Suggestions anyone?

First things first...WATER IS BACK ON! WOOHOO! I now don't have to drive two miles down the road to take a shower or use the bathroom. Yay!

Second...this blog was on Blogger's blogs of note today. It's called One-Minute Writer. It's a fun little page that give you suggestions everyday on what to write. Today's is kind of blah - the weekend. Everyone pretty much does that already. However, it has suggested some pretty clever things. So if you ever get stuck for something to write about, like I sometimes do, especially during NaBloPoMo, go to OneMinuteWriter and pick up a suggestion.

Water Woes

Well, the deadline has come and gone for water service to be restored to our home on Woodvale Lane. My thoughts: This is crap!

They are supposedly coming "sometime today" to turn it back on, but someone has to be there to "supervise", I'm guessing. Well, Kel's in Miami and I HAVE to be at work today. We have basketball tonight and it's a short week for me because of the conference volleyball tournament.

Hopefully Josh won't mind spending his free time today (Dude has free time everyday. No school. No job. Just a boy on wheels) at our house waiting on the water guys to come. If not, I'll be prostrate on the cold ground tonight when I get home with my hands down a dark hole trying to turn a mystery knob.

I kept dreaming last night that they my water was turned back on and when I woke up this mornig, nothing. I had to go to work and shower and then I realized that I packed capris instead of pants so I had to go back home to get the right wardrobe. Usually a person wouldn't mind going into work at 11 a.m. but not after you've been running around like a chicken with its head cut off.

This too shall pass.

"Don't let anyone or anything steal your joy." -My daddy

James Bond, Dorothy Gale, Justin Timberlake and Beyonce

Today a neighbor knocked on my door and gave me three free tickets to see the new James Bond movie. Score! It was good. Lots of action. Maybe too much action. But then again, it's James Bond we're talking about here. I still think Casino Royale is better. Oh, by the way, there's a new The Fast and the Furious movie coming out. It's the same title, just without the "the". All the original people are in it. It look like it may actually be good. Well, see about that.

I'm watching The Wizard of Oz for the third time this weekend. I love TBS.

Did anyone see Justin Timberlake on SNL last night? This kid is freakin' hilarious. They did a sketch spoofing Beyonce's new video of "Single Ladies". The story is that her male choreographer dressed up in drag and was one of the two girls dancing behind her in the video. So SNL spoofed it and had JT, Andy Sandberg (funny dude) and a new guy as the back-up dancers. The kicker was that they were just gay dudes (no drag) in leotards. Pretty freakin' hilarious. Go here to see the video of it.

Here's the actual music video. See if you can figure out which girl isn't.



The choreography actually looks like a few drill team dances I saw back in high school done by the likes of Jim Hill and Provine. I actually think there was a guy in my class that made up a similar dance for one of our Colonel's Classic numbers but it got vetoed.

Only eight more hours (hopefully) until I have running water again. Yay!

Circle The Wagons

Well, I'm officially livin' it up pioneer-style for the next 36 hours (at least) when it comes to water her on Woodvale Lane. The water was shut off due to a miscommunication between several people and it can't be fixed until Monday (A note to the water company: I know you enjoy your weekend and everything but when I can't shower and use the bathroom at my own house, your weekend is no longer an option.).

So after I left work today, I went and bought four gallon jugs of water so that I could at least potty and wash my face in my own home instead of driving to the nearest gas station or the two miles to my office.

I was lucky enough to have a friend/coworker that lives right down the street from me who let me use her bathroom this morning to get ready for work. Unfortunately, she's now in Tuscaloosa and won't be back until tomorrow night. So, I'll live with going to shower at work tomorrow morning and hopefully the water will be back on before I get up on Monday.

But for the time being, I'll be using the basin method and the pour-and-flush method until then.

I do have to stop and say that it has definitely made me appreciate the little things like running water. Believe it or not, it's a luxury. Thank God that we live in a country where we have access to things like that. Many countries around the world do not. And several places in our own country don't even have that luxury.

I did want to share a couple of pictures I took today while at football. The day began way too yucky with cold weather and dark clouds. Soon the rains came. They didn't last incredibly long and this was the result after it stopped...

A beautiful rainbow. This was only half of it though. It was huge. I love rainbows. They are just so beautiful and such a display of God's glory. There were so many colors in it too. It just reminds me of the promise God made to us after the Great Flood.

Later on the sun came out and it was just a neat color of yellow. I took a couple of pictures of it but I'm not sure how the color comes through on them. I wanted to share them anyway.

It was very neat. I hope everyone has had a great Saturday!

Dear November...

Dear November,

As much as it sucks sometimes, cloudy and cold is where you belong. Stick with it. Today is good. Remember that time, my sophomore year of college, when you brough rain every Thursday. Yeah, let's not repeat that. But as long as you know that 55 degrees should be your maximum, we're good. I have a lot of cute sweaters and coats in my closet that are screaming to be worn, but they won't get their moment in the spotlight if you don't deliver. Seventy degrees is not accomodating. Remember that.

Sincerely,

Relishing in the cold weather which makes me get more in the holiday spirit.

What the...!!! Really?!?!

Have you ever had one of those days when things happened and you're just like, "What the...really?!?!" 

Today is one of those days for me.

The first part of the day went pretty well. I did a decent amount of work (ha) and helped out a friend at UAB who needed someone to fill in at a basketball game. Blah, blah, blah.

I left work at around 5:30, anticipating what a great night it was going to be to just sit on the couch, watch movies and just have Katie time. I like Katie time. And I don't get it very often these days. 

So I headed down to B-A-M (Books-A-Million) to buy my own copy of The Shack, but William Young. I've been reading my roommate's copy and I can't put it down. If you haven't read this book, go now, and buy it. You won't regret it. I wish I had the money to buy everyone that I know a copy of it because it's just that good. So good you want everyone else to read it. It's about a guy who goes through a pretty tough time and he gets an invitation to a shack in the middle of the woods and has a pretty neat encounter with God. That's all you get. You'll have to read to know the rest.

Anyway, so I left there to go grab something to eat. Good thing (this story comes later). I'd been craving a Lenny's Sub all day since I heard a guy talking about it earlier today. So I ran by the bank to get some money out of the ATM and then headed to Lenny's.

All is a go since the sign is blazing "OPEN" and the usual lady was inside. I walk in and she drops the bomb..."We're outta bread, hun."

"WHAT THE...?????" was my reply. "How are you out of bread? Isn't that like one of the major ingredients of a Lenny's Sub?"

She comes back with, "They made a lot of party trays today."

Me, "Well, next time, let's keep the party trays to a minimum. This party of one just wanted a sandwich."

How does a sandwich shop run out of bread? The same way KFC runs out of chicken I guess. (And yes, I've been to KFC on several occasions and they've been out of chicken. All they had left were chitlins and gizzards. Um, no thanks. I'll pass.

So, I'm steamed and I head to Sonic...because Sonic never disappoints. And nothing else can make me feel better than a cup of Sonic ice. Ok, well maybe cookie cake but I've got to take what I can get at this point.

So, I go by Blockbuster and grab three movies and head home to get started on Katie's night at home alone. Some people would hate that, but at this point, I'm surrounded by people enough all day, everyday, one night at home alone is HEAVEN for me. 

As I finished the first movie (Sex and the City. I've watched the TBS episodes and basically, Carrie Bradshaw can rattle of some gems of wisdom every now and then but I've never been much for the title. The movie was pretty good, once you fast-forward though the few yucky parts. I wouldn't buy it.), anyway, as I finished the first movie, I went to go wash my face and to my surprise, NO WATER. Nothing. I go to the kitchen, NOTHING again. 

Comes to find out, the roomie (whose house it is) has never gotten a water bill since we moved here in July. She paid to get it turned on and then has never gotten another statement. What the...?

Anyway, so I'm glad I have a cousin that lives in town, two co-workers who live within a quarter of a mile of my house and that I work at a place where there is unlimited access to showers. (I have experience with this. I had to shower and get ready at work for a week in July when we didn't have hot water.)

So instead of complaining that I don't have water at all, I'm going to be thankful that I at least have resources and roof over my head and the money to afford to have a roof over my head. 

Hey, maybe it will just keep raining and in the morning, I can go out back and shower in the natural resources like the Aborigines do. Ok maybe not. The 15-year-old neighbor boy might like that too much. 

Coolness In Japan

My dad sent this to me via email and it was too cool not to share. Now, I'm entertained by the smallest of things, but this is really neat. I sat at my computer, just staring, with my mouth open followed by the occassional "Oh my wow!" or "Now that's just cool." I hope you find it cool too.

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!

TITF #6: 24 and Online TV

Today I'm thankful for the greatest show on Earth: 24. I can't believe the new season premiere in two weeks and I'm going to be on a bus on the way back from Greensboro, N.C. (At least I hope that's the case because that would mean we are on our way back to Birmingham with a conference championship under our belt.)

Anyway, this show gives me a thrill that nothing else does. I'm not really sure what thrill that is, but, nevertheless, there is a thrill.

Last night, after basketball, instead of going to eat with work friends, I headed home where Kelly and Raymond awaited to watch the first three episodes of last season. I really forgot how much I love this show and how much of a man Jack Bauer is. If he were a "real man", I think we'd have no problems if he were to get into the White House. Life would be good.

Also another thing I'm thankful for is full episodes of TV shows online. NBC.com and ABC.com have become my friends since I got this job that requires so much time. I miss many episodes of my favorite TV shows (Chuck, Grey's Anatomy, 24, The Hills, Heroes, Private Practice, The Office, LOST) that I've got to catch up somehow. Last year, I watched the first two seasons of LOST online in my office as I did work so I wouldn't be "LOST" when I started watching the third season.

Hats off to whoever thought of this sweet little invention. You deserve the paycheck you get.

TITF #5 and Tag

Today I'm thankful for GOOGLE and Dictionary.com.

These two things kept my mind fresh and my intellegence update. I'm a researcher. Not of important things. Of trivial things. There are a lot of things that I think about every day or things that are brought up around me that I'm not quite sure about. So, I google them. I read about them. And then I'm knowledgable.

Today, I got an email from a friend in which someone had used Google to do a little "Where are they now?" research. It was for the cast members of one of the greatest movies ever, The Sandlot. Go here to read about it. It's interesting to see where these people ended up post-Sandlot.

Also, I like words. Obviously. I even like to make up my own sometimes. However, I hate when words are used without knowledge of what they mean. And I'm a spelling Natzi. So Dictionary.com has become my friend because if I ever find myself stumped about how to spell something or what a word means, I just "D.com" it.

Finally, LT tagged everyone for a fun little photo tag game. This should be intersting since I have tons of photos on my computer, and there's no telling where they are from.

1. Choose the 4th picture folder on my computer

2. Choose the 4th picture

3. Explain the picture
4. Tag 4 people to do the same.
So...

I think this is my feeble attempt to take pictures at football practice one day with a crappy camera.

I tag, Casey, Molly, Mandi and Rossie.