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.

Someone Call The Authorities

...'cause this blog neglect is out. of. control.

I know there's only about four of you that actually read this baby, but that's four folks that care what I have to say (or are just really bored), so I apologize for the blog neglect lately and for the upcoming neglect as well.

It seems these days that my mind is going much faster than my fingers are willing to type, so therefore, by the time I sit down to write about the things that I've been thinking about, my mind tells my fingers, "Dude, you should've kept up with the train."

I did have a few things I wanted to share today though.

As always, for easy reading and aesthetic pleasure, a list:

1. If you love The Bachelorette (like me) and you are slightly obsessed with Aly and Roberto (like me), you'll either love or hate this joint-post by Bryan Allain and Tyler Stanton. These guys present, "15 Life Lessons From The Bachelorette". You can thank me later. My favorites? 1, 2, 3, 5, 12, 14...well all of them really.

2. I posted on Twitter earlier today that if I could be half the writer that Donald Miller is, I would consider that a blessing. Y'all, the man has some serious skillz. Emphasis on the "Z" meaning I'm serious about the serious part. If you've heard of him, you'll know he wrote Blue Like Jazz, Searching For God Knows What, A Million Miles In A Thousand Years, Through Painted Deserts. All good stuff. They always leave you wanting more.

He's an expert on story, and has some great insight on God. So, it's no suprise that Don's (see, it's so good that I feel like we could be on a first-name basis and comfortable to shorten his name to Don) blog is a bright spot in my day.

I have my Google Reader tuned in to bring me the latest and greatest from his blog every day. I've really been enjoying his stuff lately. Especially his Lucy series, blog posts "written" by his lab Lucy and this one and this one.

3. I know this might be a little cheese-tastic to some of you, but for those of you who read this little space of the internet and know what's going on in my brain right now, I think you'll understand it. This scene from Sister Act 2: Back In The Habit is really resonating with me right now.



4. This guy just sang what America was thinking.


5. And finally...

Never give up.


Remember people. You can do anything you set your mind to. All you have to do is:

1. Believe in yourself. No, really believe. See that time you didn't believe hard enough because it didn't work...there you go. 30th time is the charm.

2. Formulate a plan of action. Like believing that no matter how many times it takes, you WILL crack that board over your head. Come concussion or forehead-to-spine stitches. Just believe.

3. Follow through. Follow through...all the way to the ER.

Outburst Montage

First we had this...



Then this happened...



Then this guy showed up...


And not to be outdone...



Can't we all just get along?

For the apologies, click here, here, and here.

P.S. Did anyone see Michael Jordan's rant at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame ceremony? Craziness. I think we need to start handing out Xanex before every big event from now on.

Right 'Round To Public Embarassment

My morning routine changes from day to day because I don't really have a set time that I have to be at work. I usually try to be there by 9 a.m. on a usual day, 8 or 8:30 on a day that I may have an early meeting or need to leave early, and 10 on a day that I just really don't give a flying fart because I've been there every other day of the week including Saturday and Sunday.

(For being a Baptist college, Samford doesn't really adhere to the whole "Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy." At least where athletics is concerned. But I digress.)

But one constant is GMA (Good Morning America) and LIVE with Regis and Kelly. If I'm not watching them at home, I'm watching them on my office TV.

Now, up until my college years, as far back as I can remember, I was a TODAY Show girl. I watched the first 15 or 20 minutes in the morning with my dad before school every morning as we ate breakfast. Of course, that was after George of the Jungle or The Flintstones or Gilligan's Island was over.

But it never failed that at 7 a.m. on the dot, we'd flip to channel two and there it would be, The Today Show. With Bryant Gumbal...and Katie Couric. And then it was...with Katie Couric...and Matt Lauer. (Imagine me saying this in my TV announcer voice. And then point and laugh.)

I'm serious. I was hooked. Katie Couric is the reason I wanted to go into broadcasting. (Not to be confused with that fact that Robin Roberts was the reason that I wanted to be in sports. But that's another tale.)

My dad used to tell people I was going to be the next Katie Couric. And I swore I would. But then life took me on another road. I'm fickle like that, I guess.

Anyway, TODAY was my thing. I watched the Towers fall with Matt and Katie. I even studied their every move during that time. It was crucial. If I was going to be a serious anchorwoman, I needed to know stuff like when something tragic happens to your country and you are wearing pink or yellow, you immediately go change into something grey or black at the next commercial break. That's a serious fact.

But then I moved to the KD house. My NBC was horrid. Squiggly lines, snow, blackouts. It was the cable, not the station. I'm sure of it. So I started watching GMA. No big deal. Just a temporary substitution. I was determined not to get attached.

And then Katie got a colonoscopy on national television. An event which started the crossing of an invisible line of television ridiculousness that should've never even been approached. And there was no looking back.

I mean seriously, Katie left and and they added Kathie Lee. Why don't they just ask people to never watch the show again?

Anyway, my point to this whole post is that I watched TODAY this morning. Only because Flo Rida was on. He was the musical act on today's Toyata Concert Series.

I began over at ABC watching GMA. Their musical guest was Kenny Chesney. And since Kenny was my first-ever country music concert experience, I figured I should pay my respects and give the brother a listen, instead of changing the channel like I usually would. Except, I've heard the song he was singing over and over and over again. And really, when it comes to country music, I've got to take it in stride, people. It can get a little overwhelming.

So halfway through the song, I flipped to TODAY. Just to see what was on. And there he was. Flo Rida in all his original name-creating glory (he's from Florida, people), singing 'Right Round.

And this is where I have to hand it to the country fans once again because they were somewhat subdued compared to what I saw on TODAY. Both crowds looked similar in size and demographic (the demographic part being nonexistent because I guess when you give people the chance to be on national television and then add in a major celebrity, they come out of the woodworks, y'all).

However, I was appalled by some of the stuff that I saw. And none of it had to do with Flo Rida or TODAY and had everything to do with the manner in which people absolutely CANNOT control themselves when they are given the chance to make a cameo on national television.

Lemme 'splain.

Oh, hello, 48-year old woman dancing like a 17-year old high school student and dressed like a 21-year old who just bought her first alcoholic beverage legally (without the use of her fake ID).

"What's that you say? You're going to put me, a scantily clad 48-year old on the FRONT ROW?!?! So that the whole nation can see me and wonder why? why? why? Okie-dokie. As long as I get to touch Flo Rida and dance inappropriately in front of him on national television. You got it."

And then they panned over to the 5-year old boy who was getting his groove on. At this I was impressed. And the senior citizen with the orange mounty hat. I. had. no. words. (Except when I told myself that that woman could very well be my mom in 30 years.)

Then they showed the TODAY Show talent rocking out. The young girl who definitely knew she could dance yet was modest about it. Matt Lauer tapping his toe. The other guy boucing up and down. And then this Hoda woman. Kathie Lee's sidekick. Dancing and singing along like the apocolypse was tomorrow.

I just have no words. Except obviously I do.

But there are no more.

So let's play a game.

I've embeded the video and the first person who correctly points out all of the weird and inappropriate things in this video gets a special prize from me. (Hint: There is no correct answer and there is no prize.)

Just enjoy.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Togetherness, Separation and Crazies

Let me begin with this statement: Bachelorette, I'm hooked on you. It's a sick obsession that needs to be remedied immediately. But. I. can't. quit. you.

However, I would like to list the many annoyances that were found in last night's Bachelorette episode because I have nothing else to do right now.

1. The unending improper grammar of all parties involved. "Him and I." "Her and I". For. the. love. ABC, can we get a grammar specialist to the set STAT?

2. The relentless play on words. Last night crossed the line. "I think I can, I think I can, get a rose tonight." Please tell me these guys are being fed these lines. And that they get a wad of $20s after they've successfully completed the task. At least they kept this episode on the ground. I don't know what I would have done if they "soared to new heights" again this week. Frankly, I was starting to get a little concerned for their health. Doesn't the oxygen level get thin the higher you go?

3. Wes. And anything he said or did. I really just want to do this to him.



4. Bless his heart. Jake's SUPER DUPER nice attitude. Does the kid HAVE a flaw?

5. Tanner P's foot obsession. It had gotten out. of. control. And thankfully, he was booted.

And bonus: The "ice" furniture.

And that is all I will say about that.

This is amazing. I had no idea that you could vote on such a thing. Apparently, E! gave fans an opportunity to vote to ban the mention of Spencer and Heidi Pratt from their channel, barring anything major like death or dismemberment. Can we enable voting for more stuff like this? Like ED commercials and the ShamWow guy?

And lastly, I kept telling myself that I wasn't going to blog about Jon and Kate. And I'm really not. After my mom and I had commented all we could on the matter last night over the phone, I resigned that I would no longer comment on their personal life. Reality television or not, they are real people and they deserve to be treated with the same respect as I would expect myself to be treated with in any other situation (See: The Golden Rule).

This post and this post put my feelings in word form so much better than I ever could, so I'll just let you go read those.

I'm not going to point fingers or place blame because frankly, that's not what Christ did to me. He looked at me in all my dirtiness that the paparazzi of the sinful nature displayed and said, "You're forgiven. Slate wiped clean. Go and live for me."

And that's just what I'll do.

The Chlorine Got To My Brain

Today I started a two-week (four days a week) span of life-guarding for Samford's soccer camp.

I really wish I was a pre-teen again so I could attend this camp. They get to be in cool country groups (i.e. Spain, England, Italy, etc.) and they get to swim for 45 minutes before lunch and slide down an enormous water slide on the football field before the day is over with.

It's like a dream come true. Only a snow cone could make it better.

Anyway, so I get to spend an hour and a half away from my desk everyday (minus Fridays) for the next two weeks making sure these kiddos practice appropriate water safety. In an indoor pool. That has like 200 percent humidity. I'm still in a cloud of chlorinated fuzziness.

But I digress...

I tell you that, to tell you this: too much chlorine makes my brain not want to think of clever blog post titles.

Sue me.

I did run across two things today that I just had to comment on. The chlorine may have had an effect on my ability to come up with clever blog post titles but it did nothing to stunt my ever-flowing fountain sarcastic commentary.

So here goes...

This, as Dave Barnes tweeted this morning, is "my nightmare realized". This kid woke up yesterday to a snake in his bed. Not just any snake. A three-foot boa constrictor. Seriously. Um. Yikes. Like want to run screaming into the ocean yikes.

The article said: "I started to panic when he started to slither at me," said (Kareem) Lewis (18), whose mom was at church.

No kidding.

It was probably God trying to tell you to get your butt out of bed and go to church, Kareem.

I bet Kareem will be sitting on the front pew next week.

(Warning: I'm about to blog about Taylor Swift and the Jonas Brothers. Seriously. I'll do anything to procrastinate.)

This craziness is killing me. Hell hath no furry like a teeny-bopper scorned, right? It's like the lyric wars have shifted from the realms of hardcore "gangsta" rap to the supposed harmless mouths of babes.

Taylor Swift and Joe Jonas will not give up. It's like being in the 10th grade hall of the high school of the music world. Which I guess is not that much of a stretch, considering they are still old enough to be in high school. Well, at least where I come from they are. Twenty-one and still in the 12th grade? Only in JPS. But again, I digress.

Sources say (hear that? It's like I'm hosting my own gossip show on the E! channel), that the two star-crossed lovers are taking stabs at each other with every new lyric they write.

Swift's new song "Forever and Always" seems to take a shot a the eldest JoBro stating: "Was I out of line? / Did I say something way too honest? / That made you run and hide like a scared little boy?"

Newflash Taylor. You're not the first girl who has written these lyrics or even had hoo-has to say something of this sort. And you won't be the last. He's a boy. It's nature.

The JoBros new song, "Paranoid", retaliates saying: "Caught in a nightmare / Can't wake up/ That's why my ex is still my ex / I never trust a word she says / I'm running all the background checks / And she's freaking out."

Just like a boy to make the girl look like a nutbag.

I'm just finding this all too funny. It's seriously like playground chatter.

"Nanny nanny boo boo."

What used to be reserved for the likes of 50 Cent and Eminem, has filtered down to the purest of all art forms -- the teeny boppers.

Lord, help us all.

At least they can still wear their purity rings with pride.

I hope.

Feelin' Funky

Ok, I am officially in a serious funk. Jesus, Lord, help me get out of it. Shine some sunshine in my life and help me realize that I am in a very good situation, considering, and that things could be much, much, much worse.

Self-pity is a BEE-otch. (Sorry, mom.)

There is something major going on I must address here.

I have to say that my heart hurt little when I heard the new of John Travolta's son's death. I don't know these people from Adam, but I have lost a family member unexpectedly and it is not something I would wish on my most hated enemy (of which I don't believe I have at all). The questions and confusion that comes along with it is both overwhelming and exhausting.

It is said that the 16-year-old died due to a seizure which was just one effect of Kawasaki disease, an illness that can lead to inflamed blood vessels, that the young man had suffered from since the age of two (can you tell I've done my homework? Just you wait.)

However, this is the part that struck me hard. Jett Travolta's mom, Kelly Preston has blamed household cleaners and fertilizers for the condition and said a detoxification program based on teachings from the Church of Scientology helped improve his health, according to People magazine.

(Follow the link to learn more about Scientology. It's Wikipedia. The end-all and be-all of modern research.)

I don't know a lot about Scientology, so I can't judge. What I can do it state my beliefs, the belief in one true God.

Wikipedia says Scientologists hold a common belief that psychiatry and psychology are destructive and abusive fields, which much be abolished.

I say leave well enough alone and to each his own. If psychiatry and psychology were destructive and abusive, then there are some very close friends that I should be worried about. I've seen friends over the years who were destructive and abusive themselves (or were involved in those types of relationships with family members or significant others) and psychiatry and psychology, along with a whole heap of prayer, were the ONLY thing that saved them.

From my point of very, these two methods of medicine (psychiatry and psychology) are very much a way of processing thoughts and feelings as well as figuring out what chemical effects of the body have on the brain and the nervous system. Don't quote me though. I was a broadcasting and PR major. I can't quote the periodic table, but beware of my editor's eye and strong need to correct news, sports and pop culture facts. But I digress.

Anyway, my point is, I'm going to prayer very hard for the Travolta family. First, for their loss because that is extremely hard. But more importantly for their immense need to see God work in their lives. I pray that God will show himself as ruler of the universe, healer and destroyer of all things evil and maybe even most importantly, a loving, forgiving, protective, passionate, can-live-without-us-but-doesn't-want-to God who pursues a deep and meaningful relationship with us all and chose us to be his before we were even one atom.

There may not be undisputable/irrefutable evidence (as they say in the NCAA and NFL rulebook) for the existance of one supreme being, but I've got evidence in my life that I am loved without a doubt by something bigger and more powerful that I could ever imagine being.

And you know what they say.

Faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains.

Final Post Of '08

This is the last post for me in 2008 and it's a little weird. I feel some changesoming on in my life but that's a whole different post for another day. And it will be coming soon.

Right now, I'm enjoying the evening with my bff Bethany and we just got in from eating some fantastic seafood at a restaurant called Tin Top in Gulf Shores. We decided to forego The Wharf tonight since it's freakin' cold outside and we know it will be packed. No worries. We sent her parents out to check it out and they will report back. Good thing we are close enough to see the fireworks from her house.

Just finished watching the Rockin' New Year's Eve and I don't know about you, but sweet Dick Clark needs to hang it up, in my opinion. As much as Dick is a huge part of New Year's Eve, I felt like I needed closed-captioning to understand what he was saying tonight. Good thing Ryan Secrest, Dick Clark incarnate, is ready to step up to the plate once Dick decides to give it up for good.

What a motley crew they had on the platform with Secrest to watch the ball drop, eh?!? (And I think I just became Canadian there.) Lionel Richie, the Jones Bros, Taylor Swift and Demi Levoto (sp?). I think you could cut the tension with a knife between ex-lovas Joe Jonas and Taylor Swift (and it scares me how much I know about the Disney relationship drama).

And Kelly Pickler is too cute. No?

Okay, I must go watch this crazy Robbie Maddison guy try to jump over the moon. Death wish? Maybe.

Home Sweet Home

I'm on my second day at home (well, my first full day at home) for the holidays, and I couldn't be more fulfilled right now.

I got home in time to go to a friend's wedding yesterday afternoon and what a wonderful event it was. It was such a display of what a wedding truly means and I was so grateful to have been there and seen people I haven't seen in such a long time.

From there we went to my sister and brother-in-law's church (First Baptist Florence) to see their Christmas program and it was fantastic. We even went back again tonight and it was even better. We were able to see some of Ross's family that I definitely haven't seen in a while and it was great to see them.

As I sat listening to the music of this wonderful program my amazing brother-in-law put together, I was overwhelmed with all that is associated with this season -- the birth of Christ, what it means, what it led to and what it has meant for my life.

And then it hit me, how many people don't even know this story or just don't even care. As I sat and listened to the words of the songs and watched the video of the birth of Christ and then the death of Christ, tears streamed down my face.

What an impact these two events have had on my life, even just in the past few years. I've been a Christian since I was seven, and I confirmed that fact when I was 14 and struggling with some doubts, but only recently have I fully grasped that Christ has completely transformed me from the sinful being that I was born as. Yes, I still struggle with sin. Everyday. We all do. But I now know that Christ in me can defeat, and has already defeated, any temptation that comes my way. I just have to trust and believe that with God, nothing is impossible.

The song that really struck a chord (no pun intended) with me tonight was originally sung by Natalie Grant, one of my favorite contemporary music singers. It's called, "I've Believe". Here are a few of the lyrics.

I believe
The wise men saw
The baby born that the angels called the son of God, Heaven’s child
The great I AM
Born to take away my sins through nailed pierced hands
Emmanuel has come

And I believe
Precious child
How can it be that God’s great plan
For his story
Would send you to the lonely tree
That you would come
For one like me

I believe
In a cross
I believe he came for one, he came for all
Heaven's child became a plan
Gave his life for me in spite of all I am
I believe

This is such a declaration that all Christians should be exclaiming to everyone they meet. This is such great news. This GOD became a man, suffered and took on the wrath of the Father for ALL people so that we would not have to suffer it ourselves. And for what? Because of love. WOW!

See I'm one of those people with whom it doesn't take a lot to convince me of something. I'm more prone to believe than not to believe. I believed in Santa until I was 11 years old. And I still love to believe in him. It just gives Christmas a completely different feeling. Like there's more hope or more to look forward to. I believe in GOD a billion times more than I believe in Santa Claus. I can't really explain it. There's just a completely different feeling. I've seen so much evidence of GOD in my own life and in many of my family members' and friends' lives that it's too hard not to believe. And he just keeps showing himself. It's so exciting!

My hope is that you are experiencing that same completely different feeling. And if you aren't, seek it. Be desperate for it. Find it. Or better yet, quit hiding and let God find you. And when he does, and you get that feelings, relish in it. Because that is as good as it gets...until we get to Heaven.
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On a completely different note. I thought I should post the answers to my fun little movie quote quiz and then add a few bonus questions for good measures.

Here are the answers:
1. 10 Things I Hate About You
2. Elf
3. A Christmas Story
4. The Wizard Of Oz
5. Remember The Titans.
6. You've Got Mail
7. Christmas Vacation
8. My Fair Lady
9. Hoosiers
10. Shawshank Redemption
11. The Holiday
12. Polar Express
13. Rookie Of The Year
14. The Replacements
15. Dangerous Minds

And a few for good measure. Are you as good as you think you are?
1. You will be different, sometimes you'll feel like an outcast, but you'll never be alone. You will make my strength your own. You will see my life through your eyes, as your life will be seen through mine. The son becomes the father and the father becomes the son.

2. A vigilante is just a man lost in the scramble for his own gratification. He can be destroyed, or locked up. But if you make yourself more than just a man, if you devote yourself to an ideal, and if they can't stop you, then you become something else entirely.

3. Remember kid, there's heroes and there's legends. Heroes get remembered but legends never die, follow your heart kid, and you'll never go wrong.

Leave your guesses in the comments!

Bored much?

I've seen this going around and since I love movies so much (only 5 more days until the annual TBS Christmas Eve Marathon of A Christmas Story!), I thought I'd do my own version of the game.

I've picked some of my favorite movies and grabbed quotes out of each of them. Guess the movie quote. If you want to play, leave your answers in the comments.

1. Don't ever let anyone make you feel like you don't deserve what you want.

2. Well, there are some things you should know. First off, you see gum on the street, leave it there. It isn't free candy.

3. Aunt Clara had for years labored under the delusion that I was not only perpetually 4 years old, but also a girl.

4. A heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others.

5. You take a look at her. Cause once you step on that bus you aint got your mama no more. You got your brothers on the team and you got your daddy. You know who your daddy is, doncha? Gary, if you want to play on this football team, you answer me when I ask you who is your daddy? Who's your daddy, Gary? Who's your daddy?

6. Once I read a story about a butterfly in the subway, and today, I saw one. It got on at 42nd, and off at 59th, where, I assume it was going to Bloomingdales to buy a hat that will turn out to be a mistake - as almost all hats are.

7. I don't know if I oughta go sailin' down no hill with nothin' between the ground and my brains but a piece of government plastic.

8. Come on, Dover, move yer bloomin' arse!

9. Strap, God wants you on the floor.

10. I find I'm so excited, I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it's the excitement only a free man can feel, a free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain. I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend, and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope.

11. Iris, in the movies we have leading ladies and we have the best friend. You, I can tell, are a leading lady, but for some reason you are behaving like the best friend.

12. At one time most of my friends could hear the bell, but as years passed it fell silent for all of them. Even Sarah found one Christmas that she could no longer hear its sweet sound. Though I've grown old the bell still rings for me, as it does for all who truly believe.

13. Hey, your mom has a pretty good arm! I ain't seen the floater pitch since Scuffy McGee!

14. I wish I could say something classy and inspirational, but that just wouldn't be our style. Pain heals. Chicks dig scars. Glory... lasts forever.

15. What should i tell them? If they dont want to die remember to knock?

AND NO CHEATING!!!

Broadway Light and Snowy Days

Today's One Minute Writer prompt is Broadway. I couldn't pass up this subject since it's one of my favorites. Being a child of a music teacher and musical lover, and the sister of a music teacher and musical lover and former Broadway star "wannebe", Broadway has always been a big part of my life.

Even when I was little, I was always watching video tapes of musicals. I learned to love the stage and always wanted to be the star. And the Tony Awards are a special occassion for my sister and me.

I always went to see the touring musicals that would come to Jackson and was always around when my mom's students would do school musicals. My sister and I also loved to make up our own musicals and perform them for family members.

I can remember the first time I actually when to a musical on Broadway in New York. I was a freshman in high school and we went to see Titanic: The Musical. We sat on the front row, and I cried. It was amazing. The music was great and the acting was even better. We were sitting right above the orchestra and you could see to the side of the stage people waiting in the wings for their cues to go on.

Two years later, I saw the ultimate show, The Phantom of the Opera. It was, yet again, amazing! No wonder it has been running for so many years. It's incredible! My favorite seen while always be "Masquerade". The costumes are unlike anything and that song is so powerful.

Then for my senior trip, we went to London. While we were there, we saw The Lion King. Oh my. Wow! If that show doesn't change your life I don't know what will. The costumes are crazy inventive, with headdresses and animals attached to characters and such. And the voices. Oh, the voices. I have no words for them. We were on the second row for this and I was sitting on the very end. During the first number, Circle of Life, the animals come down the aisles from the back. So for 75% of the song, I was face-to-face with actors and actresses in full costumes, interacting with me. It was incredible.

After the show, we got to go to the alleyway where the stage door is and meet some of the cast. The kids that played young Nala and Simba were so great. I don't see how they did it. They do the show for two weeks and then go to school for three and so on.

Seeing that I have a song for everything, my life pretty much revolves around music. It makes me happy. There's nothing like a good song to put me in a good mood and if I can sing it, that's even better.

On a completely different subject, I woke up to snow this morning. We are in Greensboro, N.C., for the Southern Conference Volleyball Tournament and it's cold. Really cold. We woke up to a sheet of white on the ground this morning. Definitely not snow plow worthy but it was snow. I thought our trainer was going to pee his pants. Anyway, it was fun to see and I took a quick snapshot to share.

Randomness In My Head

I don't have anything to blog about today but yet I feel like I'm about to open the floodgate and write book.

I've decided that I'm going to work on a blog idea for sometime down the road. I won't tell you what it is because if I don't deliver, I don't want anyone to be mad. I'll just say it's probably going to be more of a cathartic and creative release for me than it will be entertaining for you. But if you enjoy it, that will make me smile.

I'm struggling with the fact that it's ONLY Wednesday, but yet it's ALREADY Wednesday. Once you think the merry-go-round is going to slow down and the ride is coming to a close, someone just puts another quarter in and it gets faster and faster. I can hear the kids in the back yelling, "Faster! Faster! We need another master!" I'm starting to feel a little woozy. "Slower. Slower. Or I'll end up on the floor." Geez.

Someone was talking about their 10-year high school reunion today. My sister just had hers. Ha. She's old. But I can't laugh. That just means in three years, it will be 10 years since I graduated. That started me thinking...what will my high school reunion be like? Will we even have one? Does anyone care? I remember in our senior prophesies that we did in the newspaper that Emma was the most likely to be planning our high school reunion in 10 years. I hope she remembers that. Funny that I remember that, and I don't remember my own. It was probably something like, "In 10 years, Katie will be making up the next great cheer," or "In 10 years, Katie will be sitting at the news desk next to Matt Lauer." Who knows. Neither of those happened. I'm going to have to find that paper and read what it really says.

Last night, I watched the recap of Dancing With The Stars. Warren Sapp is insanely good at ballroom dancing for a 300-pounder. Sure his feet are horrible but who cares when he gets you looking at his crazy face instead of his feet. And have I mentioned this before? Lance Bass is SO NOT gay. Have you seen the way he interacts with Lacey. There are just too many questionable actions by Mr. Bass. And I think Lacey has a secret crush on Lance. Lance and Lacey. The names just fit. I think he played the gay card to get some attention and to get on DWTS. Maybe the Russians brainwashed him into thinking he was same-sex oriented while he was training to be a cosmonaut. I declare shenanigans!

I'm going to actually have a free Friday night this weekend. I think it should be considered a national holiday. I haven't had many of these this year. Plus, actually get somewhat of a Saturday night and I get a whole Sunday afternoon to myself. I can't believe it. I just wish I had friends to visit (ahem, Bethany! Just kidding. I know you're crazy busy.) but I may just enjoy laying around Friday night and Sunday afternoon because I can and I won't get many more of those this year.

I think I may be going to New York this summer for a mission trip with my parents' church, First Baptist Church of Jackson. The choir is taking a trip up there to do a few concerts and then mostly missions. My mom presented the idea to me, I was pumped and she said she'd see if the music minister would be game for me going. So far, he's said that he would love for me to go and I'm pumped. It's been a dream of mine to go back to New York since I went twice in high school and it's been a more recent dream to go and do missions. I'm pretty excited about the kind we will be doing to. We will be working with the Bowery Mission and Teen Challenge.

Well, it's 5:22, I've done all my work, and I'm hungry. I'm headed home to eat and watch some more 24 with Kelly, Raymond and Josh. Woohoo! Jack Bauer, here I come!

Don't Taste This Rainbow

Chocolate Skittles. Have you seen this? Moreover, have you tasted this? I'm not a fan.

Today, Rucker, one of our assistant baseball coaches, let me sample this not-so-tasty delight. I did not like it at all.

I'm a Skittles fan. Seriously. It's like a party in my mouth. I literally "Taste The Rainbow." I even have my own obsessive compulsive system of eating them. I pour the whole bag out, separate them in to color groups, then I make ever group an even number. I then proceed to eat the castaways from least to favorite color, making sure to donate the yellows to the less fortunate, or just throw them away. Next, I eat each color group by two, from least to favorite color as well. I know, I know. It's crazy. But I've done it since I can remember.

So, today when Rucker introduced me to the Chocolate Skittles, I thought, "This could be interesting." Readers, let me inform you, there is no such thing as a chocolate rainbow: a) they all taste the same and b) the aftertaste is horrible. Stay away.

Feel free to taste the fruity rainbow. Not the chocolate one. I don't even think this would please chocolate lovers.

Transition:

When I was in high school, we had a competition called "Colonel Classics." It's where every class (sophomore, juniors, seniors - freshman got to help behind the scenes) got together every year and wrote their own 30-45 minute play, adding music and dancing to it. It was a big production. Really. Huge competiton. The winner got bragging rights for the next year.

Anyway, my junior year, our play was called "Taste The Rainbow". (We always had crazy titles. My sophomore year was called "Smack: The Mouse Does Motown" and my senior year was "Wee Bee Buggin'".) It was about an island, Rainbow Island, on which one side was inhabited by the Color People and the other side was "The Dark Side" where the prince with no color lived with his motley crew.

Every year, the Color People held a Rainbow Festival to "present the colors" for the rainbow to appear. Color crystals were dropped into a pot (i.e. the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow) and after a cute little step/dance routine from the Prism Patrol (holders of the crystals)...ta-da...the rainbow appears. (Yes, I was the white girl with rhythm, stepping on the prism patrol.)

Anyway, so the Dark Prince devises a plan to steal the crystals so the Color People can know what it is like to live with no color. Long story short, crystal are stolen, crystals are found, Dark Prince learns how to "feel emotions" and they live happily ever after.

During our finally, we threw out bags of Skittles. Fun times. Sometimes I miss those days.

Anyway, all the Skittles talk made me think of that. And all the talk of rainbows made me think of my favorite movie and favorite song, "Somewhere Over The Rainbow," from The Wizard Of Oz."

I thought I'd share my favorite renditions of the song. Starting with American Idol's Katherine McPhee.

And finally, the original...Judy Garland

Weekend Update and Monday Monday

Well, this weekend was my first trip of the season with the Samford volleyball team. I do have to say that I think we will be better this year, but I don't want to say too much to ginx them. I often do that with my MState Bulldogs -- I say they should win six games one season and they end up winning only three. Whatever.

I think the girls are much better this year. We have two really good freshman and one who hasn't really had a chance to prove herself yet. Plus, team morale is much better this year. I think the negativity has been laid to rest and they really are thinking positively. I really think that they just need to win a couple of games and get a taste of what it feels like to win, so they can win more than six matches this year. They played some really tough teams this weekend and at times they played well so I think it was good to go up against some tough teams before the season really gets going.

The weekend was all-in-all good except for the part where I got sick to my stomach in Ruby Tuesday on Friday. I ordered the two mini-burgers with the salad bar and those who know me know that I love me some black olives. Friday was no different. I headed up to the salad bar and piled the olives onto my salad. I finished my salad and started working on my burgers, but I could only get one burger down before my stomach started to feel full. I didn't really understand it and I though that maybe it was because I had eaten a big lunch that my stomach was full...that is, until I started feeling a little quezzy and high-tailed it, in an ever so nonchalant way to the ladies' room. No one expected a thing.

I flinged the door open and headed for the nearest stall and it all came up. The poor girl next to me shouted, "Are you okay? Do you want me to get your friends?"

I finally was able to answer her, "Nope. I'm good. Thanks you though," all the while thinking, "This girl probably things I have an eating disorder. Greeeeeaaaat."

Anyway, ten minutes later, I'm perfectly fine, sitting back at the table, no one knows anything. It wasn't until I was back at the hotel in the room telling my parents what happened on the phone, when anyone knew what had happened. Lindsay, our cute little blond-haired pixie of an assistant coach walked in on my convo and immediately exclaimed, "You did what at the restaurant? Are you pregnant?" As my eyes grew somewhat bug-like, I politely said, "No way," and continued my conversation. Later I went and got a Sprite from the Coke machine and ruffled through my back to find some Ritz crackers.

I started munching because I was so incredibly hungry, and Lindsay says, "Sprite and crackers. That's a pregnant woman's snack." I quickly replied with, "Well, my sister eats grapes but it unless this is the 'Immaculate Conception #2', I don't think we have anything to worry about.

Come to find out, it was the olives because "Matt the Trainer" (as I call him) was the only other person to have black olives, although not a pile like me, and he said he got sick at about midnight the night before.

Anyway, the rest of the trip was great besides the two losses but our girls sure do know how to eat. We had breakfast at Cracker Barrell (Yum!) and then ate dinner at Jason's Deli (Yum! Yum! They have free soft-serve.)

That is pretty much my weekend in a nutshell. On to Monday....

Today is the first day of classes at Samford. I think we are the only university in the nation, or at least on the east coast that starts this late. Of course, this has it's bad points like not being able to find parking spaces and random new kids standing in the middle of the street while cars are trying to pass. However, it also has it's good points too -- like having some of my favorite student workers back around. (Shout out to Ruth, Lydia, Megan, Gavin, Mejia (Jessica is her first name), and Kat.) I was so happy to see these kids back in action today (although Gav does get a little annoying and can bring office production to a screeching halt every once in a while). Not only is it just exciting to have them back in the office to talk to and find out what they did all summer, but that means a load off of us around here. Yay for fun student workers!

I'll leave you with a few tidbits of news/info that I've found interesting over the past few days.

1. The Little Dooey has once again been given a much-desired Herbie Award by famous and good-looking ESPN sportscaster Kirk Herbstreit.

2. MSU president Robert H. "Doc" Foglesong has started growing a beard and vows to not shave until the Bulldogs win. (I'm usually an optimist but I would have to tell ol' "Doc" he's going to have to wait a few weeks.)

3. Lindsay Lohan has cocaine charges completely dropped. Someone get me the number for her lawyer. Maybe he/she can get me out of some speeding tickets.

"If I were a normal person, I'd be doing six months to a year for two felonys dealing with cocaine. It good to be Lindsey Lohan!"

A "Wicked" Awesome Show

The people who know me know my love for music, especially musical theatre. Seeing that my mom is a music teacher, she fueled my sister's and my love for music from the very beginning. Our family has a song for everything -- it's usually a show tune or a "golden oldie" and it drives my dad crazy. I think between my mom, my sister and I, we know every word to just about every song there has been written. Anyway, back to the point of this blog...I've been fortunate to see a few shows live, on Broadway, in NYC and London. My freshman year of high school I saw "Titanic: The Musical" in NYC and was able to go back my junior year and see the legendary "Phantom of the Opera". I was on the front row for "Titanic", and it was incredible. I was face to face with the actors the whole time. I could see in the wings on the stage the people getting ready to go on, and this was so cool to be, since my sister and I were aspiring musical thespians, she more so than I. She was the star -- the girl with the voice of the angel. At school, I was known as the girl who's sister could sing really well. I also saw "The Lion King" in London and I cried. I was on the second row for that, on the aisle, and if you know anything about this musical, it's great to be on the end because the opening number includes the animals coming down the aisle. It was incredible! I really think I cried through the whole thing. The music and the characters and especially the costumes are so moving!

Anyway, the Tony Awards have always been something to look forward to in my family, well at least to my mom, my sister and me -- along with the Miss Mississippi Pageant (which usually entails my mom and I bashing about 90% of the competition, wondering why the Top 10 made the Top 10 and then me proclaiming that we are going to hell for being so judgmental.) Ok, but anyway, I missed the Tonys this year because I was in Honduras, but I haven't missed one before and I fell in love with a new musical called, "Wicked" when I watched them a few years ago.

It's supposed to be the story of Glinda the Good Witch and the Wicked Witch from The Wizard of Oz before Dorothy ever came to the land of Oz. The two went to school together and were supposedly friends until Elphaba, the Wicked Witch, is melted.

This musical intrigued me because of my intense love for The Wizard of Oz in general. I am obsessed with the movie. I watched it at least three times a week when I was little. I wanted to play Dorothy all my life until I was able to do it my senior year of high school. I even did a speech my freshman year in college in speech class about the myths of The Wizard of Oz.

Although I've never seen the musical in it's entirety, I've seen several scenes from the play on many talk shows, on YouTube and on the Tonys.

I've wanted the soundtrack since the first time I heard about it and just this past week I broke down and bought it.

Ladies and gentleman...IT IS FANTASTIC!!! Probably THE best I've ever heard! Definitely rivaling Lion King and Aida (sorry, Laurette). The music is just so unique. It matches the tone of the musical perfectly. The harmonies are incredible, the lyrics are on point and the players/actors/actresses/singers are so incredibly good! Kristin Chenoweth (who was Marian in the TV version of "The Music Man" and Rooster's hooch of a girlfriend in the TV version of "Annie") is so fantastic as Glinda. She can't be more than five-foot-two, but she has a voice as big as the Empire State Building. She's amazing! Not only that, but Idina Menzel (who played Maureen in "Rent" and is also married to the talented-but-hunky Tay Diggs) plays Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the East. She is just as incredible. The passion that she puts into every bit of that character is unbelievable. Her facial expressions and the way that she portrays the character are incredible. And her voice is out of this world!

Anyway, I've listened to the soundtrack since I got it on Tuesday night. I almost know every word now and am waiting for the call to star in Birmingham's production of the show.

I've found a few clips from the show starring Chenoweth and Menzel -- some of my favorite songs from the play. Here they are...enjoy!

Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel performing "Defying Gravity"


Kristin Chenoweth singing "Popular"

My fav song "For Good"...this video is kind of the story behind the song but at least you get to hear Chenoweth and Menzel sing it


P.S. Today, or should I say yesterday, was my sister and her husband's 5th wedding anniversary. It's hard to believe that they have been married that long and even harder to believe that she's five months prego and we will have a new little boy in our family in November. I just wanted to wish them a Happy Anniversary and I hope they are having a great week in New Orleans visiting Ross's family and then on the beach relaxing. They both need it...big time! I hope that one day God will bring a man in my life that is even half the stud that Ross is. He's such a man of God and has been the best husband to Anna and will be the best father.

Happy Anniversary Anna and Ross!

Bye, Bye Rosie!

Rosie is gone! She told ABC's officials that she would like "an early leave" and I'm pretty sure it has to do with the developments of the past week. I'm sure she's fed up with having her words spun and has tucked tail and run the other way. All I have to say is...good riddance! Elisabeth (I just realized that I spelled her name wrong in my blog the other day) completely put Rosie in her place earlier this week and I think it embarassed to her...enough to make her leave. Donald Trump used the word "self-destructive" to describe Rosie and as much it pains me to agree with Mr. Trump, I have to say that that term is dead-on. Her big mouth gets her in trouble and her actions are "self-destructive". I'm sitting here watching this woman on Nancy Grace (I didn't catch was her name was) saying that Rosie outted Elisabeth for what she was doing -- that being not supporting Rosie on camera like she did off camera and for playing the "conservative, Christian big-breasted preganant card". OH...and Nancy Grace called her out on that and totally cut her off and went to commercial. Mad props, Nance! I LOVE IT!

Anyway, to make things better ABC News confirmed that a Rosie staffer was escorted from the building that "The View" is filmed in for "defacing" photos of Elisabeth Hasselbeck. The culprit was found drawing mustaches and other things on the oversized photos and was immediately escorted from the building. How childish can you get?!?! I'm would hope that this person was just a random Rosie fan and not someone that Rosie would associate with. If so, Rosie needs mental help.

Anyway, if you want more info on the sitch, here are links to the story on Rosie's leaving and the "Defacing Debacle".

Rosie's Leaving:
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Story?id=3212816&page=1

Defacing Debacle:
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20040297,00.html

Rosie Needs To Go-zee!

Rosie O'Donnell has completely lost it and to let it be known, I would not shed a tear if she absolutely fell off the face of the Earth a this very moment. I know God doesn't like me to say that about other people but after the stunts that she has pulled in the past few months, I think the world would be a better place without her. I truly pray for conviction in her heart, not conviction for the sins that she outwardly displays in her lifestyle, but for the way that she treats people on a day to day basis.

First "The Donald"...now Elizabeth, and Ms. O'Donnell wants to play the media victim in every situation. She announced yesterday on the view that's she's not going to argue with Elizabeth anymore because the media always spins it as "Big, fat, lesbian loud Rosie attacks poor, innocent, Christian Elizabeth". Sorry to speak the truth Rosie but no one is spinning anything in the news. They are exposing you for who you are.

Take a look:



I am an adamant believer in free speech but Rosie, you speak to people like they are in kindergarten and, whether you mean to or not, the tone in which you speak to people is attacking. You have brought all of this "bad publicity" and attention on yourself, beginning with your duel with Donald Trump. And I'm convinced that that is exactly the way you want it. You could have chosen the high road and "been a grown-up" and not retaliated to his comments, but making fun of him and speaking down on him stirred up a feud, and you brought it on yourself, whether you want to admit it or not.

Just because Elizabeth is the only level-headed Christian at that table everyday who appears to be innocent and easy to walk all over, doesn't mean you have to take advantage of that. Personally, I think she has shown in the past few months that she's not going to be a doormat for Rosie and Joy to wipe their feet on before they step up on their political soapboxes to talk out of their rear-ends. Many props to Elizabeth for keeping her cool and being professional while being a victim in all of this. If anyone is spinning things, it's Rosie. She takes every word that comes out of Elizabeth's mouth and turns it around. For instance, when Elizabeth said, "Our enemies in Iraq..." A sane person would have known that she was talking about the terrorist group Al Queda but Rosie had to turn it around as her saying that the country of Iraq is our enemy because the WHOLE country of Iraq attacked us. That is clearly not what she said.

I'm convinced that Rosie O'Donnell is completely and utterly paranoid. She feels that because she is in the "minority" as a lesbian, non-Christian, feminist that she always has to defend herself, even when a situation doesn't even concern her. This belief also obviously gives her the right to say whatever she wants to say with no consequences. Well, Rosie, your time for consequences will come. Two words: Judgment Day.

It's sad that in a day like this, in the world that we live in, a person can't express their Christian beliefs freely -- beliefs that this nation was founded upon and beliefs that give people like Rosie O'Donnell the right to speak freely -- without getting verbally, emotionally and politically attacked.

I may not agree with some of the things that Elizabeth says but I do stand by her in saying this: George Bush is our president. The nation elected him to that position. If you don't like it, you should have rallied around your favorite candidate in 2004 better when you had the chance. Why call for a president's impeachment eight months before the end of his term? It would take eight months for the monkeys in Washington, D.C., to make a decision anyway. It's going to do more harm to the country than there is now. No one is perfect. Not one. Not one person on "The View" panel, not one person in Washington, D.C., and not one person in this world. If you are looking for the perfect person to run this country, or if you are looking for a person to fun the country that is not going screw up once in a while, then you're not going to find one. You want a perfect leader? You want someone to come run this country that's not going mess up once in a while, Rosie? Grab a Bible, get to know Jesus Christ, and ask him to come reign over this country with his perfectness because he's the only perfect leader you're going to get. You want a perfect president? Wait until Jesus Christ comes back to claim his kingdom. You'll be wishing you voted for Him.

I agree that we've got to get out of Iraq soon before we have more dead bodies coming back to America than living soldiers. BUT...our nation was attacked. The lifeblood of our nation, our economy, was attacked and continues to be attacked and we CANNOT just sit back and look at the remains. Like "W" said this morning, we have to be on the offense. ALWAYS. We are the STRONGEST, most POWERFUL nation on this planet and if we curl up in a corner in the fetal position and surrender to the terrorists who are no more than Satan's pawns, we show the countries who depend on us for their well-being, countries in Africa whose food and medical supply come straight from the U.S. and Great Britain, that we are no better than they are and there is no point in depending on a nation that can't defend itself.

Whatever happened to the loveable Rosie who had her own show where she gave away endless amount of free gifts? The Rosie who was always happy, never had a bad word to say, and endlessly crushing on sweet "Tommy" Cruise? "Tommy, can ya hear me?" The Rosie who had "Tony Week" every year to pay homage to the Broadway community?

I can't wait for the day that Grossy Rosie leaves "The View" and I hope that Barbara Walters has learned her lesson. Ratings don't alway equal credibility. I used to want to be just like Barbara Walters. To me, she was one of the most powerful women in the world and the most amazing journalist this world has seen or will ever see again. But the moment she chose to replace Meredith with Rosie, was the moment she lost credibility in my eyes. No matter what the ratings say, since the appearance of Rosie O'Donnell on "The View", that show has crumbled to a point of disgrace and horror to where it would take a miracle to get it back to where it used to be.