the Flaming Sideburns?
Heard of them. Never heard their music.

1190. Do you believe that imps, trolls, giants, dragons, unicorns, etc. were real but became extinct?
No

1191. What sucks?
So far, these questions.

1192. What do you think of these diary titles?
Geologist to the Stars:
The Hussy Chronicles:
Gravy:
Napping in the Broom Closet:

1193. Do you ever think about suicide?
No

1194. Do you believe that Jesus Christ was a real person? How about Noah?
Yes and yes

1195. What is one luxury you refuse to live without?
my cell phone


1196. What is one luxury you feel you could live without?
TV

1197. Do you feel that you are high, medium, or low maintenance in a relationship?
medium

1198. What do you think of these diarist names?
N.Y.S:
Collapsibleman:
*})({*:
black dove:

1199. Do vegetables taste better from the store or from your garden?
I don't have a garden but when my Papaw had a garden, his veggies were so good.

1200. How long have you spent on this survey so far?

More time than I should've

A Date With Myself

I did something Friday night that is really out of character for me.

I did something ALONE.

If you know me, I can be pretty independent but when it comes to going and doing things (unless it is shopping or a trip to Walmart or something), I NEVER do things alone. And I think for a while now, that never-do-anything-alone thing has kind of defined my life a little.

When I was younger, I'm pretty sure I was as close to a shadow for my sister as you could get. Whatever she did, I wanted to do. Unless it had a dramatic ending like GA camp, and then I was out.

As I got older, I always had something to do with someone. Whether is was putt-putt golf or a get-together at someone's house or the movies or dinner with a boyfriend, I always had something to do and someone to do it with.

When I moved to Birmingham, away from friends and family, I basically had to start life all over again. That meant making new friends and finding my way around this new city. People have told me that I'm good at making friends. I tend to disagree. I'm good at making aquaintences when the opportunity presents itself, but establishing relationships and keeping those relationships has been something that I've had to learn how to do again since I've moved here.

(I'm by no means at a lack for friends here. I just realized that this post is starting to make me sound like a no-friends loser, but bare with me. I have a point.)

With my job being as time-consuming as it is, and with friends not always being available to do things whenever I can (and vice-versa), I've struggled with the fact that there are things that I miss out on because my time is very limited.

But lately, I've discovered a newfound sense of pride in myself and a go-get 'em attitude. So, I decided the heck with it, the next thing that comes along that I want to do, I'm doing it whether I have a buddy to tag along or not.

I have a friend who works at the Red Mountain Theatre Company in downtown Birmingham, and she is always raving about their shows. (I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that she is the public relations/marketing director and that is her job. Absolutely nothing.) There have been several shows there that I've wanted to see but haven't for lack of money or friend to go with.

This weekend was the last run of The Drowsy Chaperone and I've always wanted to see it. This was my last chance. Everyone I'd want to take with me either was working or lived three hours away. So, I decided to bite the bullet and go by myself. Besides, Nicole would be there working and I'd at least get to see her smiling face on the way in and out.

I could not have made a better decision. The show was incredible and the night was perfect.

And as I sat there in the audience, I realized how great it is to be a lover of the theatre. There is something about going to a show that sucks you in a takes you away. As soon as the house lights go down and the stage lights go up, you are instantly transported to another time and another place. (Cue Sandi Patty and Wayne Watson)

The characters on the stage become more than just characters. If they are good at their job, you immediately connect with them and they become life-long friends of yours. You laugh when they laugh. You cry when they cry.

I could not have had a better time this weekend on my first big outing alone. It was nice, for a change, to go enjoy something by myself without having to worry about what the other person with me wanted to do next.

I've often questioned God on why he has kept me single for so long. I've touched on the main reason - he wants me to want Him more than I want anything else. The other reason? I think he's wanted me to learn how to enjoy life by myself.

And I am.

24

Saturday night could not have brought me greater joy if Ed McMahon had been standing on my doorstep with a check for 22.4 million dollars. (That may or may not have been a gross overstatement on my part.)

Why?

Because this happened.

And then, this happened.

And Ole Miss lost. Which was really the icing on the proverbial football-shaped cake, if you ask me. And y'all, I've been snacking on that cake ever since. And it is G-O-O-D.

A few Monday morning SEC football notes for you:

- All but one SEC West team (can we guess who?) are in the top 25. Only one SEC East team (South Carolina, yay for the Beamers!) is still ranked in the top 25.

- Two weeks ago, everyone (who played) in the West won and everyone in the East (who played) lost. My friends, the SEC tide has turned.

- There are three SEC teams (Auburn, Alabama, LSU) in the top 8 of the BSC standings - no other conference has more than one. Thanks to @SECSportsUpdate for that tidbit of info.

- MSU is ranked for the first time in nine years. The last time the Bulldogs were ranked, I was a freshman in college. And then Florida whooped our hineys, 52-0, in the swamp, and that was the end of our top 25 days. Until now.

- The last time MSU won in The Swamp? 1965. That's a long beating. A long one.

- Feast your eyes on this lead in the game recap:

"GAINESVILLE, Fla. - No intimidation in the Swamp on Saturday. None at all.
In a venue where Florida has historically flexed its muscles with ease against opposing foes, on this particular night it was Mississippi State delivering blow after to blow en route to a 10-7 upset against the No. 22-ranked Gators in front of stunned crowd of 90,517 at Ben Griffin Stadium."

I didn't know Joe Galbraith could be so eloquent.

(Meanwhile, ESPNU is showing the replay of this game and my office TV is tuned and locked in.

Also, this guy...

Vick Ballard. Also known as, a maroon-colored mack truck with a turbo engine. And also known as, officially, my favorite 2010 Mississippi State Bulldog. This kid, this kid is mucho talented. And I'm so glad that Dan Mullen saw something in this kid that no one else saw because, as much as I would have loved Cam Newton to be our quarterback this year (no offense to Chris Relf and Tyler Russell, because I think those two are the best QBs Mississippi State has seen in a sweet forever), I'm glad Mullen got his claws in this one.

I've said it before, and been cautioned about saying it again, but Vick Ballard has Anthony Dixon/Jerious Norwood type qualities and he's going to do great things for Mississippi State football.

In summary, I see a bright future for Mississippi State football. Hopefully, we respond well to the success and make ourselves bowl eligible with a win over UAB this weekend. Then, let's take care of Kentucky, shock the world against Alabama, have a pig roast the week after, and then get rid of the black bear infestation that has come upon the state of Mississippi within the last week.

And GO SEC! (Boo Ole Miss!)

Video Wednesday

1. Thanks to Dave Barnes for sharing this on Twitter on Monday. I don't know that I've laughed at Sesame Street so much in a while.



2. I think I used to know this kid.



3. Kurt and Rachel did this number on last night's episode of Glee and it made me think of Kathy Troccoli and Sandi Patty's version which then prompted me to YouTube this. What is your favorite duet?



What is your favorite duet?

May I remember this every day...

“Don’t surrender to an area of work or ministry, just surrender to God. Hold tightly to Him and nothing else.”

-Beth Moore

Music & Film

Just two things I'm excited about today:

1. My church just released a brand new original worship CD. Go listen. Buy it. And marvel at how God is using the people in my faith family for His glory.



Every song is my favorite but I'll go ahead and say "In Your Arms", "Redeemer", and "Hallelujah" will change. your. life.

2. Did you know they were making "Blue Like Jazz" into a movie? And then did you hear that it fell through because they couldn't fund it? And then did you hear that it's back in production now because a bunch of people got together and raised the remaining money?

Yeah.

I'm excited.

That is all.