Flowers, Magazines, & Shoes...It doesn't get much better

My two newest magazine subscriptions; Christianity Today and National Geographic.

Just a shadow of myself

I've been in a lot of pain over the past three to four weeks and yesterday was the first time that I have actually felt normal.

It was like I woke up from a really blase version of myself.

I never thought about pain being attitude altering.

True Life

I am pleasantly surprised by how much I have enjoyed reading this book.

Who needs Jason Bourne when you have the real thing?

It gives an in depth account of what was going on after September 11th involving the war in Afghanistan. Woodward interviewed so many people involved including Colin Powell, Rumsfield, Condaleza Rice, the heads of the CIA, FBI, NSA and the Joint Chiefs as well as two interviews with President Bush, himself. So far, it seems to be the Bush Administration's story because there have been very few Democrats even quoted. However, the intelligence agency leaders are said to be fairly non-partisian and served multiple presidents. I guess the purpose of the book is to explain why Bush did what he did. Woodward doesn't tell you what his thoughts really are. Of course, every reporter has an opinion and the way they report the story can be powerful.

I read The Agenda in college, his book on the first 100 days of the Clinton Administration that Mrs. Clinton enthusiastically cooperated with him on but then tried to have recalled once she realized he wasn't quite as pro-Democrat as it would seem.
I'm interested to read the other two books Bob Woodward has since written on the Iraq war; Plan of Attack and State of Denial.

It's All Fun and Games Until Someone Gets Hurt

This weekend, I read an article by a very talented writer that I knew in college. Hilarious. I was seriously laughing out loud. Until I got to paragraph eleven and started recognizing the characters in her story...

...OUCH!

haha. I guess you'll never know what magazine you will make an appearance in...

Did she REAALLY say that?

Read on Facebook:

"My residencey of Charleston only lasted three days, yet I could spend a lifetime meeting Citadel cadets, groups of wonderful looking young men, in marvelous physical condition, what beautiful creatures they are, so crisp and so powerful. I fear they have seduced me, and I enjoy my fears..." ~Princess Diana
















Hahaha.

There's so much more...not to mention that you need a violin playing goat

It is funny how much your perspective can change on something in just a year or two.

I guess as I look at the people around me and live their lives with them, I've started to realize how serious a lifetime commitment really is.

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I like hearts and flowers. Facing your flaws and really being able to look in the mirror and be honest about the imperfections...

completely off my list of fun things to do.

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There is one couple, in particular, who have really encouraged me to step away from what I'm good at and spend concentrated time facing up and having the courage to look at the flawed areas I generally chose to ignore. I honestly didn't have much of a choice. It hurts but I think that it was the grace of God that I wasn't allowed to rest in false confidence forever.

By the way, I found Hugh Grant and Julia Robert's blue door in Notting Hill while visiting London this summer. The owners have cashed in on the movie, naming their gift shop "The Blue Door".

Hans in California

Free Sample!

Macy's Magnificant Mascara Exchange

Bring your old mascara to one of our counters and we’ll replace it with a free mascara sample.

September 19 -22 only. One per customer, while supplies last.

I knew there was a reason not to throw away my old ones...more than just they could be of good use in some future art project!

Psalm 30:5

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

Isaiah 25:8

he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken.

1 Thes. 3-4

So that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them. In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know.

John 16:33

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

I ran into my sister and her friend at the mall and then we bumped into Kim J. about ten minutes later who was headed to meet Julie. As we were talking, this guy who thought he was a player walked right up to our group and said, "Hey, ladies" and just stood there expectantly with no intention of walking away. Okay, if he were 25, this wouldn't be worth mentioning but he looked no older than 13.

What was funny is that Kim and I kept talking (after I looked at him and said, "Bye") but I hear Alisha (who still isn't believing this kid is hitting on any of us) say, "Do you know one of us?"

"No, but you sure are looking fine."

The lights went on for Alisha and she shooed him away. Then, he proceeded to stand 15 feet away with his fellow pre-teen friend and stare. The next thing I know, Alisha has closed the distance in between them and is asking this kid how old he is and giving him a mini-scolding about how we are older and he should not be talking to us that way.

It didn't seem to go incredibly well but I still really admired her effort!

Three Days on the Grand Strand

Monday night was our time dedicated to the fun tackiness of Broadway at the Beach.

Spinning teacups, giant smoking dragon boots, and giant, spinning hurricanes at the Jimmy Buffet restaurant that mixed drinks in a giant blender were a few of the things that made the awesome Michael Jackson impersonator at our party the next night look normal. I, of course, went home hours before any of the other crowd ever thought about ending the night.

The cute didn't last for too long because they started rushing me when I kneeled to take a picture.

The customer appreciation party on Tuesday night was great networking.

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I have a new favorite chef.

A comforting sight...especially since I'd had no good coffee

for three days!

I am loving this book.

I went to Barnes and Noble tonight after my small group with the girls and blew through half the book when I only meant to flip through a few pages. Memoirs and biographies are becoming a category I enjoy because of books like this.

I do not understand the two Amazon customers who gave it bad reviews.

Hometown Proud

The downtown area of where I grew up. You blink, you seriously missed it.

Besides your clothes, what do you pack for a two night trip?

Lots and Lots of Bottled Water
Tennis Shoes (you never know)
Stilettos (in case I forgot a party or dinner...clothes are easy to buy but shoes aren't!)
A Magazine (This month's Lucky)
Latest Book (Power of the Praying Woman by Stormie O'Martian)
Laptop (but I forgot the POWER CORD!!)
iPod
Camera

(I am an INCREDIBLY light packer when it comes to clothes. It normally surprises new traveling companions but after all the business trips I've learned that less is DEFINITELY more.)

A Jaimie bought us matching Ultimate Fighting Championship T-shirts (love it). K I wore jeans to church today (completely uncommon occurance). B Dinner at Hamm's on Franklin Street Friday night with a good crowd, browsing through the used book shop, and hanging out in downtown Durham.

C I am making a conscious effort to purchase clothes that are not "dry clean only" because I no longer want laundry bills to be a normal part of my life. D Made peach streusel muffins for the women's brunch and they did not look the way I envisioned yet they tasted swell. e Deonni & Dr. Hope's testimonies this weekend both made me cry because they so touched my heart. F Realized I live a life of luxury that I do not have to fear being beaten with an electric cattle prodder and face imprisonment to practice my faith.

G I love going to the same church as my younger sister. H I have a new favorite restaurant in downtown Durham in the old Fowler's building (as in, "It could rival Foster's, Charleigh"). I Jason turned a year older and we watched the UNC game and UFC to celebrate.

Little Sisters

Alisha visiting Jillian in Germany.

Pigeons

San Marco's Square in Venice, Italy has a few tourist attractions...

The church, the dueling orchestras, and the birds.

Venders sell bags of bird seed to the visitors who then feed it to the pigeons. You hold out your hands and the birds land all over you.

I love this picture of Alisha.

John & Kate saw parents dump some seed on their small son's head and shoulders and then take pictures as the birds sat on his head and shoulders pecking away at the food while he whimpered.

This stowaway and his friends hitched a ride on my backpack as I was walking through the square. He completely surprised me by hopping onto my shoulder and then onto my head. Do the pigeons have talons?
Absolutely! John and some Indian tourists were there to take pictures of my shock.

I went to a wedding last night where I knew ALL the family on both the bride and groom's sides. It was SO good. Let's start the list...

1. His sister was one of my best friends

2. Her cousin is one of Alisha's best friends

3. For twelve years, he played every sport with John...football, baseball, and soccer

4. We grew up with five of their siblings, fourteen of their cousins and twenty two aunts and uncles.

(That means all the dance recitals, festivals, parades, graduations, piano competitions, tennis matches, football games, science fairs, golf lessons, ski trips, summer afternoons spent at the pool, fights at recess, and every other event of my life at home was attended by at least four but quite frequently up to 43 people from their combined family. That is SERIOUS.)

5. He and his sister went to work for my same company after graduation.

6. They are moving to Florida for her grad school and he will trade in my dad as a boss to work at my uncle's accounting firm.