I think it's prophetic . . .

You Belong in London

A little old fashioned, and a little modern. A little traditional, and a little bit punk rock. A unique woman like you needs a city that offers everything. No wonder you and London will get along so well.

What City Do You Belong In?

. . . or at least, I'm praying it in . . .

Random thoughts on random Thanksgiving

This year has been a bit awkward for me so far during the holidays because I'm in the middle of an awkward transition at work. So I was scheduled to work this Thanksgiving. So my mom decided to take a break from cooking turkey. So I suggested we go out to eat at Golden Corral instead.

I like Golden Corral, but apparently nearly everyone else in Odessa does, too. The lines were surprisingly long for a holiday. But it was fun eating steak for Thanksgiving. :D It was nice getting to chitchat a little bit with my parents, since usually the TV's on during mealtimes.

What was depressing was having to go to work right afterwards. Especially during my dinner break at night, when a chilled hush descended over downtown Odessa. Reflecting in solitude underneath the early Christmas lights, I couldn't help but sigh.

So I'm glad that Thanksgiving is about giving thanks instead of just a meal and a holiday chiche. Whether you're at the Golden Corral or whether you're working a night shift.

By the way -- Mom did end up cooking a bit of turkey the next day. Short break, huh? :)

Home Again

Riding in the train from London to Bedford I looked out the window at the passing landscape and couldn't help but think, "I'm home again."

It really does feel that way. Especially after seeing all my friends. I love that I can walk around town and run into people I know.

*sigh*

Tomorrow I'm heading to London. We're going later in the day so I can see all the Christmas lights that are popping up around town. I'm excited; I've never hung out in London at night.

On Thursday I'm going to Sheffield. I have friends from my old church in Waco who moved up there to start a church back in June. I'm very excited about seeing them all.

Well, I'm off. I'll try to check in again soon.

Confused-grown-up question

Why do they not post instructions at the drive-thru at the bank? I try my best to look like I know what I'm doing whenever I lean out of my car & reach for the plastic tube thingy & unlatch the Star Trek opening doo-hicky, & usually the voice in the speaker is kind enough to instruct me. (And I gotta admit putting my driver's license inside the thingy & shooting it off into space is a bit disconcerting.) But was there some sort of class on drive-thru etiquette that they offered back in the 1970s or something that I missed?? They sure didn't offer any refresher courses when I was in school. I was too fascinated with my record player back in the 70s. (And, not to mention, not alive for most of it.)

I'll be glad when my bank decides to join the 21st century and install an ATM machine.

Ya learn something new every day. :)

Thankfulness

Today I was teaching my kids(all 22 3-year-olds) about Thanksgiving. We read a little book and then I explained what 'thankful' means. I told them a few things I'm thankful for and then I went around the room and asked them what they were thankful for. Of course I got copycat answers of "mi mommy" or "mi papi," as well as some silent blank stares, but there were a few original answers. Without hesitating, Jala said she was thankful for lunch. My favorite was when Yenny said she was thankful for her shoes. Later she also added "mis faldas" ("my skirts"). *sigh* That makes me so proud to be their teacher.


Btw, I'm thankful for my shoes too. And my skirts. Especially the new ones I purchased last weekend.

Bursting with excitement...

...because in less than three days I will be on an airplane headed for England!!!

About five weeks ago, on a whim, I decided to book a flight. I had learned that we had the whole week off from work, so I figured it would be a good time for a visit. I found a flight within budget, and now I will soon be off. Unfortunately it's not for a permanent stay; I can't wait for that day to come. I'm sad about missing Turkey Day with the family, but I am looking forward to visiting my dear friends. Drop me an email if you want me to send ya a postcard.

Cheers, my dears!

Leave me and my (mother's) kitchen alone!

Holidays are sprouting here, ee-i-ee-i-oh.
Holidays are sprouting there, ee-i-ee-i-oh.
With a potluck here, and a potluck there,
Here a pot, there a pot, EVERYWHERE A POTLUCK!!!

I totally LOVE the holidays, and I totally LOVE all the free food they bring. :) But really... GIMME A BREAK! I DON'T EVEN COOK!! THE EXTENT OF MY CULINARY EXPERTISE IS BOLOGNA SANDWICHES!!!

I live with my mother and she rarely lets me near her stove. Yet at work, at church... everyone keeps asking me to bring food for potlucks!! (No, I won't ask my mother to cook for me. That would be like hitting below the apron belt, no?)

Honestly, I am looking forward to the meals and time with friends. But if all I ever do is keep signing up to bring a bag of chips, that might get old...

Can't we all just order pizza??

I mean, unless everybody really WANTS me to bring bologna sandwiches... that would be a different story altogether...

Pre-holiday yippee

I GOT THE CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY DVD!!! :D :D :D It totally ROCKS, by the way. :D

As I've been meandering through the shopping aisles lately, I've noticed something that I shared with a friend earlier this week: We have totally skipped over Thanksgiving. There was Halloween, then naturally we're all VERY excited about Christmas coming up (I, for one, am a Christmas NUT -- it's my FAVORITE time of year)... But what the heck happened to Thanksgiving??? Where are all the Thanksgiving displays? music? commercials on TV? Granted, perhaps grocery stores across America are pushing for high turkey sales. But still... when I leave the store, I'm impressed with all the Christmas decorations, not Thanksgiving cornucopias.

I was hit with a major shock when I looked at the calendar this morning, though. Thanksgiving is NEXT WEEK. Egad!! No wonder Christmas is getting celebrated earlier -- it's almost HERE!!!

YIPPEE!!!!!

Hopefully I won't get distracted by all the cool holiday stuff and forget about what the holidays are really all about. In the meantime, I am thankful. :D

29 1/2

Sorry I missed the date -- this message really should have been posted on November 7, my 29 1/2-th birthday. :">

Well, 29 1/2 isn't quite how I pictured it as a child... but it's still pretty cool. Folks had told me that my 20s would be hard because God basically puts you through the wringer, really hard. I can vouch for that. And they also said around the time you hit age 30, things get MUCH better. I look forward to that. And I think I know why this is a weird age. When you're a kid, you develop all these plans and dreams and ideals. Then around age 20 through 29, you try to live them out, but you're smacked with the reality of your character-in-need-of-repair, PLUS just adult responsibilities hitting you in the face for the first time. That can really bite.

Not that it's totally horrible at this age. Not at all. Recently I've begun to embrace the, how shall I say this, total kookiness that comes with being 29 1/2 and trying to enjoy life. I have become a fan of SpongeBob Squarepants (and I am not ashamed. Just ask my family who witnesses me keeping the TV on Nickelodeon a little too long sometimes.). I turn on my revolving disco ball and dance with my cat sometimes (I lead). After discovering ABBA, the Swedish pop band that was really popular in the 1970s, I now play an ABBA tape in my car for about 75-80% of my driving time. AND I STILL WANT THE NEW CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY DVD!!! :D

I shudder to think what my life will look like in my 30s. But hey, what's the worst that can happen??

You're right. I could become a Teletubbies fan. So... not to worry. Arrgh, SpongeBob rules, matey.