So sorry things have been quiet for about a week. I have many posts waiting to be written, but for now I’m recuperating from the week that was finals. I’ll be sure to post our Christmas decorations, our crazy shopping experiences and some outfits over the next few days!
Merry Christmas!
Love you all!
Yesterday, the choir I’m in was invited to sing at a ribbon cutting for a new veteran’s home in Tyler. Senators, state representatives, judges, veterans, U.S. representatives, and commissioners were all there. (I rode the shuttle over to the site with David Simpson!) A representative of John Cornyn wrote a letter he wrote for this ceremony, Louie Gohmert was present, Jerry Patterson–the land commissioner who made all this happen–was there, the president of the UT Health Science Center attended, and the list goes on! It was so cool! There were several hundred people there most decorated in uniform and medals. This one veteran–we called him Indiana Jones because of his hat– sat near the choir and was red-faced and teary eyed throughout the ceremony. It was so sweet. I realized just how much I love America. It was patriotic without being cliche. I think a lot of times when I think “patriotic”, I think Star Spangled Banner, salutes, fabricated emotions and people getting upset for not being as patriotic as others.
However, this morning was totally new to me. I saw patriotism in a new way. The politicians were involved, sweet, down-to-earth and friendly. Something I’ve never seen up close and personal. Mr. Simpson was super nice on the shuttle. Humble and normal! The above named politicians each gave a short speech about the veterans, our country, and patriotism. I think we all teared up on more than one occasion.
I guess I just really wanted to share how much I truly see now how important veterans are. They shouldn’t be cast aside and thought of as those-crazy-old-men-who-wear-those-weird-hats-all-the-time. Or why-are-you-always-wearing-medals-it’s-2011. They fought for our country and to keep us safe. I think we owe a little something to them, don’t you?
So, without sounding desperately cliche, I’d like to say thanks to those men I saw today. The men who cry for their country, the men who are proud of that lump in their throat when they say the pledge of allegiance. Thank you to Corbet Taylor, my grandpa, for fighting and coming home safe so that I might have life! Thank you.
I’m a woman of lists, okay. Let’s just get that out there. I constantly make lists. It’s fun for me. Lists of homework to do, lists of what to clean, lists of what to shop for, wish lists, etc. It makes me feel productive without actually doing anything. And I may be OCD but we’ll just skim over that topic.
So, last night I made a list-it was more like a timeline-of what to do today.
-Wake up early! (yes.. that was on there.)
-30 Day Shred.
-Shower
-Homework
Since it was on the list I had to do it. Now, keep in mind I’ve had 30 Day Shred on a lot of lists but somehow I managed to make an excuse and erase it. I started for the second time over the summer but only got about a week done. This time, I’m determined. So you know what I did?
Yes people. No one put a gun to my head or offered me money. I just did it. I was so happy when I finished I almost cried. I complain to Jason all the time and finally it was the last straw. I can’t believe I actually did it. I woke up, put my shoes on and just did it before my brain knew what hit it. Whew!
22 minutes a day? 30 days? I’ve done it before (and got super awesome muscles) so I can do it again.
Here’s to tomorrow! 🙂
Wanna join me? Buy the DVD here and let’s get shredded together!
We laid low this weekend and it was glorious. After a three month shopping freeze (for me) I finally got to shop with my birthday money. It was just nice to get out of the house. It feels like we’ve been on house arrest since school started in August. That’s the price you pay, I guess, for a degree. Blahh.
We decided to visit Green Acres Baptist Church yesterday morning. After driving to the wrong campus, we finally made it. Afterwards, I had to make a trip to Target to pick up printer ink and a binder for school. When we came out we saw this parked next to our car.
The most adorable old mini cooper! It was English and everything! Even the steering wheel was on the right side and there was an adorable long, skinny license plate. I couldn’t resist taking a picture. If you look closely, all the windows are cracked open. No A/C. Yuck! Tis adorable nonetheless. 🙂
And just for fun, here’s a picture of the dark, rainy sky on my way to school one morning last week.
How was your weekend?
Ever have a case of “the wishes”? Where you wish you were somewhere else or in a different place in your life or had all the money in the world? I think I live in a permanent state of the wishes.
Going to school for another two years seems like a drag. I wish it were over.
I wish we were in a place to start a family.
I wish I could go out and buy everything I need/want to make our house feel more like a home.
I wish we were millionaires. I’ll settle for thousand-aires.
I wish I had my dream job.
I wish I had a big group of really close friends I could call on at a moment’s notice to do crazy stuff.
I wish I were more disciplined.
You get my point? Do any of you constantly live in a state of “the wishes”? These things are fun to think about but at a certain point they become a little burdensome. Thoughts?
Remember these dumb things on Myspace/Xanga/Piczo(OHHH I went there)? Well, now it has made its way into the blogosphere and I thought I should do one. 1. I’m bored. 2.uhhh…yeah.. Just read it okay?
Age: 21.
Bed size: Queeeeeen.
Chores that you hate: I actually like chores…? Just wish we had a dishwasher that worked!
Dogs: None. But my dream dog is a golden retriever and Jason’s is a schnauzer.
Essential start to your day: Kissing Jason before I leave for school or he leaves for work.
Favorite color: Uh, all of them! I love looking at pretty color combos. It makes me want to redecorate our whole house even though we haven’t finished decorating it to begin with..
Gold or Silver: BOTH.
Height: 5’4″
Instruments you play: Took piano for two years. I’m decent, but nothing to write home about. I should really practice more… Jason’s trying to teach me guitar.
Job title: STUDENT… but I don’t get paid. I hate you FAFSA. And partially UTT.
Kids: When one of us finally finishes school, we’ll start thinking about it.
Live: Where? Texas.
Mother’s Name: Charlotte!
Nicknames: Mel. I think it’s neat that everyone Jason works with calls me Mel because that’s how he refers to me. Neat.
Overnight hospital stays: None so far but plenty of stitches!
Pet peeves: “Just sayin’.” I LOATHE that phrase. Starting something and not finishing it. GOSSIP. Good grief I hate gossip. Never having enough time for anything. Let’s just leave it at “I have a lot of pet peeves but you would probably dislike me if I said what all of them were..”
Quote from a movie or tv show: “What is your name? What is your quest? What is your favorite color?”
Right or Lefty: Right.
Siblings: Dos hermanas.
Time you wake up: 6.20-6.30 am MWF. 10.30 TTh.
Underwear: Every day.
Vegetable you hate: I really want to like bell peppers…
What makes you run late: Sleeping in.
X-Rays You’ve Had: Teeth and some on my foot. My sophomore year in high school I played volleyball. When the JV was done playing we had to stay and watch varsity to “learn”. I was walking out of the locker room and someone not paying attention rammed into the solid metal door and the bottom took my toenails clean off. All she said was, “Oh. Oops. Sorry.” And walked out continuing to talk to her friend. I spent that lovely evening in the hospital taking hydrocodone (Uh, ew. How do people get addicted to that? It made me crazy nauseous then I fell asleep.), getting X-rays and being pushed around in a wheelchair by an orderly who wasn’t keen on conversation. Crazy weird night.
Yummy food you make: Potato soup, anything chocolate related, Mexican crock-pot chicken tacos, roasted vegetables..
Zoo Animal: Umm.. Can it just be an animal? I don’t know, all kinds.
Now that I’ve completed that I’m an official blogger, right?
