Graceful is Not my Middle Name

This is just a short random little post. I had a laughable evening Tuesday night & thought I'd share. If you live in Collinsville, Martin, that area of the country/neck of the woods then you know that around 7ish the power went out. Well...I hate having no power for the obvious reasons but I discovered on Tuesday night that I need lights. Badly. Because without them, I'm a hazard to myself.

I was just minding my own business, all curled up in my chair, intently focused on an episode of "The Vampire Diaries" & everything just cut off. Well nertz! I was pretty into what I was watching but I figured it would just flicker & pop back on. It did not do that. It stayed off. So I meandered up the stairs to get the two whole candles we have left in the house because everything else is either A) already in Virginia or B) trapped in a box. I read for a little bit & then it started to get dim - I realized that two candles just weren't going to cut it & I went for the big guns. The oil lanterns!

This was a real deal oil lantern - not a dorky knockoff with a fake wick like the ones on the left. I would have been much safer with the ones on the left. I had these delusions of reading a book curled up by the lantern, much like the pioneers of old. Let me assure you - had I been a pioneer, they would have booted me from the settlement because I cannot handle lighting an oil lantern without causing a disaster. I'm just that talented folks.

I sat that lantern on the desk & popped off the little glass globe. I turned the wick up, but not too high & lit the lantern. Ah! Fire. Soft, glowing light. I turned the wick down a bit & carefully settled the glass globe back on the top of the lantern - making sure it was secured in all 4 prong holder thingys. I picked it up & made my way across the living room to settle my lantern on the table & myself in the chair. I was so crafty & smooth - I lit this lantern & now I'm gonna sit & read in the chair. Go me! Ha ha! I amuse myself sometimes.

As I lean forward to deposit the lantern on the table, the fire alarm starts shrieking. In a state of total shock at this sudden loud noise in the growing dark of the room, I jerk upward with the oil lantern still in my hands. The glass globe on the top wobbles & then....in what was both slow motion & fast forward all at the same time, falls into the floor with a crash. It shattered into a million pieces, of course. And then - pop! The power cuts back on.

Thank heavens the power cut back on when it did, because obviously I am not capable of handling things in the dark. I set off alarms, I shatter glass...it is a miracle I didn't completely drop the lantern. And could you just imagine that? Oil & glass everywhere, possibly flames... I mean, it would have been the kind of fail that ranks at the top of the epic scale. I got the glass all cleaned up & the candles squared away, climbed back into the middle of the chair & turned my show back on. I figured at that point, I should just stay put. It seemed the safest option. Because my middle name isn't grace for a reason. :)

Times...They Are A Changin....

"The future is scary but you can't run back to the past because it's familiar. It's tempting, but its a mistake." -Ted Mosby, How I Met Your Mother

So, I just quoted a fictional character in my blog. He's a smart fictional character though. The quote is from season finale of How I Met Your Mother, where Ted is contemplating how it would be so much easier to just fall back into a relationship with a girl that is so wrong for him. His reasoning? That it is familiar. He already knows so much about this girl & it would just be too hard to keep searching when he could easily go back to Zoey & just make it work. But he realizes (with the help of some friends, of course) that it would be a mistake.

The events of the past couple weeks have had me thinking about how much my life has changed in that past year. Where was I on June 1, 2010? Have things gotten better? Am I a different person? I know things have changed - the only constant thing in life is change.

June 1, 2010 - Career -
On June 1, 2010 I was a freshly minted graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi. I was certain that I could easily enjoy one last summer before having to really be a "grown-up" & then with the greatest of ease, I'd just find an excellent job. Talk about delusions of granduer. I got to have my one last summer...and fall...and most of winter. I figured out pretty quickly that having a college degree didn't seem to matter too much. No one was hiring anyone. Anywhere. At all. It didn't matter how I fancied up my resume or how many places I sent it to. It just wasn't happening. But on June 1, 2010 I wasn't concerned. I just wrongly assumed that I would have a fun summer & then get a job. Life is funny like that - you can plan all you want & it doesn't mean a thing.

June 1, 2011 - Career -
I'm happily a member of the work force & I have been since January. I've been at my job for 4 months now & I really enjoy it. I feel like I'm finally getting the hang of most everything, even if I'm not quite sure I've got the hang of dealing with all the different personalities in the office. The job I have isn't in my field. It certainly has nothing to do with Anthropology or Forensic Science - although a man in the office calls me "forensic scientist" instead of by my name & is always telling me that I should be out catching bad guys & nailing them to the wall. I'm thankful for my job - there are still people all around me that can't find a job. I wouldn't have even guessed or imagined this is what I would have been doing a year ago. And yet, here I am.

June 1. 2010 - Love -

Well - I was single in June of last year. I had high hopes for finding the right person at some point but things just didn't look too promising. I think this is probably the area that tests me the most. I'm not overtly obvious about it, but I'm kind of a hopeless romantic. I have big dreams for love, a marriage & a family - in that order. I tell myself every December 31st that maybe this will be the year. And then I wait. And in June of last year, I was doing just that. Waiting. In case you were wondering - waiting really stinks. My Mom would probably crack up at this - I always spout off the line "patience is a virtue" & she just rolls her eyes at me. Well, like the line from The Mummy - "Patience is a virtue" - Well it's a virtue I don't have right now". *sigh*

June 1, 2011 - Love -
Guess what? I'm still waiting. And it hasn't gotten any easier. There are reminders of my very single status every day & I won't pretend that at times it doesn't get to me. I'm tearing up a little bit writing this. I know without a doubt that if I didn't have family & friends that pray for me daily, this issue - which may seem so small to some - could become far more overblown & upsetting than it is. Thankfully I do have those people in my life that remind me that all in time. I had a conversation on Sunday night with two wonderful ladies - one that I have known for quite a while now & one that I see having the potential to become a wonderful friend. They encouraged me, even if they weren't aware of it. Good things come to those who wait, right? Well - I feel like I've been waiting forever, so I'm pretty sure my Prince Charming is going to be amazing.

June 1, 2010 - Life -
This time last year I was living with my parents, looking for a job & feeling somewhat aimless. I didn't have a job yet, but I wasn't too concerned with that. My parents had talked about moving & to be honest I hoped deep down that we would just leave. I was ready to get some distance from the place I've spent most of my life. I wanted a change of pace, a change of scenery...some kind of dramatic change. What is it that people are always saying? Be careful what you wish for? Right.

June 1, 2011 - Life -
I feel like the life I've been leading for 26 years is about to have a major shake-up. Remember how I said you can plan things & it doesn't matter? Life doesn't cater to your plans - that isn't how things work. My parents are moving. I'm not. I'm going to get a dramatic change - for the first time in 26 years, my immediate family will be spread across three time zones. My parents will be in Virginia, I'll be in Mississippi & Lindsey will be in Colorado. My parents are going to be 800 miles in one direction & my little sister will be 999 miles in the other direction. Also - out of the three states - Mississippi just does not sound like any fun. And yet - here I shall stay. Why? Well, I'm a firm believer that when the Lord tells you to stay put, you stay put. I've learned from experience that deciding to forge your own path & do your own thing doesn't really work out so well.

I'm trying to find a place to live & trying even harder to learn how to hang on to my money because I'm about to have to make a go at this on my own. I realize that people who are far younger than me have already accomplished this task - good for them. I wanted a change of scenery - I'm going to get one. I'll be looking off of a front porch (hopefully I'll have a front porch) that belongs to me. I'll be on my own. And I've also discovered that while there are still some places (& faces) that I would have no problem putting behind me, there are some places (& faces) that will probably become far more important to me as I step out on this new path.

Well - there you have it. How my life has changed (or hasn't) in the past year. I think there are times when I feel a certain sort pf panic set in when I think about what my life will be like in a few months. I want to turn around & run back to the comfort of the past. But, as I'm reminded by Ted, (that lovely fictional character) that would be a mistake. You've got to keep moving forward in life. So, onward to new adventures I go. I feel like so much is different & yet so many things are the same. Then again, isn't that how it goes? The only thing that stays the same is that things are always changing.





Somebody Save Me.....

Well, it's finally here. After 10 years, 217 episodes & the distinction of being the longest continuously running Sci-Fi TV show, Smallville is going to fly off into the sun tomorrow night. My Friday nights from 7-8 will suddenly open up again & the question that have plagued so many viewers for this season (and others) will finally be answered. Will he fly? Will we see the suit? Will Clark & Lois actually make it down the aisle? What is going to happen to Chloe? I have watched this show with near religious fervor for the past 5 years & I couldn't let something as momentous as the end just go by without reflecting on a show that has actually meant a lot to me over the past 5 years.

Me around the time Smallville started.

Smallville when it started.



Smallville premiered on October 16, 2001 & I was totally oblivious to it at the time. I was far too caught up in watching shows like Dawson's Creek & Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I did not even know that Smallville existed. I discovered Smallville later, exactly when I was supposed to. 5 years later - as a sophomore in college.

I started school at MSU in the fall of 2006 & I will be the first to tell you that I had set up in my mind what the experience would be like & let me tell you that it was vastly different than anything I expected it to be. And I don't mean that in a good way. I tried out different things, went to BSU a few times & just never really found a spot where I felt like I fit in. I was browsing the Internet one night after having been there a few weeks & discovered a video of Smallville scenes on YouTube. I had seen the movie "Superman Returns" (not the greatest effort, but oh well) just a couple months prior & once I realized what Smallville was about, I was intrigued. I watched video after video on YouTube, but that wasn't enough - I needed to see the actual show. I discovered that the 6th season premiered on September 28th, which meant that I had time to play catch up. I used what was meant to be school money to get on Amazon, buy seasons 1-5 & have them rush delivered to my apt. Note: Don't do things like this. I have never regretted it & might not have survived the semester without my Smallville DVDs, but my parents were NOT HAPPY about it at all.

I began having nightly marathons & managed to catch up on all 5 seasons with an alarming rate. I still wasn't having much luck finding just the right niche at school - all the people in my classes had discovered that someone or someones that they fit with in all my classes & I was one of those people that just wasn't finding anyone. I would come home & watch Smallville - which was & still is - a show about a guy just trying to figure out where he fits in the grand scheme of things. A guy trying to embrace his differences, sharpen his strengths, weed out the weaknesses & figure out where he belongs. I had a rough time for the one semester I was at MSU & I moved home in early December. MSU wasn't where the Lord wanted me to be & I had learned that. I'd also learned that Smallville probably got me through what could have been a much more difficult time. When you are having a rough time, there are certain things that just bring a little sunshine into your life & make things better. Smallville was that for me & so once I moved home, I kept right on watching it. I'm sure my parents were thrilled to now have to be subjected to weekly viewings of it, ha-ha. Smallville provided me with a pick me up when I was having a rough time.

Once I decided what my next move was, I stepped out of my house & into a whole new college experience. This time I went south to USM & along with the necessities for college life (pots, pans, a bed, clothes, etc...) I took my Smallville DVDs with me. My Mom was like "you really need to take all of these?" And all she got was a look. Of course I needed them. I had some of the most wonderful times over the next three years at USM & once again, Smallville brought about something unexpected. Friends. I quickly discovered that my friend & roommate Kristen was a Smallville fan & in turn, she introduced me to some other people who were also Smallville fans - although they probably weren't attached in quite the same way I was. Each week when Smallville came on, my new friends came over. We all watched together & as Clark Kent grew up our friendships grew as well. I found people that I could trust, rely on, talk to & just have a good time with. Who knows if we would have been such good friends had we not had Smallville to bond over? Smallville helped me find friends when I was starting out in a new place.

Smallville...through the wise words of some of the characters, courtesy of the writers...hastaught me some valuable things. A show is always good if it can teach you some things.

"We all make mistakes - it's how we come back from the mistakes that matter" -- Jonathan Kent
I would like to personally thank whatever writer coined that phrase. It could not be more true. Mistakes are a part of life. They are a part of being human. They are a part of being Kryptonian too apparently. Everyone makes mistakes, sometimes I make numerous mistakes in one day. Sometimes the mistakes that we make are huge & have the potential to change the course of your life forever. It is those kinds of mistakes & the reaction you have to them that makes you into the person you are going to be. A mistake that seems to be the end of the world, if handled correctly can be the start of a whole new world. It all depends on how you come back from the mistakes you make. Side note - I wouldn't trade my Dad for anything, but if I was forced at gunpoint to choose someone as a new dad, Jonathan Kent would be it. He is awesome. Just sayin.

"No matter how hard we try to fight it we will always return to our true nature" -- A Luthor
I know - fail. I can't remember if Lex Luthor said this or Lionel Luthor but that doesn't change the point. You are who you are, so it better be somebody good. I realize that people change but I also believe that deep down - the person that you are at your worst is the person you truly are. There are some people who are wonderful when things are going good & life is great, but give them adversity & they change. A person will revert to their true nature when they are dealt a tough hand; that is the time when a person's true colors show. So make sure that the person you are when you're at your worst is the person you also are when you're at your best. Because you always return to your true nature.

"A Hero is made in the moment" - Clark Kent. Truer words were never spoken. True heroes, like the men & women of our military, fire fighters, police officers, etc... These people don't sit around & think about how to make sure that they look good. They work hard & when the time comes & they are called into action they do their job. They do their job without wondering if they will be praised. They do their job knowing that it may cost them their life. They do their job because it is the right thing to do, not because they foresee the possible fanfare & accolades that could come with the job. A hero is made in the moment & the choices that they make. Superman is a fictional hero but our world is filled with true heroes that save lives every day. They are made in the moments that define lives.

Those are just three of my favorite quotes. There are so many though. So many that if I wanted to I could make this post last for paragraph after paragraph. I won't do that though because I'm betting that out of the 5 people that read this (side note: I only have 5 followers but apparently more people actually read the blog. Who knew?) ....well, none of you are probably Smallville fans. That's cool. You're missing out though. :)


 



The final thing the Smallville has left me with - I'm on the hunt for my very own Clark Kent. He doesn't have to be able to fly, shoot fire from his eyes, run faster than a speeding bullet...he doesn't have to be able to do any of those things. Those are things that Superman does. I want Clark Kent. And yes, I know...Clark Kent is Superman. So give me the powered down version. He doesn't even have to have dark hair & piercing blue (green? Tom Welling has green eyes, Clark Kent has blue...I'm so confused) eyes. My Clark Kent could be a red head with brown eyes - that's cool. I'm just waiting for him. If you want to know what kind of guy my own personal Clark Kent is, you'll need to find an episode from season 9 or 10 of Smallville. Watch the way Clark Kent treats Lois Lane & you will have your answer. So, I'll wait. Because I know he's on his way & hey - it even took Superman a little while to figure out the super speed thing. So maybe he's just gotta get a handle on that.

Well - I guess that's all. I have loved watching Smallville for the past 5 years. I managed to cram 10 years worth of TV into 5 & it was great. Not sure yet what I'll do this September when there is no new story in the continuing saga of Clark Kent, Lois Lane & Lex Luthor...among numerous other characters. I'd like to think that I've discovered little parts of each character within myself at some point over the past 5 years. The loyal friend like Chloe, the never backs down Lois Lane, the scheming Lex Luthor & yes, even the super heroic Clark Kent. What do I want out of the finale tomorrow night? I want the suit. I want flight. I want Clark & Lois to walk down the aisle to their happy ending & I want Clark to vanquish the villain & save the day. In short - I want it all. But hey - Clark Kent is destined to be Superman. Surely he can pull off a Super finale?



The Great Colorado Adventure

I haven't blogged in a couple weeks - decided I'd tell all about my visit to Colorado to see Lindsey. I should go ahead & tell you that this post is probably gonna get pretty funny. Why? I mean, it is about Lindsey & I. What more do you expect?

I flew out of Jackson on Friday the 22nd & that was an accomplishment in & of itself. About 5 years ago, we were on a plane leaving Colorado Springs & the plane hit an air pocket (or something) & decided to drop a couple hundred feet. Well - cue my flight anxiety. We are talking sweaty palms, heart palpitations, full blown panic attack on an airplane. And if it hit even the smallest bump - hello death grip on the arm rest. I can white knuckle the button slap off an airplane arm rest if the plane hits turbulence. But more on that later. I made it through both of my flights courtesy of a lovely drug called Lorazepam. Look it up - it's fun stuff. Again - we'll get back to that.

Lindsey was so excited to see me, she literally skipped the stairs & ran down the hill. Wow. Make a girl feel special. :) Don't believe me? Look on Facebook. I uploaded a picture. I'm not gonna lie - I was beyond thrilled to see her but the altitude in the Springs prevented me from running up the hill to her. I would have probably collapsed from oxygen deprivation & no one wants that. After a joyous reunion, there was a delicious supper at Saltgrass & then we got to explore our Easter Bunny treats - two days early! We also watched the movie "Date Night" which left us with many quotable phrases that we uttered throughout the rest of the weekend. A personal favorite? "He turned the gun sideways - it's a kill shot!!!" You had to say these phrases in character too - you didn't just mutter them randomly, they had to be screeched with conviction. Why was that phrase so great? I dunno. It isn't like we ran into armed gunmen while roaming the Springs. Again - this is Lindsey & I. As my lovely mother says "ya'll aren't right". Indeed. We aren't.

We did a little shopping on Saturday morning but there is really nothing that exciting about shopping. At least there really wasn't this time around - I mean, I'm sure Lindsey was psyched about her new dress, shorts & tank & I am pretty thrilled with my Superman shirt (I'm wearing it now) - but that was really it on the shopping front. The best part of Saturday? The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, of course. It was great, but most importantly because I learned something very interesting about my little sister.



Beware - I am fierce.

 See the small creature on the right? It's a chipmunk. They were everywhere at the zoo & they were absolutely precious! This little guy decided he wanted to get to know us better - Lindsey was talking to him & he kept creeping closer & closer - which I thought was awesome. I should tell you, this chipmunk might have weighed all of a pound. It wasn't even a fat chipmunk. As we talked & the chipmunk came closer, I was excited. How close would it come? Well - not so close when someone shrieks at you. The chipmunk obviously got too close for Lindsey's comfort & she shrieked, at which point the chipmunk dashed in the opposite direction. I just looked at Lindsey with a puzzled expression & said "Lindsey - it's a chipmunk". Her response? "Yes, but those things can be fierce". Are. You. Kidding. Me? She wants to fly fighter jets. She wants to pull upwards of 4G's (I think that is right....) come close to breaking the sound barrier & do aileron rolls but chipmunks are an issue of concern? Who are you?? You constantly blow my mind & that is awesome - but chipmunks? I think I have seen it all.

Speaking of things that are fierce - the picture to the left. Reason #5,329 out of too many to count that Lindsey & I are awesome. Want to know something else awesome? I brought home a framed version of this for my parents as their gift from the trip - I'm pretty sure it is one of the greatest pictures ever. After careful consideration, it is now my profile pic on Facebook. I love it that much. Lindsey & I told Jeff & Ging that they needed to place it front & center in their new home in VA so that when they make new friends, they can use this picture to brag on their children. I'm not sure they bought it so much....

The rest of Saturday was lovely. I got to meet Lindsey's sponser family, the Gaydons. Halting the goofy recap for a minute, I am so thankful for these people & I barely know them. They have taken Lindsey in & they love her like she is one of their own. She is so far away from us & it us such a blessing knowing that there are such wonderful people in the world who will take someone else's kid (or kid sister in my case) & care for her. Anway - after meeting the Gaydons, we ate at Noodles & Co which is absolutely awesome. We also saw the movie "Water for Elephants" which is something else that is awesome. And not just because Robert Pattinson is in it. Although that defintely doesn't hurt at all. He looks much better with a tan - he's pretty epic as Edward Cullen, but vampires are awfully pale. Just sayin. Also just sayin - go see "Water for Elephants". Good way to spend two hours & roughly $8.

Lindsey & I spent our Sunday morning at one of the most wonderful places on Earth. If Disney World is the happiest place on Earth, then the Broadmoor is getting pretty close to second place. They have a Sunday brunch that is to die for. Of course, it will also make you die a little when you get the check - but oh well, it was all worth it in the end. They have more food than you could ever imagine & it is all so delicious. At least, all that I tasted was. I had (get ready, there is a lot of stuff & I'm not even ashamed) - maple cured bacon, Irish breakfast potatoes, a waffle with grand marnier sauce, strawberries, blueberries, kiwi, pineapple, raspberries, a cheese blintz with berry sauce, beef tenderloin tips, grilled chicken, ham, mashed potatoes, bread with hummus spread, bread with garlic spread, a miniature rabbit cupcake (not filled with actual rabbit but it did have mousse in it) peanut butter pie, carrot cake bite, chocolate mousse bite, chamomile tea jello with fruit. Yep. I think that it all. I may be wrong though. I may have blacked out at some point because of the awesomeness of it all. There was so much more to choose from. Lindsey ate a whole other variety of things because it was just all so delicious & wonderful. We wandered around the Broadmoor afterward & Lindsey decided pretty quickly that while her high heels looked fierce, they felt fierce too. I've learned that lesson several times myself. Not cool.

Suddenly my words want to center align while I am typing this & so I am just going to continue on writing. I hung out with Lindsey for the rest of the afternoon & after a splendid visit to Wal Mart & some wonderful supper at Cheddars, I had to deposit Lindsey back at USAFA. I wasn't too sad yet though because I knew I would see her one more time Monday morning. Little did I know. Oh how little did I know. Lindsey & I hung out together in Arnold Hall on Monday morning & then I was off to the airport - where I waited, waited, waited to board my flight for Dallas. The flight that was supposed to leave at 1:45 but I didn't board until 2:20. I then sat on the plane for 30 minutes because there was a lightning warning in Colorado Springs & they couldn't refuel the plane. Guess what happened after they got the plane refueled? They informed us that our plane had been delayed by about 3 hours because of storms in Dallas. We could get off the plane or stay on for the wait - it was up to us. Who would sit on an airplane for 3 hours if you didn't have to? Well - Lindsey might now that I think about it. Not me. I booked it back up that aisle & hopped off.

The adventure was just beginning from here. I got in the line to see if I could be rerouted through anothe airport but it was not meant to be. The lovely lady (and I mean that, not being sarcastic, promise) told me that I could hang out at the airport until the flight to Dallas left, but my flight from Dallas to Jackson was cancelled so I'd have to find a room & hope to get on a flight as stand-by on Tuesday. My other option was to stay in Colorado Springs for the night, fly out on Tuesday morning at 10:05 to Dallas & then leave from Dallas going to Jackson at 4:30. So - option one is to hang out in Dallas, alone & option two is to get to hang out with Lindsey some more? Ding! Ding! Ding! Can you guess what option I took? I got my new tickets, rented another car, booked another night at the Rampart Lodge & text Lindsey to tell her that I was headed back her way & what did she want for supper. I was stressed out & yet thrilled at the same time.

I got to spend another good 4 hours with Lindsey on Monday night - we ate supper together in Arnold Hall, went to her dorm room, did homework in Fairchild Hall (well, she did homework, I read about the Royal Wedding). It was great. Tuesday - well, it was just eh. My flight from Colorado Springs to Dallas was fine but oh Lordy gracious - don't even get me started on the flight from Dallas to Jackson. There couldn't have been more turbulence if the Lord had put the plane into a blender & then shook it as hard as he could. I had taken my Lorazepam & if I hadn't, it would have been all over. As it was, I was hanging on to that arm rest for all I was worth. An Idiot Abroad had lost all appeal to me & I could only hang on for dear life. I was so happy to see solid ground & my Momma. Oh - and the cupcake box from Gigi's.

I had one of the best times spending those days with Lindsey & I'd do it again in a heartbeat...or two. I am still recovering from the flight from Hades. Give me another week or two though & I'd be ready to go again. I love that kid so much it is mind-blowing & I can't wait to see her again, even if it means bouncing my way through the not so friendly skies to get there.

Side note - today was the Royal Wedding. Absolutely amazing. This picture has to be my favorite out of all the pictures I saw of coverage today. I mean - really sir? I'm not entirely sure what is going on in this picture, but I love it. Is this Brit waving his little dog in the air in jubilation over the nuptials of The Duke & Duchess of Cambridge? Is he trying to make sure his dog sees the carriage as Wills & Kate (oops, Catherine now) pass? I'm really pretty sure that the dog could care less. He doesn't look so thrilled about being used as a banner. Yay for Wills & Catherine - now put down the pooch & continue to celebrate without scarring your dog for life.

Well - yep. That's all for now. It's almost 4 which means that 5 is just an hour around the corner. I only had to work three days this week, but I am ready to go get some pizza, go home & watch Smallville. Oh yeah - I might have to do a Smallville post soon. That show has been on ten years & is amazing. And most of you could care less, but that's why this is my blog. :)









And Back in the Dark Ages....

This morning I was chillin at my desk, enrolling someone for some insurance & talking to my co-worker. We were discussing all the drama that teenagers get into every day & I said "I don't even want to imagine the kind of drama that my life would have had if Facebook had existed when I was in high school". Which really got me thinking about two things: 1) All the stuff that kids born these days (we'll say 2010 & on) will never know about & 2) All the stuff that they know about & couldn't imagine living without.

The Things That They Will Never Know

-They will have no clue what a VHS tape is. A movie used to be one of these honking big things & now it is a teeny little disc. If I'm really honest, some of them may not ever even know what a DVD is because Blu-Ray is quickly becoming the more popular option - the picture is so crisp & bright! I know this because we rented a Blu-Ray to try out in our fancy DVD/Blu-Ray player & all 4 (yes 4, Lindsey was at home visiting) stood around & gazed in awe at the picture quality, making remarks like "oh wow, so crisp" & "that picture is so real & bright". Now you can click a button & pick what chapter of the movie you were on. You used to have to rewind the thing. And it took forever. And it made you have patience. Now you click a button.
-They will have no clue what good cartoons are. Now, maybe this is totally a random judgement call, but the commercials for cartoons that I see now...they look like total bunk. What in the world is Toonzai? What is a Dragon Ball Z? What is Bakugan? It all just looks like weirdness to me. I remember the good stuff - Captain Planet, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (which may still come on...not sure) & especially Santo Bugito. Santo Bugito was one of the best cartoons ever & myself & my friend Ashley may have been the only people that ever watched it. The commercials I see for this new stuff look really violent & strange. What ever happened to cartoons where normal looking people saved the planet?
-They will never know that going to the movies didn't always cost an arm, a leg & maybe your right kidney. And that's just for the ticket...don't even get me started on drinks, popcorn & candy.
-They will never know (and again, this one is a more personal memory) what/who Teddy Ruxpin is. I had a Teddy Ruxpin growing up & that thing was part bear, part book reader & 100% awesome. I discussed this with some friend a few years back & they knew what I was talking about. Were it not for this bear (and genetics, let me be honest, my Mom reads books like a person stranded in the desert for 10 days drinks water) I might not be such a total bookworm. Looking at pictures now though - the bear looks a little creepy to me. :)
-They will never know about snail mail. I used to send letters to my friends that live in far away states. I had to take the time to sit down & write out the things I wanted to tell my friend & then wait to get a response. Not that I don't love the ease & convenience of email & texting, but there is just something that is thoughtful about a hand written letter. It shows that you took time. I like that. And kids these days have no clue. Life is all about faster.

The Things They Couldn't Live Without
-Facebook...or MySpace...or whatever other social networking sights there are out there. I am a Facebook person myself. I myself didn't even know what Facebook was 5 years ago & now it is so important to my daily life that I have an app on my phone that lets me check Facebook whenever I want to. Facebook is amazing for keeping up with people that you don't get to see as often as you like, but I feel pretty confident that there are lots of downsides to it too. Like I mentioned above - I don't think I led that dramatic of a life as a high school kid & yet there was always drama in some form. I can't imagine how much more ridiculous & blown out of proportion things could have gotten in Facebook was around when I was in high school. Teenagers need no help creating drama. And just think - if you just had a kid, there will be Facebook (or possibly something even more advanced & space agey) for them to poke around on when they grow up.

-Cell phones. I remember when cell phones looked like the honking thing on the left of the page. And now, it is all about making them smaller, cuter & able to do just about everything. A cell phone used to be a phone. Just a phone. Now, a cell phone is so much more than that. Heck - on my phone alone I can - take pictures, watch YouTube videos, surf the web, watch TV shows, listen to music, buy music, check the weather, contact AAA, book a flight, find the cheapest gas prices, look up recipes, make & send postcards, read the Bible, play games, check & send email....I mean, whoa. I'm not even mentioning the fact that I can also just talk to people on the phone. Because it is a phone after all. And these days, there are seven year olds who know how to work my phone better than me. Seriously. There is no chance that kids that were born after about 2005 don't know how to work a cell phone like a champ. They will never not know what cell phones are. Wow.
- A lot of kids today (not me though, although at 26, I'm really not a kid) couldn't live without DVR. A lot of adults couldn't live without it either. I hear that DVR is an absolutely wonderful invention that lets you record, pause, rewind & fast forward live TV. I remember the long ago time when you were going to miss your favorite show you had to put a VHS (remember those things?) in a VCR (what is that?) and record it. Now - just set that DVR to take care of it. I want one of these things.
-A GPS. Lord knows that those things are awesome. Today you can't get from point A to point B without one. I'm pretty sure that if you polled kids & asked them what MapQuest was, they would have no clue. I remember when you had to Google directions so that you could get somewhere. They usually worked out just fine. I mean - not to brag or anything - I got my Mom & I around the entire island of Oahu without a GPS. That is pretty amazing because every single road has some kind of Mele Kala Like something in the name. I bet no lots of kids think that you can't get across the street without a GPS. Well...you can. :)That being said - I still really love Carla, our GPS. Especially when I set the voice to Mister Midnight & he randomly says things like "There is a full moon out tonight - be on the lookout for werewolves" or "Do you hear that rattling in the trunk?" Priceless.

Who knows what kind of things they will invent in the next 5 years...in just the next year? A lot of kids aren't going to know what it means to live without an iPad. Technology is mind blowing & makes life (most often) a lot easier but sometimes I think about what it must have been like even before I was born. When people didn't have a TV in every room, or even a TV in the house...when people didn't have cell phones that distracted them from talking to the actual person in front of them...when people couldn't fire off a quick email as a hello. I love my TV - I am far too addicted to about 5 or 6 different shows - I couldn't live without my cell phone & I love the convenience of sending email. But I sometimes wonder if it might not have been nicer when life was a little more simple. That's just me though.

I Just Don't Understand....

I'm getting pretty consistent with this blogging stuff, huh? I don't know how consistently my blog is being read though - I mean, I know my Mom reads it...but she is kind of obligated to because I'm hers, right? Anyway, that isn't what I don't understand. There are lots of things I don't understand & yesterday as I was driving home I started thinking about my Bible reading from the past few days & it got me further thinking about the little things in life that I don't understand as well as the big things. So, without further ado - some of the things in life that I just don't understand.

Warning - some of these are funny & some are serious. Sorry if you don't like serious. It's my blog, ha ha!

• Why do some people slow down when they approach green lights? Green means go! If you are color blind, them I'm totally sorry for this rant - I guess you can't help it. Are you psychic & you know that the light is about to turn red? If so, you have to get through the yellow light before you get to red - so don't slow down! If the light is green - keep it moving. Because when you slow down, you boggle my mind. I just don't understand.
• Why is the little box of cereal (almost) always more expensive than the big box? What kind of game are they playing? My Mom taught me to be a cautious shopper (at least when it comes to groceries. Bless her, she has tried to teach me to hold on to my money when I shop for other things, but I just can't curb those impulses) & because of this, I notice that you can buy that smaller box, but you might actually be paying more for it than that big ol box. I just don't understand.
• Why do dogs & cats dislike one another? Maybe they all don't, but it seems like that is the general rule. Recently, I got the idea that I would get myself a kitten to join mine & Watson's little family. My Dad immediatly said "that's a bad idea, Watson will snap that kitten's neck." Now - Watson isn't particulary violent (although he is territorial) so I asked my Dad what his reasoning behind that was. It was simple - dogs & cats don't get along. Why not though? Can't they be friends like Milo & Otis? Why are Milo & Otis the exception & not the rule? I just don't understand.
• Why are people mean? And better than that - why are kids mean? I know kids don't come into this world mean, so they are learning it somewhere. Who teaches kids to be mean?  Mean children turn into mean adults & the cycle just starts all over again. All a person wants in the world is to be loved & accepted, so who are these people that keep hurting their kids & turning them into cruel kids that are sent out into the world to continue the cycle of mean? I just don't understand.
• Why is it that people who desperately want a baby can't have one & people that don't want a baby at all are able to have them? I don't even really know if I can elaborate on that because it just blows my mind & I have to trust that there is a reason for that - because I just don't understand.
• And lastly - I was reading my Bible the other day (we were around the end of Joshua, start of Judges) & the Lord has lead the Israelites out of Egypt, led them through the desert, delivered them from numerous other peoples, performed miraculous wonders, etc. He tells the people of Israel that as long as they worship & follow him, he will bless them, he will make their crops bountiful, their lives long, any city they attack he will deliver into their hands, basically - he is going to take care of them. If they turn away from him though - things are gonna be bad. They will lose every battle, their crops will die, their lives will be cut short. And what do they do? The first chance they get - they turn away from him & start worshipping Baal - and just like the Lord promised - things just go downhill from there. I read that & I thought "what idiots those people were. They had it all laid out in front of them & they just rejected it completely." And then, that still small voice said to me "Don't you do that every day?" Wow. I do. The Lord didn't deliver me from armies, he hasn't made crops bountiful, but he did something so much more. He died for me. He gave his very life so that I could be free from Hell. And all I have to do is follow him & he promises to make my life more exceptional than I could imagine or dream up. But what do I do? I'm just as ridiculous as those Israelites - I think that my way has to be better & so I go off on my own. And what happens? Things go horribly wrong. Well duh Natalie. Why do you do that? I just don't understand.

So, I guess that is all for today. Are you being ridiculous & trying to go your own way? I know I was convicted by that. Just thought I'd share.

Home is Where the Heart Is

So, they say home is where your heart is. Well, what about your actual house? My Dad got a job in Virginia & so my parents are moving to Virginia at the end of May. My little sister lives in Colorado & so now that leaves me here in Mississippi. Our family is literally about to be stretched out across the continent. Along with the new reality of all of us being in these different places (which is a concept I'm still grasping) is the reality that the parents are selling the house. I knew that was coming, but things are starting to make it very real. My little sister & my parents went through Lindsey's room yesterday & started packing stuff up & I guess I wasn't expecting it to look like it did when I got home - you know, it looked like we might actually be moving. So, I started thinking about all the wonderful times we've had in our house & I felt the need to blog again.

Home is where your heart is....what does that even mean? Whenever I hear someone say that, it instantly makes me think of the line "home is where your heart it, so your real home's in your chest" - which is a line from a song in Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog*. Hence the picture of Captain Hammer up there. I get what the statement means, I do. It means that you always have the people you love with you in your heart & so there is where you truly find home. If you have the ones you love around you, then home can be in a hut in Africa or an igloo in the Arctic or wherever. My home; for the past 13 years, has been a house on Mayatt Road with with three bedrooms, two & a half bathrooms, a bonus room, a living room/dining room/kitchen & even a sunroom. It is also filled with lots of memories. So - I'm gonna share a few of my fondest memories from my home. Because in less than two months, all I'll have are the memories from my home & someone else will be making new memories there. Sigh.

*If you have never seen Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog, you must find a way to watch it ASAP. It is quite possibly one of the greatest things I have ever watched. I mean - I knew Neil Patrick Harris could sing (because I'll be honest, I  kind of love NPH) but I had no idea that Nathan Fillion (Castle anyone?) could sing. Plus - both Neil Patrick Harris & Nathan Fillion are not hard to look at.  I assure you - it is 45 minutes that will just be epic. Okay, well maybe 43 because I guess the last 2 minutes aren't as epic as the first 43, but you get my point. You should go watch it. Now. All 5 of you that actually follow me & are reading this. :)

I remember my 13th birthday. Maybe this memory isn't necessarily "fond", but I remember it well. We moved into the house about a month before my birthday & so I got to be the first one to have a big party/get together/hoopla in our new house! All my cool friends came over & we had a cookout. Once we had finished eating our delicious food, blowing out the candles & opening all the cool presents, my friends I just wandered around in the yard - talking about boys & clothes & hair & all that other stuff that 13 year olds are obsessed with. We got to the end of the driveway & we were just kind of taking in the busted up trailers that were across the street & I was explaining to them about how the junkyard looking trailers across the street was "really the only drawback to living here" when we see a guy walking up the road. Carrying a scythe. A scythe. We all watched in frozen horror as the guy just walked right passed us & down the road, swinging his scythe all the while. Once he was out of sight, we all fled back up the driveway & proceeded to discuss the possibility of my whole family being killed in our sleep by the guy with the scythe. A wonderful ending to a spectacular 13th birthday. Thanks scythe guy - you gave me a memory that now cracks me up.

Another great memory - coming home from my first prom. I was only 15, but my boyfriend was older & so I got to go to prom. Let me just say, I was looking pretty cute. Except for the crazy Barbie doll hair that the stupid hairdresser gave me. I specifically said "not poufy" & yet when I left, poufy. But I digress.... My boyfriend brought me home from prom (it was actually his prom, not mine. I was just the date) & in the driveway of the house he proceeded to turn on "our" song & dance with me. I mean - to a 15 year old, that was big stuff. Granted, the romantic moment got interrupted with the realization that a beetle had somehow gotten into my dress. After I flew inside to have my Mom (who was still up at 4-something waiting on me, so sweet) extract the bug from the layers of fluffy dress, I went back outside & finished my dance. That is a great memory. Dancing in the driveway. That could be a song...

Moving right along - I remember getting my car for Christmas in 2002. I had no clue what was going on. All I knew was that something was up because my Mom kept "forgetting" who this present belonged to & so Lindsey & I had to pass it back & forth & keep unwrapping it, layer by layer. Finally my Mom says "oh yeah, that's right - it is Natalie's present" & I got to open the last little box. There, on a puffy little cloud of jewelry fuzz was something far more beautiful than jewelry. It was a car key! I can't really describe the moment - we have it on film somewhere & it is pretty funny. I almost broke my neck getting to the front door & flinging it open & that is when the screaming began. I think I opened & closed the doors of that car so many times to make sure it was really mine & was really real. Also - having a new car meant that I got to have a spot in the garage. The slot on the right was for "Natalie's Car" & that was awesome. Good times.

Another memory I have is of the Christmas Eve party we have every year. After going to the church for the Christmas Eve service, the Summerlins, the McKeithens, the Watsons & the Deans would go back to our house & proceed to have an awesome party. There is always more food than anyone can ever hope to eat. There are conversations, jokes, laughter & most of all, a lot of love. Some other people have come from one year to the next, but those families are the core group. This group of people (most are family, some are not but they might as well be) are people that I know love me & the one thing I remember most about this party is knowing that on Christmas Eve, I am surronded by so many people that love & care about me & my family. That is truly a blessing. Some people can't name the people that care for them on one hand - I am lucky enough to not have enough fingers (or toes for that matter) to count all the people that care for me. We have gained some members (McKenna was born into this group. The Christmas we started it, she was still in utero, but it has been a staple of her Christmas Eve from a time before she was even born) & we have lost some members (Papaw. I miss you) but it is a guarantee that every Christmas Eve, the house would be filled with people. Not sure what will happen now.

My house has, in the 13 years that my family has lived there
-seen two little girls grow into young women
-sheltered a family through the loss of a parent & a grandparent
-provided a safe haven from the storm's of life, whether they be literal or emotional
-been a safe place to come home to when you wanted to escape the stresses of college life
-seen hearts break & mend, some hearts having done this multiple times
-seen two girls learn all about first love (and loss)
-been taken over by several furry creatures, both the feline & canine persuasion
-been wounded by a young driver pushing the gas instead of the brake (yes, it was me)
-had snow tracked through it, which is interesting since it is in the deep South

Most of all, my house has been a home. It has provided me with a lifetime of memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life. So, to the people who will be moving into our house - please cherish it. It has cherished my family for 13+ years & we have loved it right back. It is a house that was built with love & has been filled with love since the first bits of the foundation were poured. Please love our house (I guess it is really your house now) because we have loved it.