On My Mind

I made a commitment to myself I would be much better about blogging this year. So far, not so good. It's January 23 and I'm writing my second post of the year. At least it is in the same month, so I'll just give myself a B- and pledge to do better!

Here are some of the things on my mind lately...

Exercise...exercise...exercise. It's like I am working on a rough draft for a brilliant research paper. I'm doing really great at thinking about it, just not so much at actually doing it. So, I am going to pledge to get back to the gym before my next post.

Football season. The Super Bowl is two weeks away which means the end of football season until August. I'm thinking the NFL needs to extend their season because this girl is not a big basketball or baseball fan.

Misunderstandings. There is a little voice deep inside me that tries to tell me to not open my mouth. I should have listened this week. I asked a question and set off a chain of events that still has me wondering what happened. I came away from the situation with the knowledge you are responsible for you and not the actions and words of others. I'd say stay tuned for an update on the situation, but I'm thinking the door that closed is locked for good.

Thirty Days to Live. This is a new study our church is doing and it has been phenomenal. It has changed the way I think about a lot of things in my life. I've noticed an increase in our SS class attendance and worship attendance. I am so thankful to George for bringing the study to our church.

Winter. Where is winter? Did it not look at the calendar and realize I need my "snow day" fix? I don't need a blizzard, but I would be happy with enough snow to make a Snowman!

Coffee. Ballyhoo introduced a new latte and I am hooked. Salted caramel to be exact. I may need to ask them to ban me from the store so I will not make it my daily stop on the way home. Otherwise I will seriously have to put the exercise thought into action!

Well, that's all. The end. No more. Not very exciting, but it's only January. Stay tuned......

2012 - The Year of More Cowbell

If you have never seen the SNL skit, "More Cowbell" you might want to watch it before reading my post...I'll wait...............Okay, now that you have watched it, I can continue.

In roughly eight hours and thirty minutes, 2011 will be history. Long gone. No more. Out the door. It was an interesting year. I have been reflecting on 2011 today and I concluded it could have had "more cowbell". You know...a little more "umph" a little more "snap" a little more "go get 'em Ginger." So, that is why I am pledging 2012 to be the year of more cowbell.

A brief rundown of the events in 2011 include:

1. I FINALLY stopped the horrible habit of biting my nails...gross!

2. I got rid of a pair of shoes that I had glued, super glued and gorilla glued more times than I would be willing to admit. I loved those shoes...they for sure were "more cowbell" kind of shoes. But, they just didn't make it through all the repairs. I bid them a fond farewell (much to the applause of my friends Connie and Maria!)

3. I lost some weight...gained some back....lost a little more and gained the little back. So, I'm pretty much even there. I guess it is better to have lost and gained than to have gained and gained. I'm going to give the exercise a little "more cowbell" in 2012.

4. My daughter began high school...WHAT? That one was really tough!

5. I learned a lot about people, hurt, pride and trust. I learned I will always let people down, people will always let me down and in the end if you still have a friend after all that you better hang on because they are the real deal.

6. I witnessed the Lord answer prayers for friends which brought such joy to my heart. A special "more cowbell" for that!

7. I discovered the amazing, unconditional love of some of the sweetest kids I know. My life would not be the same without the sweet hugs these sweet little boys and girls gave, "Miss Ginger" at church. Teaching Sunday School was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

8. Finally, I learned I cannot "fix" people. I can love them, but cannot make them love me in return. No matter how much I want to blame myself, I have realized the way I look does not drive people away. It is about them and their journey in life. I could not have realized that without the love and support of two of the greatest women I know. I love and admire you both to the moon and back!

Here is hoping your 2012 is filled with "more cowbell', love, happiness and sunshine!

Dreams 101

Scary dreams...funny dreams...weird dreams...you name it and I have dreamt it lately. For about the past week, I have had some of the most bizarre dreams ever. Throughout the course of a night's sleep, I am having a multitude of dreams that are in no way related to one another. I know there are a lot of things that can cause people to have weird dreams. Medication is usually the culprit, but the strongest thing I have taken lately is good 'ole Alka Seltzer for my cold. When I was a kid, popcorn would cause me to have weird dreams. Weird as in sleepwalking and dreaming about Fonzie and Chachi...yep, the Fonz. Too much TV for this girl when I was a kid!

Over the last few days, I have dreamt of people breaking their ankles, me working at the Pentagon, being on the Price is Right and being interviewed on ESPN about being the new owner of the Dallas Cowboys. If dreams really do come true, I will be sure and give all the readers of my blog tickets to a Cowboys game!

I've always wondered if dreams have specific meanings. For instance, why on earth would I dream someone broke their ankle? Maybe a broken relationship? Would the working at the Pentagon dream mean I desire some kind of power? The Price is Right dream could mean I yearn to be the center of attention? Humm...I guess the Fonzie dream when I was a kid meant I had a secret desire to wear leather and ride a Harley. Who knows!

I'm ready for the dreams where I am a Victoria's Secret model...Miss Universe or accepting my Academy Award! haha

So, what are some of the most bizarre dreams you have had?

Fabulous Fantastic Fall

Fall makes this girl very happy! I absolutely love the smell in the air, the colors, the crispness in the air and the sound the leaves make as you walk across the yard. I find my true solace in Fall. I almost feel like I could lay in a hammock and pen the great American novel while soaking in the comforting blanket of my favorite season.

As a kid, I think Fall was my favorite season because my birthday just happens to be right in the middle of it! What kid cannot wait for their birthday?

One of the things I am pledging to do this Fall is to bake a lot of goodies with pumpkin, cinnamon, apples, and spice! I don't plan on keeping the

m all for my family, but I want to take what I bake to other people to let them know how much I appreciate them. Family, friends, co-workers and other people who I feel are blessings in my life.

Here is wishing you a Fall filled with a lot of love, cool weather, blessings, family, friends and of course...football! :)

Randomness

I realized today I am in need of something to boost my short term memory! Where in the world did it go to? Sometimes the word is right on the tip of my tongue, but it will just not come out. Talk about frustrating!

My long term memory is pretty amazing. I remember things from when I was pretty little as in about 2 - 3 years old. Is that crazy or what? I wish my long term and short term would get together and help each other out for me.

My friends give me a hard time because I can quote movies, song lyrics, quotes, etc. A few examples....

When I was 5, I was really irritated that my mom had a baby. He was great at first, but all that crying, spitting up, peeing and pooing....whew...too much for me! Plus, he was taking all the attention! Once I realized we could not send him back, I had to opt for plan b which was running away from home. I packed this huge, ugly, brown suitcase with my stuffed animals and baby dolls and walked out the door. We lived on Avenue I at the time and I knew I should not cross the street because I would get in trouble so I walked around the block. Here this little redheaded girl was carrying a suitcase full of stuffed animals and baby dolls was walking around the block. After running out of options (where was I going to go since I could not cross the street?) I decided to go home and just deal with my new baby brother. Weird memory from that day...running away from home would get you a spanking!

In first grade, I had a "boyfriend". He gave me a locket, wrapped in a kleenex one day. (I'm fairly sure he took it from his sister!) The next day I had to give him something so I searched my house that night to see what I would give him. I finally found the perfect gift for him. So...the next day I go to school and give it to him on the playground...(by the way, not such a great idea!) I watched him open it from a piece of notebook paper and throw it to the ground and stomp all over it in front of his friends! My heart was as broken as the gift laying in pieces all over the ground. Let's just say he was NOT a fan of a Bee Gee's 8-track...must have been a communist in training because who did not love the Bee Gees in the 70's? Weird memory from that day...he was wearing big 'ole black glasses and a stripped shirt. His hair was so blond it was white...pitter patter went my heart! I can hardly listen to the Bee Gees now without thinking of him!

In sixth grade, I had an enormous crush (to put it mildly) on a boy in my grade. As in, giggle every single time he walked by! I remember one day watching all the guys play basketball and they played "shirts" and "skins"...well what do you know, he was "skins"...oh mama mia!!! I just sat in the stands and giggled with all my friends. Weird memory about that one...I remember EXACTLY what he was wearing in his school picture in 6th grade! WHAT??? I know, I'm a little obsessive about these things. My crush was nevermore than a crush. In fact, I never told him about the crush. Of course he might have guessed it from me smiling like an idiot every time he walked down the hall or into the classroom. But, I got over it (mostly) :) and consider him a great friend now. I wonder if he reads blogs....hum....

Off to Wal-Mart to buy some memory boosting herbs! haha

20 Years Already???

I found out recently my 20th year class reunion is officially on the calendar! WOW! Where in the world did time go to?

I will tell you I got a little anxious when I began thinking about the reunion because I have wanted to lose some weight...let's get real...(a lot of weight!) for a long time. Finally, this was it...here was my inspiration!

I have tried diet after diet and FAILED big time! I would lose a lot...gain back even more. It is a vicious cycle! Pills, not eating, shakes, you name it and I have tried it. I finally came to the realization that I had to make a lifestyle change in the way I eat. Five weeks ago I introduced myself to the low carb lifestyle. The first couple of days were tough, but I have to say I have never felt better! No bread...no potatoes...no fried food...no soft drinks....who would have thought all that stuff was making me feel so sluggish?

As of this morning, I have lost a total of 19.2 pounds! I am on the way to reaching my goal before my reunion and am elated! I don't even think much about what I eat now, because I can see changes in my body and that is way more important that all that fattening food!

On Your Mark...

Once football season is over, I'm always a little sad. However, I do get excited because I know track season is right around the corner. During football season, you pretty much know what to expect in terms of weather. That is not the case at a track meet. You can have a beautiful, sun shining day...with winds 80 mph. You can have a beautiful, sun shining day...with no wind and temps in the 90's. You can have a not-so beautiful day, no sun...with temps in the 30's. In the Texas Panhandle you could get a mixture of all of those days all in one track meet!

What I like most about track is the emotion you feel sitting in the stands. Everyone on their feet cheering as the runners cross the finish line and everyone on their feet cheering for that last runner who is determined to finish a race even though everyone finished way before him/her. My good friend, Connie always talks about "heart and hustle" and I think a track meet is a prime place to find that "heart and hustle."

When Chase ran track, he was the first leg on all three relays. I can remember the knot in my stomach before each race. I loved seeing him get down in the blocks and remain so still until the shot of the gun rang in the air. When he bolted out of the blocks, the knot in my stomach was gone and it was pure excitement from that point forward.

Last year was Madie's first year to run track and just like most siblings, her and Chase did not have the same talents in track. In the very first track meet, Madie ran the 400 and the 300 hurdles. Those of you who are not familiar with track need to know those 2 events are back to back. The 400 meters is first and for someone who did not have any practice running the race, I felt Madie did great. She was extremely exhausted when she crossed the line. She did not get the speed that her brother had, but her "heart and hustle" were there...every step of the 400 meters. She had 3 groups do the 400 meters before she had to step back on the track and run the 300 hurdles.

Imagine running 400meters, resting for 10 minutes and then getting back on the track and running 300 meters...this time with HURDLES in the way. She cleared the first few hurdles pretty good, then exhaustion set in. As she came upon the home stretch, I could tell by the look in her face she was hurting. But...she did not quit. She finished the race. She did not hear the cheers of the crowd as she crossed the finish line first, but she did hear cheers as she CROSSED the finish line. She was the last one to cross the line, but she crossed it and I could not have been more proud. She put her heart into the race and she competed against other girls for her school.

Our lives are a lot like track meets. There are often hurdles in our way, but if we just dig down and find the strength to go over those hurdles we will make it. "Hustle and

Heart" applies to every aspect of our lives. Here is hoping your hurdles are few and you always find the strength to finish the races set before you!

“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.”