JingJing's Junket

Asia Night

2008-06-17T01:25:00.002-05:00

Friday night, Scott and I joined some friends over @ Jerry's house for "Asia Night" where each person brought their favorite Asian dish for potluck and then we watched "Kung Fu Hustle". We had several Korean specialties including Bulgogi, alongside salmon sushi, pot stickers, fried dumplings and chicken curry. My contribution to the feast was homemade fortune cookies. I got the biggest kick out of coming up with the fortunes themselves. We have amazing friends. I am so glad to be a part of this.

As Time Goes By....

2008-06-07T00:03:00.008-05:00

Howard Ray Gregory

March 17, 1946-June 7, 2005

It has been 3 years. And rarely a day goes by that I don't think about you in some way or another. Our lives continue on...Jason got married. Jessica graduated college. You would have been so pleased! Even though we didn't talk very often, I always felt valued and cherished by you. It's funny how little regrets pop up here and there. If only I had called more often. If only I had gone to visit just one more time. I know those things are so far in the past and I can't change them. So many of those decisions were based on childish responses--deep seated fears and hurts that hadn't been allow to breathe or heal. I am so grateful for the time I had with you at the end. I think I finally started to see you not just as my father, but as my Dad. I became proud of you in a way I hadn't anticipated.

I can accept you are gone. The pain is there, but the sting has diminished. It doesn't smother me or paralyze me in a way it had. I was bitter for a while. And even now, I find myself angry. Angry because I feel robbed or denied having you in my life...presenting you with a grandchild...spending those hours talking about insignificant things--drinking bottomless cups of coffee into the evening. Laughing at silly jokes or stories you tell. I think I got my storytelling gene from you. It is one of my favorite things about me. It is a beautiful gift.
Thank you for that. I just wanted to tell you how much I love you and that you haven't been forgotten.

2008-03-04T00:18:00.007-06:00

I got a couple of phone calls while at work tonight. One from my aunt and the other from my brother. Grandpa was put into a nursing home a little better than a month ago. The transfusions he has been receiving for the past couple of years no longer serve any purpose, as he has developed antibodies against the blood. He has lost significant weight, is anemic and is in a state of confusion since his brain is not getting the oxygen it needs.

Anyway....Jason visited with Grandpa yesterday and he was not his usual responsive self. The docs have convinced the family to call in hospice. My brother said that it was surreal how much he looks like my Dad just before he died. Aunt Clara and Jason have both assured me there is no reason to hurry up to Arkansas to see him, as he probably wouldn't recognize me...that perhaps my last living memories of him should be of our time together over Christmas.

I keep looking @ my phone, expecting a call at any moment to inform me of his death.

Please say a prayer for me. In a couple of weeks would have been my Dad's 62nd birthday. Its going on 3 years since he passed. The loss of my Dad is still a very tender, raw nerve--and this seems to re-open the wound wide and expose me to the elements. I recognize Grandpa has had a full 94 years...and yet--still.....well, you know.

I am grateful for our time in Texas so far...but when it comes to my familial relationships, the physical distance has in some ways created a chasm I resent. When I spoke to Jason tonight, he said he was going to sit with him tomorrow (Tuesday) and just "be"...even though he wasn't sure Grandpa was cognizant of his surroundings. I asked J to stroke his face, tell grandpa that I love him and wished I could be there to hug his neck. My fantasy is that Grandpa will feel warmth and love from his family even as he is transitioning from here to there.....and that thought gives me comfort.

Sisters

2008-01-02T00:38:00.000-06:00

While in Memphis, I got the chance to spend some much needed time with my sisters Brittany and Tiffany. Tiffany lived with us in Waco...and comes to visit from time to time, but I hardly ever get an opportunity to chillax with Brittany. We enjoyed dinner together for my birthday and took a couple of hours to do some Christmas shopping. In fact, before we left town on Christmas day to head toward Nashville--Scott and I met Mom, Tippy, Brittany and Sapo for dinner @ a Chinese restaurant. It has become a Christmas tradition for us of sorts. Fa ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra......

Family Picture

2008-01-02T00:31:00.000-06:00

As you are well aware, Scott and I have no children-but I am considering carrying this picture with me so I can show my "kids" to folks who ask. Do you think it will help me get better tips @ the restaurant? Anything is worth a try!

Too Too Cool

2008-01-02T00:23:00.000-06:00

Over the holiday, Scott and I got the chance to drive all over Arkansas and Tennessee catching up with family members we haven't seen in a while. One of our stops was to see Jason and my sister, Jessica. While there, we had the brilliant idea to have a family picture made....but unfortunately all the shops closed early on New Year's Eve. Instead, their point and shoot cameras had to do! Playing around with the lighting in Jason's new house and the settings on the nifty cameras....here are a few pictures we captured. Enjoy!

Happy Halloween!

2007-10-30T16:57:00.000-05:00

Or Reformation Day.....Depending on who you ask.

Here is a picture from our friend, Delayne's Costume party. Scott and I went as Abelard and Heloise--the happy, early years......

The baby is riding a little low. Yes, it is a boy.

Lucky

2007-10-29T20:32:00.000-05:00

Not too long ago, I was having a discussion with a friend about how I find myself in the most interesting of situations. We went back and forth for a few minutes and I finally came to the conclusion that it is because I am lucky.

At twilight, I was on the phone with my brother as I drove home along 190 coming from Killeen into Belton. If you can envision it, there is a pretty steep incline as you travel east. In the distance I noticed some smoke, but just figured it was from some overzealous folks trying to enjoy their fireplaces as the harvest moon was becoming full . As I got closer, I realized it was a car on fire. There were no flashing lights yet and as I approached there was only one other car pulling over. I quickly told him I would call him back...but before he would let me go, he told me to make sure I was parked far enough back in case the gas tank blew up and to not do anything stupid. (As if!!)

For a second, I thought about driving on by....surely someone had called 911 already... and that I would just be in the way....but I recognized that the vehicle was a mini van. Not to be dramatic here...but it just moved me to my core thinking that there might be kids caught in there.

As I ran up to the van, Everyone had gotten out before it had fully engulfed and I was right. Someone had called 911. After confirming folks were ok, I retreated to my car (about 50 yards back) and drove away before I could get caught in traffic. In my rear view mirror I saw the flashing lights coming toward us. I passed the spectacle and could finally feel the heat on my face-even thru all the glass, metal and distance. I suppose I didn't realize how hot it was while I was next to it.

After I caught my breath, I called my brother back. I asked him who we got this strange trait from......Since my mom is a nurse and I can't count how many times we would pull over on the side of the road to help folks hurt in accidents or her administering CPR to some poor chap who collapsed in Wal-Mart---I fully expected him to say "Mom". In fact, mostly I meant the question to be rhetorical. More of a statement than a question. What is it about us?

Jason surprised me when he said we got it from our Dad. In fact, I started to make a case for Mom. I just didn't see it. Jason then proceeded to tell me a few stories of times he spent with Dad before he got so sick. Stuff I had never heard before. I hung up the phone, kinda sobered from my earlier excitement.

I rode the rest of the way to Temple in the thickness of contemplative silence. I quietly made dinner and it wasn't til I sat down to eat that I told Scott what had happened. Somehow sharing that little piece of my dad with Jason made him seem very near and I didn't want to break that connection by speaking too quickly.

How do I attract these happenings??.....I still think it is because I am lucky.

Bestest Brother Ever

2007-10-05T12:44:00.000-05:00

If you know me at all, you will agree that I love my siblings. I am proud of each one of them in their own way. Being the oldest of five, I have either experienced first hand or watched from a distance the growth and development of Jason, Brittany, Tiffany and Jessica. I want to take a few moments to brag about Jason.

Jason joined the Navy right out of high school. Even he would say that he wasn't "college material". Throughout elementary, middle and high school, Jason struggled to stay out of trouble. He couldn't sit still and had a hard time paying attention. He was never malicious or disrespectful. He was (and still is!!) an intelligent child, but very rarely did this translate in the classroom. In fact, most of his teachers really liked him, he just drove them nuts. In hindsight, I recognize Jason's challenges were an ADHD type of issue that was never addressed properly.

After Navy basic training, Jason went to a school to be a meteorologist. But his passion--what he really loved, was spending his spare time as a volunteer firefighter in Pensacola, FL. I knew he loved the thrill of the chase and the personal satisfaction of serving his community. I thought the volunteer fire program was kinda firefighter lite, tho. I was glad he was staying busy and happy, but didn't understand how much risk was involved in what he did. He carried a radio with him, a prepared fire suit complete with boots ready in his trunk. If he heard dispatch call out a wreck, fire or other emergency within his area, Jason shot off like a rocket. In this geographical region, the paid city firefighters were only on call in the station from 6am til 6pm or so. In other words, these volunteers were taking the same full responsibility in the night time that paid folks took in the day. He had the same training and earned the same credentials as "real" firemen, but he did it on his own time. By the time Jason left Pensacola in late 2004, early 2005--he had attained the rank of Captain with the VFD. As a first responder, Jason has helped deliver a set of twins ("They were slippery little boogers!!"). He was on a volunteer fire and rescue squad when Hurricane Dennis came ashore and devastated the Gulf Coast just prior to Katrina. He called me the night the storm was supposed to hit...from a carpet warehouse in an evacuated zone so that the equipment would be ready the next morning to make necessary rescues and cut thru debris. I could hear the wind howling in the background. Rather than worring, I had peace, knowing he was where he wanted and needed to be. The Weather Channel did a "Storm Stories" piece about his unit on Innerarity Point in Escambia County.

Flash forward 3 years. Lots has happened. Jason left the Navy. He reenlisted with the Tennessee Air National Guard. Our father died. Jason married the beautiful nurse that cared for Daddy. He is now working as a paid firefighter for the small town of Bryant, Arkansas--But recently had an opportunity to apply with the City of Little Rock Fire Department. Out of 400 applicants, Jason ranked #14 and (pending his background check) is being offered a spot for the next round of hires in January. In addition, he has been approached by at least two other Department of Defense organizations looking for a firefighter/EMT with his credentials and certifications. I couldn't be more proud of Jason's accomplishments. He is one hell of a brother, husband, son and fireman. With this kind of success, who needs to be "college material"?

Sermon from the Mound

2007-10-01T21:39:00.000-05:00

A friend of mine sent me a message today asking how my sermon went yesterday. Actually, his precise words were, "How did the sermon on the mound go yesterday?". I wasn't sure if he was trying to make a joke, be clever or had just committed a malapropism. I wondered to myself if he envisioned me in a baseball uniform preaching the Beatitudes from the pitcher's mound @ Ameriquest Field. Regardless, it made me laugh and I needed that.

I enjoyed studying the scripture text and writing up a speech with a spiritual message. Somehow, using the word "sermon" sounds so stuffy and official. I don't really feel qualified to preach, per se....but deliver a 10 minute speech? No problem.

As I may have mentioned, I chose to use Psalm 91 as the basis for our service. Basically, I read the verses and talked a bit about how there has always been danger throughout the ages-wars, diseases, plagues, violence, etc. That the worry and anxiety today is no worse than what the ancients and our ancestors experienced. We all long to return to that feeling of security and safety that(if we were lucky) we had as children.
The primary visual image the writer of Psalm 91 uses is that of a mother bird covering her young with wings of protection. I went on to use some common birding idioms and then told a couple of short stories about fearing thunderstorms hopping in bed with mom and dad, then about an urban legend about a mother bird that sacrificed herself for her chicks. I drew those together to get the feeling of safety and security and that God invites us into that kind of relationship with Him--one of protection and rest. In addition, the invitation isn't just for a visit, but for a dwelling, a residence. He wants us to stick around and change our address.

We sang a couple of hymns and then served communion. There were about 30 residents attending the worship service. Half of them were in wheelchairs and many more with walkers. It was sobering to be near the congregation--Trying to convey a message of hope, safety and security to folks who have lived thru more than I can imagine at this point in my life. I felt very welcomed, but certainly under qualified. They were all very gracious and kind and carried themselves with a certain dignity despite living every day away from their families, potentially enduring a slowing of the mind and a failing of the body.

Humbling indeed.

Grinding my Gears

2007-10-01T21:25:00.000-05:00

I spent this evening up at the library, studying for my A&P exam. It was well after dark when I got home and I had all my school stuff, as well as my work paraphernalia to bring up stairs. Of course, for the second night in a row....someone has parked in my numbered parking spot. So, I go find an open spot that is a block away from our apartment. I don't really mind walking that far to get home, but I had so much to carry! And its a been a long day! And I'm tired! Usually I assume the best and figure they are visitors and didn't realize they were taking some one's place. Tonight, not so much. I wrote a nice little note to my new friend. Actually, it was nice. (duh! the 249 on our parking place corresponds to our apartment number!!!) But ugh!!!! I was so mad I could spit. It isn't as if that person pulled into to my spot and said to themselves, "Bwahhahahaha, I am gonna really piss her off and make her walk home in the dark!!!". At least I hope not. I have a modicum of hope in the goodness of humanity.

Ive been feeling kinda agitated lately. I think I might need an extra chill pill. Or at least increase the dosage in the one I am currently taking.

Hey, That Religion Degree Might Come In Handy After All....

2007-09-25T00:50:00.001-05:00

DaySpring has a ministry that visits the Ridgecrest Retirement Center in Waco once a month. Different communities of faith trade out duties in order to "be church" to our home bound brothers and sisters literally next door. Some time ago, I mentioned to Amber Essick (who happens to be on the leadership team w/Ridgecrest) that I had, A. been in Toastmasters for a while, and B. Had my undergraduate degree in Religion. In fact, as a part of my "Women in the Bible" class taught by Dr. Michelle Tooley, I had the opportunity to preach a sermon in chapel while still @ Belmont. The really short story is that about 6 weeks ago Amber asked if I would be willing to preach on the 5th Sunday of September. Of course, I opened my fat mouth and said a resounding "yes".

At first I was very excited about the opportunity. Not to say I'm not excited about it now. But, the excitement factor has really gotten closer to terror. Over the past year or so, I've given 10-12 prepared speeches in front of my peers @ Toastmasters. I've been called on the floor to deliver various reports and impromptu talks in business venues. I don't recall any trepidation or anxiety about any of those. This is different!

Despite being Baptist, we ascribe to the lectionary and choose the text for services based on the church calendar. I had several choices, but decided on Psalm 91 for this weekend. I am mulling around different ideas and have yet to pin down the primary point of this sermon. The psalmist has created a beautiful poem that stirs up feelings of divine protection and safety. God is painted as both the nurturing protector of the faithful (warm and fuzzy God), but also a fierce, warlike aggressor against the wicked(rough and tumble God). In fact, Psalm 91 has sometimes been called the "Soldier's Prayer". My head is spinning right now, but I am sure by Sunday morning all will be well.

Anatomy and Physiology

2007-09-18T16:56:00.000-05:00

I finally got a chance last night to go up to the school during my "off" hours and do some work in the lab. I dont have any official lab assignments, per se....But it is absolutely necessary to get your hands on each of the models in order to know all the required structures. One of my misconceptions with this class was that it was just a matter of will in memorizing names of bones, muscles, organs and so forth. And that is true, to a point. But the good news for me is that I have to spend just as much time in the lab "hands on" in order to understand function and location.

Some people are auditory learners. They can listen to a lecture and "get" the required information necessary to be successful in the classroom. Some folks are visual learners. They can read and look at diagrams and understand the text and scope of the class. Then there are the tactile or kinesthetic learners. That would be me. I find it very helpful, if not absolutely a requirement to touch and feel out the structure...play with it. Break it. Put it back together. (hopefully with the same number of parts as before I got my hands on it!) Learning anatomy and physiology has become more of a delight than drudgery.

The test is next week. I feel pretty good about it right now...but we will see how the week progresses. Did I mention we will be in Dallas over the weekend? Some dear friends from church are treating us to a Rangers baseball game. I am looking forward to spending some time with Karen while we travel northward.

Snausages

2007-09-12T20:50:00.000-05:00

80. Ive had surgery on my shoulder. 3 times. Some days, it still aches.

81. When I was about 2 or 3, I somehow stuffed a piece of foam rubber up my nose and couldn't get it out. Several weeks went by. My mother started to notice that I smelled funny. She bathed me, washed my hair. Nothing helped. Finally she took me to the doctor. Mold spores had grown into my sinus cavity and got infected. The ENT had to perform surgery. I recall coming out of the anesthesia and thinking I heard Darth Vader talking to me. I suspect it was just the nurse, but I'm still not sure. To this day, I still get queasy thinking about it. And then I decide to marry a Star Wars geek. Go figure.

82. My maternal grandmother was a member of the British Royal Air Force in WWII.

83. My maternal grandmother was also a champion ballroom dancer.

84. My maternal great grandmother (on my grandfather's side) was full blooded Cherokee Indian. Winnie Rose Reynolds.

85. When I was a kid, instead of a lemonade stand, I tried selling pine cones. I didn't make much money. In fact, I don't recall making any money at all. The law of supply and demand was a difficult one for young Jennifer.

86. Before my mother realized she was pregnant, she had hundreds of x-rays, tests and a serious bladder surgery. The doctor recommended that she have an abortion since the fetus was probably damaged by all the toxins and radioactive materials in her system. Fortunately for me, she decided against it. I don't think I have any congenital birth defects. Well, other than glowing in the dark.

87. I can float in a (relatively) still body of water for hours without the assistance of water wings or a turtle floaty ring.

88. When we first moved to Washington state, Mom and Paul got us two kittens. Despite using all my charm, I couldn't convince anyone of the name "Kelly". (My favorite color was green.) Instead, they named the pets "Tar Baby" and "Angel Face". Eventually we also had a cat named "Sugarfoot". For us kids, coming up with good names for animals was a pleasant past time.

89. Evidently, Jason and I ran out of naming inspiration when we got to having turtles around the house. By the time I left home for college, we had gone thru Scooter I, Scooter II, Scooter III, Scooter IV, Scooter V and Scooter VI. After I left, I am not sure if there were any more turtles or how many more Scooters there might have been.

90. Did I ever mention that early on I wasn't really all that excited about my first name? I used to hope that I could change my name to something a little more exotic. From the time I started Kindergarten, I was usually one of 2 or 3 Jennifers in any given class. I never wanted to be called Jenny, either. That sounded too diminutive. The only person I ever let call me by that name was my grandmother. I wanted a cool nickname, tho. But nothing ever stuck. I take that back. When my sisters were little, they couldn't pronounce "Jennifer". Instead, I became "Jing Jing". So there you have it. Jing Jing's Junket. You have finally discovered my secret. But I still wish I had a cool nick name. Like T-bone or J-Dawg.

Back to School

2007-09-12T11:32:00.000-05:00

Being back in the classroom is wonderful. I feel really alive and curious. I had forgotten how much my spiritual self could flourish in such a static, empirical environment. We were discussing how different systems in the body work individually and collectively. I am struck by the divine in the design of our bodies. How miraculous it is that babies are born! It sounds kinda silly, but I was almost moved to tears about the body's complexity.

Not that A&P is navel gazing, by any means! There is so much memory work necessary. I think that is the part that intimidates me the most. I can deal with new ideas and systems, but all the new vocabulary is a little overwhelming. I have decided to make flash cards to help me remember terms and locations of bones, tissues and other structures. I feel like I am in high school again. The good news tho....I love words and have taken Greek in the past and have spent some time with Latin to understand most of the root words. Mostly it is connecting the dots and matching up the name of the structure with its function.

My professor is a pretty interesting fella. He has been teaching biology for a long time. He knows his lectures like the back of his hand. He wears shorts and running sandals to class and makes stupid jokes while going thru the notes. I love it. I get his sense of humor. I find myself looking forward to every class meeting.

A couple of days ago, after class 2 young ladies approached me about forming a study group. I learn best in this model, so of course I agreed. They both said they came to me because it seemed by the questions that I asked that I "got it". They were pseudo complaining about how some of the "younger" folks in class seem to only be interested in feverishly writing down everything the professor says, word for word and not pausing to ask questions to understand or integrate the information into real life. After a few minutes of getting to know these women, we agreed on our study group and I then asked them how old they were........ Yep. One answered 23. The other, 21. I decided against sharing my age. Ill let them keep thinking I am just a few years older. :)

As of right now, my first exam will be on the 25th. I am working a little on my notes every day. This amount of knowledge is too great to cram at the last minute.

Back to work.....

A Few of My Favorite Words

2007-09-12T10:53:00.000-05:00

I love words. Short words. Skinny words. Fat words. Words that roll off the tongue just so. I will share a few of my all time favorites.

1. Nicaragua (Gotta use an over the top Spanish accent for this one to work.)

2. Brilliant (Emphasize the "ll's" in the word.)

3. Faboo (a Jennism......being better than fabulous.)

4. Serendipity (This word is a double whammy for me. The sound of the word in addition to its meaning. Wowzers!)

5. Sassafras (If Scott would let me, I would give my child this name. Maybe I can trade Sassafras for Augustine. Hmmmmm.)

6. litigious (I like using this along with the word "particularly" in front of it. It sounds very deliberate.)

7. chagrin

8. snarky (I have professed my love for this word before.)

9. frantic (Just hearing the word makes my heart be a little quicker.)

10. delicious ( the "shhh" sound within the word does something for me. )

11. indubitably ( you have to say this word twice, in rapid succession. "Indubitably, Indubitably!!)

12. surreptitious

13. effervescence ( I envision myself floating in a flute of champagne when I say this word.)

14. snigger (say it with an English accent a la Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady.)

15. incommunicado

16. modicum

17. joie de vivre (I think the sound of the word has the meaning etched into it)

18. reprobate (Thanks for teaching me this word, Wes! You are my favorite reprobate.)

19. sommelier (Using this word makes me feel cultured, even when I buy an $8 bottle of wine.)

20. fantabulous (Another Jennism-Fantastic and Fabulous!! At the same time!!)

New Adventure

2007-08-29T23:07:00.000-05:00

Tuesday I started back to school for the first time in several years. I enrolled in the local community college to take Anatomy and Physiology I so that I may apply for nursing school for next fall. I had forgotten how difficult it is to concentrate on reading a text book when there are so many other things to be done in the house!

I will be in class from 11am til 145pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. My professor has been teaching this course for 40 years or so. He looks a little younger than that, so I am not so sure. He is hilarious and I think I will have fun learning biology again. I look forward to the journey ahead. It might not be pretty, but I think I will surprise myself.

Indulgences

2007-08-13T23:10:00.000-05:00

71. I was blond until I was about 10.

72. Except for the first half of kindergarten, I walked to school every day til I graduated high school. Well, maybe a couple of boyfriends gave me rides from time to time. But that is beside the point.

73. When I left home for college, I had no clue what I was doing. My parents dropped me off and I had no money for books. I didn't realize that was extra. I ended up with three jobs my first semester. I made a "D" in philosophy. This was a very traumatic thing! As bad as it was at first, I think it helped me develop a scrappy mentality. I was no longer a kid and I had to work hard for anything I wanted to achieve.

74. From a spiritual standpoint, that is a terrible lesson to learn. Some days it is difficult to operate from a state of grace when you are so used to earning everything.

75. I will be 33 in December. I wish we had children by now.

76. I hate the idea of disappointing my family.

77. I waste too much time managing other people's opinion(s) of me.

78. Even after being told Santa wasn't real, I looked around in closets and boxes in our house-hoping the find the red velvet outfits mom and dad must have worn in order to "be" Santa. I never found em.

79. I lived with my grandparents the year my parents divorced.

80. I had an imaginary friend as a young girl. I don't recall her name, but I do remember getting into lots of trouble with her.

A Couple More

2007-08-05T00:20:00.001-05:00

61. When I was little, my family attended a very small, country church in Pitts, Arkansas. There were probably 50 members or so. I recall there being an outhouse and being fearful of getting stung by a wasp or bitten by a snake on my bum. Once, during the benediction, I stood up on the pew and started singing "Shake Shake Shake Your Booty". I think I was about three years old. My granddad still reminds me of this little gem.

62. I have a picture of me in a red velvet dress and brown cowboy boots standing in the front of the above mentioned church for a Christmas Pageant. I must have been around four or five at the time and was supposed to memorize a part of the classic poem, "A Visit from St Nicholas" but couldn't remember the whole thing. Fortunately, Grandma was in the second row, and without me asking-came up to stand beside me on stage and whispered the poem in my ear so I could finish. I remember being so proud of myself for not crying and finishing the pageant. In hindsight, I am so grateful to Grandma for saving me from humiliation. I suspect she knew the gift she was giving me at the time, but had no idea how much it has affected me through the years.

63. I wish I would have dated more boys during high school. I am glad to be married to Scott, but think I would have had a broader appreciation for the world had I dated around more and seen other family dynamics than my own.

64. When I worked at Seessel's grocery store in high school, for one year I drew all the produce signs in chalk for that week's sales. I have never considered myself a good artist, but I enjoyed that part of my job.

65. I wasn't allowed to shave my legs until my birthday in 8th grade. I hated gym class while in junior high. Not because of the physical aspects of it, but because the girls teased me mercilessly for having furry legs.

66. I was on my high school's varsity golf team. I didn't know how to play, but they needed warm bodies to maintain our TSSAA standings and I fit the bill. My coach was very kind and taught me as well as he could. Thanks Coach Stallings!

67. Back when my parents only allowed me to listen to non-secular music, I convinced them that the CD entitled "Faith" by George Michael was a Christian record. Tee hee.

68. I love shopping at Goodwill, Salvation Army, thrift stores, consignments stores and the like. Not only do I adore all the crazy things I find there, I refuse to spend full price on anything I could theoretically get at one of these bargain places. Even at TJMaxx or Marshall's....I rarely buy anything not in the clearance bin. It is like sticking it to the man! And heaven knows I like sticking it to the man.

69. I see patterns in everyday items. Radial and bi-lateral symmetry. The tiles on the floor in the bathroom. Cabinets. Music. Colors on the bindings of books. Flowers. Supposedly its due to my mental acuity. I tend to think it is just one more way the man tries to make me think I am crazy.

70. I love the smell of leather. (no comments from the peanut gallery)

Another Round of Tasty Jenn Facts

2007-08-04T23:14:00.000-05:00

41. I don't mind getting older. I just mind feeling older.

42. Gift giving is my "love language".

43. I prefer playing board games with friends and family over watching movies.

44. Despite being an extrovert, I enjoy my quiet, alone time and usually spend it daydreaming.

45. I have a knack for finding 4 leaf clovers. When I was in high school, I kept them in a shoe box after I pressed and dried them. I must have had about 1000 when I went off for college. Unfortunately, I left them at my parent's home and the box was destroyed in the house fire. I still find clovers today. I still like to press them, but now I pass them on to other folks. It's much better than hording my special finds.

46. I have a desire to get a tattoo. I have been pondering it seriously for about 8 years, now. Being quite the impulsive chick that I am, I have waited on it in order to choose a design carefully. Not only design, but also placement. At first I thought I would put it over the scar on my right shoulder. Then maybe in a less visible spot. Maybe a butterfly or a bird or something. Who knows? Perhaps one day I will find a milestone that will push me over my indecision and I will know it is "just right". But until then, I will wait.

47. I dig peacocks. One time @ church we had a Friday night fellowship where a professional sales/attitude trainer came in to do a talk on "what kind of bird are you?". It was loosely based on the Myers-Briggs Personality Inventory. At the end of the talk, everyone would know if they were a Dove, Eagle, Owl or Peacock. Much to every one's surprise~Jenn is a Peacock. And so it began. I have lots of beautiful peacock-y objects. My eyeglass pouch, my business card holder, a hand mirror, etc. Its a fun thing to collect and the royal colors do suit me. In a way it proves once again.....I like to show my feathers.

48. My first pet was a farm dog mutt named Blackie. Yes, it was black. At 4 years old, I hadn't tapped into my creative genius yet. It was just around the bend.

49. While learning to tell time, I thought when someone said it was "a quarter 'til two" that meant it was 1:35. You know, a quarter being 25 cents and all. Why do they have to complicate stuff like that for kindergartners??

50. When I was ten and trying to purchase a souvenir at Yellowstone, I asked the clerk if I was paying in coins did I have to pay tax? She looked at me as if I had three heads. I had always heard my parents and others refer to the tax rate as, "four cents on the dollar". I assumed if I didn't use dollar bills, I didn't have to pay the tax. Sounds logical, don't you think?

51. I am double jointed in the fingers on my right hand. That is the only bar trick I can perform. Other than the shimmy to get dollar bills. More on that later.

52. When I couldn't fall asleep, I used to count sheep. Then the sheep got too fast for me. I couldn't keep up. Now I count much slower creatures.

53. I have a fear of suffocation. Asphyxiation, actually.

54. Last year, my sister Tiffany and I decided to take a road trip to Denver, CO. Since neither of us had ever been there before, we decided it was time we went. We drove all night and into the next day-taking pictures at every stop. We watched a thunderstorm in a valley from the mountains. It was truly awe inspiring. I treasure the time I spent with her on that journey.

55. I learned that alcohol and high altitude don't mix very well on that trip. I also learned all the words to "Riding Dirty". I might have a little street cred now. But I doubt it. Did I mention the part about dancing on the bar at Coyote Ugly? That was where the shimmy and the dollar bills came in. Oh, and the part about "What happens in Colorado, Stays in Colorado".

56. I take a lot of pride in my husband's accomplishments. He is a pretty smart fella.

57. I have a collection of all sorts of fun stuff for my office. I began this collection in response to having so many kids come through our mini center when I worked for a mortgage company. Inevitably, a client would bring their children or one of my co workers would swing by with their kids...so I had little toys and distractions to keep them quiet while I still tried to work. Of course, my motivations morphed a bit over time and I began to find toys and funny signs to post around my work space. Chattering teeth, a Dr Evil doll, wind up chickens, bobble heads, yo yos, silly magnets, and so forth. I found that if was going to work like a dog, I should at least be able to enjoy my surroundings.

58. I have chosen St. Francis as my patron saint. It is not so much for his love of animals, sad to say. It is because I learned his prayer as a part of madrigal choir while in high school. It has become a mantra to me in some ways. I like the idea of sewing mercy into the world. I am a smartass. I admit it. But I do have a ton of compassion in my heart-and St Francis speaks to me in that.

59. I want the people who love me to be proud of me. I don't really care how many times they tell me that they are, it really isn't enough. I'm kinda insecure like that. But I am working on it.

60. I have a real silly streak. I am not for sure from whence it came. I am told my paternal grandmother was quite the prankster and clown. My real dad liked to make people laugh. My step dad was a great joke teller. I like finding the absurd in everyday life. Sometimes I think I might come across as less than intelligent because I laugh too much or don't take things seriously enough. Nothing could be further from the truth!! But I do value laughter above most any other quality. I suspect I will have some serious wrinkles around my eyes and mouth when I get older. I will claim them proudly in the name of great humor and joy!

100 Things About Me 1-40

2007-07-31T00:33:00.000-05:00

I have been painfully absent for a while, as many of you know. To get back in the swing of things and taking an idea from both Scott and Jeff, I think I'm gonna post 100 things about me you may not know. Please forgive my indulgence, but here goes:

1. When I was a little girl, I had a pair of white, blue and silver pom-poms. I thought for sure I would be a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader when I grew up. I think living in Waco is as close as I have ever gotten to that goal.

2. My friends and I used to dress up my little brother to look like a girl. Wig, makeup and high heeled shoes. For years, one of our neighbors thought the Steele family had two daughters.

3. I have overcome the fear of diving into a swimming pool. I used to think that my body would somehow defy the laws of physics and that regardless of the depth of water, I would hit the bottom of the pool rendering me paralyzed.

4. My real dad used to take me to the "Country Music Hall" in Tuckerman, Arkansas and let me sing with the band. I only remember doing it once or twice. I sang, "Delta Dawn" and "Kiss an Angel Good Morning".

5. I am the only person in my family to have graduated from college.

6. I don't like to wearing white shoes-regardless if it is before or after Memorial Day. I'm convinced they make my already large feet look even bigger.

7. When I lived in Nashville, on Tuesday nights I would go out with girlfriends, staying out too late, drinking too much beer, playing pool and singing karaoke. I miss that.

8. I wish I hadn't spent so much in church during my teen age years.

9. I should have taken that modeling job for a Brazilian bathing suit catalog, back when I really had no business thinking I was fat.

10. My first car was one that Scott and I shared before we got married. A blue 1987 Chrysler LeBaron. It was a great car! We bought it from the Cadillac dealership on Covington Pike in Memphis, TN. We couldn't have bought it without help from Rann, the salesperson, or the dealership being willing to write to the note for us. $113/month.

11. I have recurring dreams about tornadoes.

12. I married my best friend the summer before my sophomore year in college.

13. I have a nasty habit of finding myself interested in a project and then losing interest just as quickly. I used to have boxes of different craft materials in order to tap into my creative genius, but then lose the desire once it got old or difficult. I am working on that.

14. I like lots of different music. Country, R&B, Folk, Classical, Indie, etc. So long as lyrics aren't hateful or misogynistic, I can usually bear to listen to most anything.

15. Peaches have to be my favorite fruit. You cant beat a perfectly ripe peach. The texture, the taste, the scent, even the color! If peaches made sounds, I would probably like that, too.

16. I like to fall asleep to the TV cartoon, "Family Guy". It is trashy and non-PC. Funny as hell. I love to quote it. I love to talk with other folks who watch it. It is usually snarky and has a biting social commentary. It is also decidedly low brow with fart and booger jokes. Family Guy is the perfect intersection between smart and stupid for me. Pull my finger.

17. When Brittany and Tiffany were little, they only liked to watch one thing on the TV. The classic movie, Pee-Wee's Big Adventure. For an entire summer, that movie showed on our VCR 3 times a day. Jason and I memorized the entire dialogue. Twenty years later, we can pick up at any point in the screenplay and quote Pee Wee and his friends. I know you are, but what am I?

18. Dad didn't like us watching "The Brady Bunch". He said it was, "too wholesome". I'm still not sure what that means exactly.

19. My paternal grandmother taught me how to read before I went to Kindergarten.

20. My first book was, "Gus and the Firefly". I have it in my bookshelf.

21. I learned how to fillet a fish when I was about 6 or so. Grandma taught me that, too.

22. The smell of honeysuckle will always take me to a red dirt road in Arkansas, playing around with Keith and Scottie Williams.

23. I have never broken a bone that needed setting.

24. I have broken my tailbone. Twice.

25. When I was younger, I thought I wanted 3 kids or so. Now I'm not sure.

26. Of the cars we've owned, my favorite was the 1994 Nissan Maxima. I miss that car.

27. Like most graduates of REHS, I am confident in saying I can spell "pharaoh" without looking it up.

28. I think I can call myself a Texan now. But don't tell any native Texans I said that.

29. I tried memorizing Edgar Allen Poe's entire poem, "The Raven" for an 8th grade English class project. I failed miserably. But I still can remember the meter and rhythm of the first two stanzas.

30. I was in the "Little Miss BlueJay" Pageant when I was 5 or 6. All the other little girls had big frou frou dresses. Mine was pink cotton and very plain. I wore brown sandals and socks underneath it. The winner's name was Jennifer Something-or-Another. All I heard was "Jennifer" and my heart leaped within my chest. For all of one and a half seconds, I thought I had won. That memory still makes me a little bit sad.

31. I have 3 younger sisters and a younger brother.

32. Red roses are pretty, but I tend to prefer the yellow ones with red tinges instead.

33. I still have all the love letters Scott wrote me while we were dating.

34. I really like Breyer's Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream. But sometimes, I really really like Godiva's Chocolate with Raspberry Truffles.

35. Once when I was about 9 or so, I put broken glass wedges under all eight tires of a bratty girl's parents vehicles. She invited me to her birthday party. I went. Then at school she denied that I had come or that I had even been invited. (I wasn't cool enough) I was so hurt and humiliated. I decided to teach her a lesson. I don't know that it taught her a lesson, but somehow I felt better at the time. I never got caught. I used to feel bad about it, but have since forgiven myself for such criminal behavior.

36. I had mononucleosis when I was in 3rd grade. I missed about 2 months of school and lost a lot of weight. All I really remember was eating Root Beer popsicles and being teased about having the "kissing disease".

37. When I was about 7 or 8, I tried to be hospitable to some of my parents' friends and poured beer into a glass with ice. I was teased mercilessly for that one, too. Dad decided it was time to teach me the proper way to pour a beer into a chilled mug. But at least I learned a valuable skill at a young age.

38. I used to think I had ugly feet. I still do, but now I recognize that everyone does, too.

39. At any given time, I have about 4 books that I am in the middle of reading.

40. When I started college, my college career track was toward being a pastoral counselor.

Tee Hee

2006-10-16T23:57:00.000-05:00

Just looking to see if anyone checks anymore.

Its been a long time. . .

2005-12-31T23:11:00.000-06:00

just a quick howdy to let you know I havent really dropped off the planet. Been really busy, but not a lot to show for it. My job has kept me entertained and out of my mind, burdened and free. Its very nice to have a steady income. Spectacular benefits. Blah blah blah.

Ill give an update about my Christmas vacation next post.

Maybe Jeff will re-link me to his blog due to my new activity online. :)

He ain't heavy, he is my brother!

2005-09-05T22:34:00.000-05:00

Damn, that was lame.

Jason came to visit this weekend from San Angelo. He is currently in fire school at Goodfellow Air Force base. I have always been super proud of my little bro, but nowadays I find all the more reason to think so. While watching all this hurricane aftermath coverage, it kinda makes what Jason does all the more noble. Backdraft and Ladder 49 seem kinda melodramatic when compared to the mass destruction and indiscribable heartache that bitch Katrina left us with.

Besides that, tho. . we did have a good time visiting. I havent seen Jason since Dad's funeral. So, it was nice to hang out with him in a much less stressful environment.

Scott and I took him around Baylor's campus and toured the Dr Pepper museum. I suppose we are true Wacoans now that we've done that.

I am working like crazy, which is good!! I can not tell you how much better I feel both physically and psychologically now that I am employed in a job that utilizes my abilities. Since I didnt get on the direct deposit schedule in time, my one week paycheck was overnighted to me Friday. It made me feel good to hold a check that had all my benefits, taxes and extra withholdings on it and still have a net amount more than my last job's two week paycheck. :)

I guess being in Texas isnt so bad when you finally are able to support your family.

I GOT IT!

2005-08-25T00:17:00.000-05:00

Sorry Ive been MIA. Just super duper busy.

I started my new job on Sunday schmoozing clients at the "Taste of the Town" Symphony Benefit in Temple, TX. Then I was a part of our kickoff at the Killeen Cultural Center, as we donated a large sum to a local children's charity. I got to meet the mayors of both cities and interact with all the nice folks in the community. Those of you who know me will understand that I was in heaven.

I am an Account Executive for a company called Clearwire. www.clearwire.com

I am busy helping my General Manager get ready to launch our operation in Waco. So far, I am the only person besides a technician who is hired in Waco. I am having a blast. Basically, I sell wireless broadband internet service. I can sit in my car (or theoretically drive, if that were safe) and surf the internet with my laptop. No wires. The technology amazing. I just cant say enough about the folks I am working alongside.

While in Temple, I met people from all the other markets that have launched, including Duluth, MN; Jacksonville, FL; Midland/Odessa, TX and Abilene, TX. We are about to launch Anchorage, AK and Redding, CA. We concentrate on smaller markets where broadband, DSL and cable internet access are not easily accessible or affordable.

I am working on my own laptop. I have a new cell phone. I am working out of the house part of the time, as our local retail store is not even built yet. The rest of the time I am out in the field, making contact with community leaders or training on the product with the team in Temple and Killeen, which is about 30-45 miles away. (Ft Hood is in Killeen).

Anyway, I am putting in some serious hours~waking up early and staying up late.

Take a look at the company website. Im glad I waited for the right opportunity to come along. I feel like I belong here. Its a nice change for me.

Back in the Gym

2005-08-11T21:32:00.000-05:00

After a long hiatus, I decided to hit the gym again. I have stayed limber over the past several months, but not much aerobic movement. When you are depressed, its tough to get up out of the bed to even clean house or cook dinner, let alone work out. I re-started my ADD medicine today after about 2 months off of it-and noticed a difference almost immediately. I think that is part of the reason I felt motivated to get back to the elliptical machine. I plugged in the iPod and ran for 30 minutes and then lifted weights, concentrating on my arms and shoulders.

Its like a smile. Excercising is contagious. I look forward to seeing some results. It makes me feel like I have a small modicum of control in my life. Ha. I wonder if that is just a joke on me!!

Strangely, after the short amount of time in the gym, I am already craving some celery sticks and cucumber wafers with (lite) ranch dressing. What can I say? When I get on the health bandwagon, it is with both feet.

Two Down, One More to Go

2005-08-11T21:30:00.000-05:00

I had my second job interview with a wireless technology company today. I still hesitate to say too much about it before it becomes a reality. The money is outstanding. The benefits are amazing, the sales team is motivated. Ive been lookinng for the "catch". So far, I havent found one.

I should hear by the beginning of the week about my 3rd and final interview. I got a good vibe from the General Manager today. We seemed to connect and he was very sharp. I could definately see myself working on his team. I point blank asked for the position. To "close the sale" I told him (CHEESE ALERT CHEESE ALERT CHEESE ALERT), "I understand you have several important decisions to make in this hiring process, I hope I am one of your good decisions. :))

Wish me luck!!

Ill post as soon as I get the good news.

Happy Anniversary!

2005-08-06T03:02:00.000-05:00

Eleven years is a long time!

Despite the obstacles we've overcome, I know we still have a long way to go. I'm glad I have you as a traveling buddy. I wouldn't trade this journey for anything in the world.

Constant Vigilance.

The good years are ahead of us.

Another Job Interview

2005-08-03T05:16:00.000-05:00

Ok, so I'll share a little secret. I had a phone interview this evening at around 8pm for a professional job here in Waco. Yay. It looks promising.

Yes, Rann, it's legal. Yes, Nana, it's ethical. No, Jeff. It's not Platinum Plus. (quit asking me for free passes!!)

I want to get excited about it, but I think I know better by now. Ill give the update as soon as I sign the new hire paperwork.

I will say this much, technology is a cool cool thing. . .

Feelin' Blue

2005-08-02T03:26:00.000-05:00

Somebody's got a bad case of the Mondays. . . .

And they've lasted for several weeks. Eek.

Pardon me while I go find a good attitude.

Confession Time

2005-07-16T23:21:00.000-05:00

Ok, I made up that last post. The whole thing. Come to find out, I am not a pompous asshole. At least not officially. Boy am I relieved.

Sorry to disappoint. That doesnt mean there isnt a "Are you a Pompous Asshole?" test out there, I just didnt take it, OR score so fabulously. . . . :)

But I stand behind the statement that I dont kick puppies.

The Not So Flattering Test

2005-07-14T03:27:00.000-05:00

After my last post, I was feeling particularly sinful for sounding my boastful horn. So I will share the Not-so-pretty truth about your beloved muse.

The "ARE YOU A POMPOUS ASSHOLE??" TEST~

Jennifer,
"Your Pompous Asshole type is Hubristic Know-It-All. This means you have exceptional egotistical skills and can easily make fun of the meager minded people around you. Your cocky sense of humor and haughty ability to take joy in watching idiots make the same stupid mistakes over and over make you a candidate for a megalomaniac. You are self- absorbed. You take an unusually creative approach to keeping everyone interested in you by inventing "tall tales" about your personal life. Your strengths also make you a smug visionary. Even without trying you're able to come up with lots of new and creative ideas which are always right. . And that's just a small part of what we know about you from your test results. We also suspect you kick puppies, laugh at retards and park in the handicapped spot. "

I told you it wasn't pretty. But I swear I don't kick puppies.

Confirmation of what I already knew. . .

2005-07-14T02:45:00.000-05:00

Can I just tell you I love taking personality and intelligence tests? I had my IQ taken back in elementary school while being considered for the gifted program. ((by the way, Washington state put me in the gifted program. . .and I excelled. Then I moved to Tennessee, where my parents were informed that I did not fit the standard for the "APEX" program. Yes, Tennessee. The state that competes with Kentucky for who is named the 49th or 50th in the nation on education, but i digress.)) I was not told what that magical score was at the time, but have since done some research and gotten ahold of my school records. While in college I took another standardized IQ test while working on my psych degree. I have been in love with testing and assessment since then. Anyway, I have been a regular at www.tickle.com and am always looking for ways to find out more about myself. So here are a few of the more flattering results:

The Brainteaser Test~

"Jennifer, you answered 27 out of 30 questions correctly!

Congratulations! Your score is in the
percentile("96");
96th percentile. This means that if one hundred people took the test with you, your score would rank higher than 95 of them on average we analyzed your test, we also discovered that when it comes to logical ability, you measure in the
percentile("100");
100th percentile. This score indicates you have unusually strong abilities when it comes to to solving problems with logic. There are situations that require having a very precise thinking process to cut through the array of stimuli, and you can do this well. You can easily detect the underlying logic while others cannot. While others may get confused by things that are complex or out of order, your logical ability allows you to persevere and solve multi-layered problems. "

The Super IQ Test~

Jennifer, your Super IQ score is 133

"Your overall intelligence quotient is the result of a scientifically-tested formula based on how many questions you answered correctly. But it's only part of what we learned about you from your answers on the test. We also determined the way you process information way you think about things makes you a Creative Theorist. This means you are a highly intelligent, complex person. You are able to process information of nearly every kind with ease, using both creativity and analysis to make sense of the world. Compared to others you also have a very rich imagination.
How did we determine that your thinking style is that of a Creative Theorist? When we examined your test results further, we analyzed how you scored on 8 dimensions of intelligence: spatial, organizational, abstract reasoning, logical, mechanical, verbal, visual and numerical. The 3 dimensions you scored highest on combine to make you a Creative Theorist. Only 6 out of 1,000 people have this rare combination of abilities."
TAKE THAT, SHELBY COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD~~~ UP YOURS!!!!! (not that I am bitter)

OH, and here is another couple of good ones:

THE BRAIN TEST~

Jennifer, you are Balanced-brained

"That means you are able to draw on the strengths of both the right and left hemispheres of your brain, depending upon a given situation. When you need to explain a complicated process to someone, or plan a detailed vacation, the left hemisphere of your brain, which is responsible for your ability to solve problems logically, might kick in. But if you were critiquing an art opening or coming up with an original way to file papers, the right side of your brain, which is responsible for noticing subtle details in things, might take over. While many people have clearly dominant left- or right-brained tendencies, you are able to draw on skills from both hemispheres of your brain. This rare combination makes you a very creative and flexible thinker. The down side to being balanced-brained is that you may sometimes feel paralyzed by indecision when the two hemispheres of your brain are competing to solve a problem in their own unique ways."

Would it be wrong to include a print out of these with my resume???

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What Breed of Dog Are You?
Jennifer, you're a Pug!

No bones about it, you're an intelligent, playful Pug. Witty and charming, you're a lot of dog wrapped in a small package. People just love you Â a wonderful approachability and sense of humor put you at the top of everyone's list. And because you're smart and quick-witted, you attract a crowd wherever you go. (Have you ever considered running for office or starting a company? You've got the charisma for either.) But that doesn't mean you can't be a little naughty or mischievous when opportunity knocks Â you've definitely got a nose for fun! A happy, optimistic breed, you're admired and respected by all. Woof!

Go Ahead. Create a free membership ID and figure out what kind of doggie brain you have. Then tell me about it. :)

Favoritest Word Ever (for now)

2005-07-12T22:26:00.000-05:00

snark·y ( P ) Pronunciation Key (snärk)adj. Slang snark·i·er, snark·i·est
Irritable or short-tempered; irascible

Since Scott refused to walk Reagan immediately after he got home, she was in a snarky mood.

or if you prefer

After sitting in 100 degree heat for 5 hours each day, watching baseball games with Rann, Jeff and Scott, Jennifer's commentary could only be described as snarky.

Say it out loud. It feels good rolling off your teeth/tongue. Snarky. Snarky. Snarky.

Mellow Mood

2005-07-10T00:58:00.000-05:00

I am finally settling down after having Rann and Jeff in town for almost a week. We were in a flurry of activity the entire time they visited. Driving to Dallas to see the 3 game series between the Rangers and Red Sox, Visiting Deally Plaza and catching a movie doesnt sound like a lot, but I think the heat made the trip all the more intense. Despite being an extrovert who finds energy in hordes of people, I am worn out!

Tonight I am sitting in a mostly dark room listening to Lucinda Williams with a candle burning and sipping on a tall glass of wine. I never thought I would hear myself say it or see myself write it, but I am glad to be alone.

Back to Normal

2005-07-02T02:12:00.000-05:00

Well, its been three weeks since Dad's funeral, and for the most part I feel back to myself.

I got back home from Nashville on Sunday night after much hullabaloo. I was bumped from 5 different flights from the Music City. I was scheduled to leave at 945am and get to Dallas at 2pm Sunday afternoon. Scott and I were going to find an Indian restaurant to enjoy since there aren't any in Waco. At 330pm I was still waiting at the airport, hoping for a layover in either Atlanta or Cincinnati. Finally I was the last person on board a flight to Cinci, with the "promise" of a connecting flight once we landed. I was bumped from 2 other flights and ended up flying to Austin instead. Fortunately I caught Scott before he left for Dallas. Unfortunately, my luggage made it there instead. My dearest brother in law, Jeff is gonna pick it up for me when he flies in on Sunday.

Anyway. I am glad a good portion of drama is behind me. The deposition went well. John tells me I did a good job and hopefully the wreck just be a small footnote in our history. Have I mentioned how much I adore my legal counsel?

It registered 100 degrees here today.

Scott and I went for dinner tonight to celebrate his finishing French. He enjoyed a nice prime rib, while I indulged in a salad and a grape martini. We completed the night by going to see Mr and Mrs Smith.

So there you have it. The Jenn Update for this week. I look forward to Jeff and Rann being here this week. Another taste of home.

2005-06-25T20:41:00.000-05:00

profile picture

Dinner Out

2005-06-23T00:41:00.000-05:00

My attorney, John Paul took me out for dinner tonight. I enjoyed an Ahi Tuna Salad, which was wonderful. I also took the liberty of ordering a dirty martini, with Grey Goose--since it was his treat. Oh MY GOD> I had no idea the difference between the crappy vodka I usually drink and the quality I inbibed this evening. Just another confirmation.

Get Rich. And quick. I dont think we can afford the good life I am sampling right now.

Flying in Style

2005-06-22T01:05:00.000-05:00

I flew into Nashville last night, and boy are my arms tired!! OK. That was lame.

I did want to say a big thanks to my friend Paul who allowed me to used a Buddy pass of his with Delta Airlines. .. . :)

I wore a nice suit to the airport, preparing to fly standby, and was greeted with a Perrier and a first class seat. Sweet.

Note to self: Get rich.

Final Tribute

2005-06-20T01:06:00.000-05:00

As many of you know, I had the opportunity to speak at my father's funeral last week. Today was a little tough, being Father's Day. So I am sharing the eulogy I wrote for him. I only wish I could have known him better to paint a better picture.

My Dad had a big heart. He always had a certain something about him that drew people to him. He wasn’t a rich man, unless you consider friends as currency. I can’t remember an instance of going into town with my Dad and not running into someone who knew him and not just casually. He had a way of making everyone he came in contact with feel they were the most important person in the world. A lot of salespeople would kill for that gift. But the funny thing is Dad was sincere. He genuinely loved to be around people. Some folks have read the book, “How to Win Friends and Influence People”: Not daddy. I think that book could have been written about him, though.

I can speculate about Dad’s connections with others out in the world, and after some of the conversations with you last night-- I have confirmation that he loved well, and was well loved. That is a comfort to my heart. But today, I really want to talk to you from a unique perspective. That of his daughter. You may not have ever had the opportunity to see this tender side of him.

Daddy was 29 when I was born. I hear that I was doted on. . .a tow-headed, brown-eyed girl. Such a little thing. . To have such a big fella wrapped so securely around that itty bitty finger. Jason joined me almost 3 years later. And Jessica completed the family 10 years after that.

One of the strongest images in my mind of my dad is his hands. They were usually calloused from hard work, but they were HUGE! I would place my hand in his to compare the size and I was always dwarfed.

Before I would fall asleep @ night. . Daddy would “pop” my toes to the “this little piggy” nursery rhyme. Its funny to think about the sheer size of his fingers compared to my baby toes. He had the power to pull ‘em off @ the joint . . . but with his gentle touch, no harm was ever done.

The only spanking I can ever remember from my Dad was a well deserved one. Most kids will never confess the need for discipline, but let me explain.
For some reason, I thought it would be a good idea to try my hand at barbequing. I gathered some twigs and built my little secret grill behind the woodpile –just out of sight of grandma hanging out the laundry. I got an apple, put it on a stick and proceeded to roast it over my fire. Everything was going just fine when I felt a hand on my shoulder. . and in a flash Grandma was stomping out my creation. . .and whooping’ my bottom. Not long after that, Daddy got home. . the story was repeated. . and so was my whooping. I don’t remember the spanking as so much as that Daddy was crying. I found out much later that he was afraid he had hurt me . . . his big size. .. .and that he punished me because of what could have happened.

I forgot to mention that my fire was built not just behind the woodpile. . . .but beside the 500 gallon butane tank. The fact that there is NOT a 50 foot crater at my grandmother’s house--You can be thankful I am not a good sneak. Or a good fire starter, I’ll leave that to my brother.

At around the same time, Daddy taught me how to ride a bike. I was afraid of falling over into the gravel road, but the faith I had in his big hands catching me was greater than my fear.

Thru the years the greeting I got from Daddy was always a hug and a kiss. But when I graduated college. He extended those big hands and shook mine. I felt as if I had done something grown up, something for him to be truly proud of me for.

But as I’ve grown older, I realized I’ve never had to DO anything to make him proud of me. Just by the virtue of being his daughter makes me good enough. . Someone he was proud of. And that is the way Daddy was.

You didn’t have to be important for him to treat you well. He was a guy who befriended those who had no friends. He always rooted for the underdog. Daddy took the verse, from Matthew 22. . . to love your neighbor as yourself very seriously. Dad was not one to wear religion on his sleeve. I don’t remember seeing him carry around a Christian flag. . waving it around for everyone to see. But the way he lived his life showed Christ’s love. And I think that witnessed more to people than most Bible-toting evangelists.
Even as sick as Daddy became.. and even after the 100 lbs he has lost. . . .his hands have not changed one bit.. I held his hands last night. . and they were the same. . .Today I find myself releasing my Dad into my Heavenly Father’s hands.

Don’t weep for my dad. He lived a short life, but it was more full than most. He would be embarrassed by this show of emotion; but he would have loved to be in the midst of all of you, greeting you, sharing a story or a cup of coffee.
Lets celebrate his legacy of friendship. Lets remember to love one another. That is how I plan to keep my dad alive in my heart.

Darlene, I want to honor you specifically in this assembly. Thank you for helping my Dad to be a better man. You are the best thing that ever happened to him. I am grateful to you for completing him and being his soul-mate. You may not be my mother, but I am grateful you were his wife. For the past nine months, you stood by him, ministering to him, and showing him compassion. I can only hope that I have that kind of love in my heart.

Howard Ray Gregory

2005-06-07T18:26:00.000-05:00

March 17, 1946-June 7, 2005

Jason was with him, holding his hand. He went peacefully. God answered my prayer.

Overtime

2005-06-07T02:50:00.000-05:00

I remember as a kid . .one of the nightly rituals with my dad was goodnight prayers and him pulling my toes. I always loved the way his great big fingers got ahold of my teeny little feet and managed to pop the joint without ripping the actual appendage off. To this day, I like having Scott pull my toes before I fall asleep. Part of it is nostalgia, the other part the last piece of my relaxation puzzle for the day. Of course, I am a lot bigger and Scott isnt quite as big of a fella as my dad once was.

I mention this little piece of the past and its connection to the present because I want to share some of those memories with you guys. Most of you have never known Howard Ray Gregory as my dad. He was the captain of his high school basketball team. Standing at 6'8", he was an imposing figure on the court as well as in life. Usually a gentle soul, my dad was well loved by everyone who knew him. He served in the Arkansas National Guard for 30 years. He was a dutiful son, who was never able to get out from the shadow of living so close to his parents in the rural community he called home. Dad was a rice and soybean farmer. He drove 18-wheelers and even did a stint as a deputy sheriff in Jackson County, Arkansas. He was always able to leverage his physical strength into a living for his family.

Dad became a father at age 29 when I was born in 1974. He got his second dip into fatherhood when Jason came along about after 3 years. Ten years later Darlene gave him his third child, a daughter. Jessica. Watching Jessica grow up over the past 18 years has really shown me what a great father Dad was. Because of the distance, I didnt get to experience it firsthand. But seeing what a beautiful, thoughtful and intellegent young woman she is, I know.

Our hearts are breaking as we watch him wither away in a hospital bed. Just a skeleton of who he once was. I pray every night for God to have mercy on him. To have mercy on Darlene, who ministers to him, unscathed by the ugliness of his wounds. Dad is in the last stages. I hope he is able to go to a peaceful place while he still with us. Maybe back to his glory days, when he was able bodied and usually a hero in the last play.

Promise not to Laugh

2005-06-06T01:47:00.000-05:00

Im thinking about going back to school, y'all. I started my MBA two years ago, and was doing quite well until I was injured in the car wreck. Based on how well I did back then, and based on conversations I have had with various and sundry people, I am gonna make a go at it again. This time tho, I am thinking of going down the path of law. Keep in mind I used the word "thinking".

At this point I am just investigating the feasibility of such an idea. I would have to take the LSAT. I would have to come up with a plan to pay for school. I need to figure out why law school is appealing to me. I need to consider how my going back to school full time would fit into our lifestyle. We are already broke, so not much would change there.

Of course, just remember my ADD. Tomorrow I may just wanna go fly kites.

Like a Fish Out of Water

2005-06-03T15:45:00.000-05:00

Ok, so today I get a memo at work that I have to sign.

"It has been brought to my attention that several people have noticed things missing from their desks. Personal items, work items. Please be respectful of other people's belongings. If a person has not expressly given you permission to take something off their desk, leave it alone!"

That is right. We are being reminded not to steal.

Except maybe paperclips.

I caught you looking!

2005-06-01T20:48:00.000-05:00

ha ha. sorry i have nothing new to post as of right now. but it was awfully nice to see you stop by!

Ewwwwwww

2005-05-10T01:23:00.000-05:00

As long as we have had the cat, he insists on jumping up on the computer desk. It has annoyed both of us, but Merton doesnt seem to receive discipline well. Tonight I think Scott somehow inadvertantly cured him of this nasty habit.

Have I ever mentioned how we like to burn candles all over the house while we are at home? Sometimes its several candles in the bathroom while Im taking a long "soaky bath". Other times its just a single flame lit on the bar in the kitchen. Scott likes to burn a little tealight on the desk while he is writing a paper. He seems to think it centers him to focus on his scholastics.

Ok. . . .so the story is that Merton jumped up on the keyboard and started prancing around while I was doing some websurfing. Scott was taking a break with Reagan, and I was trying to avoid the cat and read my story. Out of nowhere, comes this horrible smell. . and I notice the cat is on fire in front of me. I had to smack out the flame with my hand. Other than some singed fur, Merton is ok. But I think he will think twice before jumping up here again.

Pharmacology is a Beautiful Thing

2005-05-04T21:17:00.000-05:00

As I sit here enjoying my M&Ms, Scott has walked by and commented how my ADD medicine is working brillantly.

I have actually lined up all 15 of them in rows according to color and their position in the rainbow. Brown always gets eaten first because they arent very pretty to look at. But other than that my method of eating them is arbitrary. I am down to one orange and one blue.

I have to say, since I started taking something for my Adult Attention Defecit Disorder, my life has become less complicated, at least from an organizational standpoint. I can maintain long conversations without losing my train of concentration. I can sit for long periods of time and not flake out or start daydreaming. Unless of course, that was my plan. As I do LOVE to daydream. Unfortunately, that doesnt pay the bills. But aside from that. . . . You should see my desk at work!!!!! All the paperclips are in one spot. The push pins. Pens and the letter opener. All neat and orderly. I know where everything is. File folders have stuff in them. And its the stuff that belongs there.

The good news is that I feel empowered. I was starting to worry that I had a major personality defect. . that I was lazy, crazy or stupid. After consulting a psychiatrist, the crazy was confirmed. But then I got a real diagnosis. Now I get things accomplished. Six or eight months ago, I might have made a "to do" list, but never understood how other people were actually able to mark things off the list as accomplished. I was the queen of post it notes. If you cant find me, look under the pile of post its, and bring oxygen. I might spend an hour grocery shopping and only leave with a few items because I couldnt focus on what I needed or where I could find it in the store. Another cool thing is that in a chat with friends I could get off track and never get around to making my point. Now that my focus is better, I can keep my thoughts in order and not forget what I was talking about. I know it sounds silly, but its absolutely true.

Another great side effect is that my Doctor and I decided to pull back on the anti-depressant medication. He felt that once we took care of the ADD, the depression would dissipate. And it has.

As usual, I have overshared. I would like to encourage anyone with serious issues focusing. . . to be checked for ADD. I mistakenly thought that ADHD and ADD was just for 7 year old boys who had impulse control issues. Who knew it could be a 30 year old woman?

Projectile Vomiting

2005-05-04T02:43:00.000-05:00

Im sure I could come up with a nice, cerebral post on the following subject. But I need to get this out of my system.

I dont give a damn about Cameron and Justin or their potential wedding date.

I dont give a flying phuck about Paris Hilton, the freeloader she is dating or how "HOT" he is.

I dont need to hear how much money some famous skinny bitch spends on pet luggage.

It doesnt interest me if Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are having an affair.

My eyebrow is not raised if Demi and Ashton are the "it" couple these days.

Britney Spears' ovulation schedule does not concern me.

Madonna's newest religious convert doesnt impress me.

Im sure the new chick in Tom Cruise's bed is a nice girl, but dont give me the details.

Is Paula on pills?? The bottle??? BOTH????

Offer me all the money in the world and I will never allow my children to hang out with Michael Jackson.

Our culture of celebrity is disgusting. I dont consciously pay attention to this stuff, and this is how much I know. Heaven knows how much drivel I would have accumulated had I been looking for it.

Blech. I need to wash out my mouth.

Happiness in a Half Gallon Tub

2005-04-26T02:25:00.000-05:00

Breyer's ice cream in Mint Chocolate Chip.

There is no equal. None of that crappy fake green food coloring. Just mint ice cream. Fat flat chocolate chips.

Pure happiness. The only way it gets better is when its on sale and I have room in my freezer for two half gallon tubs.

New Job

2005-04-25T23:39:00.000-05:00

I have a new job. I started last week as a caseworker for a medical information company. I hesitate to state the company, as the disparaging words I might have for it might find their way back to bite me in the butt.
Lets put it this way. . . I am having the damnedest time trying to keep a good attitude. I have not had to "punch in" to a time clock since I was a teenager, working at Seessel's. I am limited to 35 hours a week, no overtime and no benefits worth mentioning. Did I mention that there is no dress code, except that you do have to wear shoes, but not flip flops. The fact that they have to say that little caviat during orientation tells me that many many people have tried to get away with houseshoes and shower shoes. I have no internet access at the office. I am also not allowed to use the company phone for personal calls. It has been drilled into my head that they will find out if I do. During my interview I was told that I was, "grossly overqualified". At first that was a compliment.
I am really glad to be employed. Really I am. I am just realizing how closely my self image and job satisfaction is intertwined.
Then we get to the salary situation. It is almost fully a third of what I was making in Nashville. The voice that dominates my thoughts is, "why did you bother getting a college degree and work all those years gaining valuable business experience, only to get a minimum wage job??" The only response I have is that I didnt anticipate moving to Waco, TX!!
Im sure this blog sounds pretty bratty and whiney. .. . oh well. Maybe it will get better after this week. I suppose its better than digging ditches. But not much.

Email Expectations

2005-04-05T05:53:00.000-05:00

Does anyone besides me run frantically to the computer when they get home or wake up in the morning? I am an optimist to begin with, but with email I always dream of getting a glut of messages from friends, family and long lost aquaintances. I actually have a story about the latter, that is the psuedo culmunation of a goal I set for myself some 20 years ago.

Between the ages of 9 and 10, my best friend and co conspiritor was Julie Terry, my across the street neighbor on the Navy base. Dad referred to her as "Cool Jule". She was taller and thinner than I was, but we shared the same blonde hair. We also were in the same 4th grade class. Ms. Strycharski even mentioned her by name on "comments" section on my report card.

"Jennifer would perform much better if she weren't so chatty with her friend Julie." Sheesh. I was already making straight A's and in the gifted program. What more did she want from me????? But I digress.

I left Washington in July of 1985. Julie and I stayed in touch by mail for a couple of months. She had a series of traumatic events including the death of her boyfriend. After 6th grade began, I had lost track of her completely. I made several attempts to contact her but was never successful. As with prior attempts I have undertaken to find long lost friends, Julie had a pretty common name. And to make things worse, her father's name was John. Even with the advent of the internet and my growing understanding of it, I tried phone number lookups and still had no success.

Every year that has passed has planted fear in my heart that I would never find her, or if I did, that some tragedy had befallen her.

I was playing around on Classmates.com not too long ago. On a whim, I looked her up on the schools she would have gone to had her Dad stayed on that military base. Unfortunately, there was no Julie, but I did see a name that looked familiar. Lindy Terry. In the dark recesses of my mind, that name rang a bell. Julie had a sister named Lindy. She graduated high school the year I met Julie. So the adventure began.

I looked up everything I could for free on Classmates. I saw that Lindy put a lot of info on the site, including that she lived in Vermont. And that she worked in the healthcare industry. With that information, I set out on a mission.

I found Lindy. I sent her an email. She responded.

Julie is alive and for the most part well. She has had her share of tough times. I have had some trepidation about contacting her. I want to get in touch, but we really dont know each other. Just those silly times from being children together. I anticipate writing another letter to Lindy and asking for the email address or a telephone number.

I feel kinda like Inygo Montoya from The Princess Bride. The guy who was on a lifelong quest to find the man who murdered his father. At the end of the movie, after he has gotten his revenge, Montoya is left with the strange emptiness of having accomplished his goal. I suppose I am afraid of contacting Julie because I won't have her to wonder about anymore. It almost creates a void for me.

But I must press forward. Perhaps I can find another adventure to keep me busy for the next 20 years.

Gosh, I'm Bad at This

2005-04-05T03:17:00.000-05:00

Damn, I can never remember to blog my genius ideas.

Homesick

2005-03-24T03:34:00.000-06:00

Can I just confess that I miss Nashville a whole heckofalot??

I think I am gonna write an ode to my favorite city, the city where I became an adult. The town where I truly fell in love with my husband, learned how to be a wife and a woman. And how to separate the two. . This is the place I started snipping my apron strings, and set that docile girl free. Of course, I don't think they will ever be severed.. . .They are now just thinner and run over fiber optic cables.

While Memphis' skyline is always impressive, coming across that Mississippi River bridge. .. My heart swells when I see the familiar lights of the Bat Building. Driving into Nashville at around 10pm Sunday night, I feel like I am being embraced by an old friend. The flickering of the Capitol and the other "skyscrapers" in town, blinking me a warm welcome in Morse code. Even at 1.5 million people, Music City is still a small town.

I was trying to wean myself from calling Tennessee, "back home" when I talk about the time in my life before Waco. I had kind of prided myself in my not-so-southern southern accent. My early years in Arkansas, the 3 formative years I spent in Washington . . .After I moved to Millington, I liked not being a Tennessean. It made me different from everyone. It made me special, distinctive. And now that I've left the Volunteer State, I long for it. I remember as a child, crying at night for my dear grandmother. . .2,000 miles away in Cash, AR. She was the embodiment of everything I knew. Everything familiar. And I find myself now, sometimes tearful at the distance from what I know.

Texas is a welcoming place. I've come in contact with some amazing people that will develop into life long friendships. Once we are able to invest some time in Waco, I know we can set down some roots, but Tennessee will always be my home. I just hope she remembers me when I come back.

An Exercise in Narcissism

2005-03-09T02:46:00.001-06:00

I was sitting around today waiting for a phone call that never came. I've been expecting to hear back about a job since last week, and starting to lose hope. So, as I contemplate this reality, I begin to get a little droopy. So, my optimistic side comes out of hiding and I decide to make a list of all the songs I know that were written just for me. You guys have had folks write songs about you before, right? You hear the song, and go, "Gee, that song is SOOOOO about me!!" Well, below is a short list of those songs about me. Don't try to tell me that some of those lyrics were written before I was a sparkle in my daddy's eye. That does not matter. They are about me. So there.

Always a Woman (Billy Joel)
Short Skirt, Long Jacket (Cake)
She's Got a Way (Billy Joel)
Every Little Thing She Does is Magic (The Police)
Something in the Way She Moves (James Taylor)
Mysterious Ways (U2)
Secret Smile (SemiSonic)
Witchy Woman (Eagles)
Simply Irresistible (Robert Palmer)
Brown Eyed Girl (Van Morrison)

I am sure there are more. Feel free to post which songs you think were written for me. Or, since I am feeling more benevolent than at the beginning of this post, share with us the songs that were written for YOU.

Eric Russell, you cannot claim, "Disco Duck" or "Desperado" for yourself. Sorry. ;)~

Dad Update

2005-03-06T23:00:00.000-06:00

Hey guys,

I got a phone call from Jason before we got home from church. Dad went back to the hospital today complaining of not being able to breathe.

Once I talked to Jason later this afternoon, I found that Dad had been admitted for congestive heart failure and pneumonia. I don't know what this means right now. Darlene came home from Jonesboro, and will go back in the morning to be with him during all the tests. Hopefully we will know more after those are complete.

From the research I've already done, CHF is a treatable situation, and not necessarily a death knell. It is still scary. I thought I had come to terms with the idea of the death of my father after coming so close to it during the depth of winter. Now, I am not so sure. I thought I had let go of some of those old hurts and relinquished the hold they had on me for so long. Things unsaid. Affirmation not given. Love withheld. I'm now feeling regret again, and I can't pinpoint the source.

I foresee another season of soul searching for Jennifer.

Yay, me!

2005-03-04T03:49:00.000-06:00

I got on the scales the other day. I was concerned that it was wrong. Scott sometimes gets excited and moves the dial back a couple of pounds. But nope. It appears to be correct. I am closing in on 160lbs!! Since you are all sweet, kind family members, I'm sure you didn't notice me inching up and inching out. . .Or at least you didn't say anything. Since I have had all the issues with my shoulder, I have gained about 35lbs. As of Christmas of 2003, I was at 190lbs. On my frame, it wasn't healthy, nor was it attractive. I had started to notice that I needed elastic in the waistband of the new pants I was buying. And when I got up in the mornings, my feet hurt from the extra pounds. I think that is when the bell rang and I decided it was time to do something. The real challenge I faced was not being able to fully engage in any activity due to my still injured shoulder. Most folks will (thankfully) never realize how valuable that socket is!!! The point of this post is to share my excitement about dropping some weight and increasing my health!! Especially after realizing the heredity issues with blood pressure and other heart risk factors. Eat your greens!!

Another day, another nickel

2005-03-04T03:05:00.000-06:00

I've been on the job search again. Yesterday I went on an interview with a pharmaceutical company and I think it went well. I've been burned so many times in this weird Waco market, that I'm trying not to get my hopes up too high. Today, I had a phone interview for a company I've been pursuing for almost a year now. I will have a face to face meeting with him early next week. This is the one I am very excited about. It is a sales job for a hospice organization. Based on the time I spent at the hospital with my dad and the experience I had fresh out of college as a chaplain, I think this is the perfect combination of my passions. Being able to truly affect someone's life in a positive manner and make money doing it. Basically, I would be calling on nursing homes, oncology units, etc and creating relationships with physicians and families to help educate them on the value of hospice and end of life palliative care. Its kind of a downer if you think about it, but it is pretty interesting. Hopefully I will be on my way to be a productive member of society and contribute to the family budget.

Morning dreaming

2005-02-25T05:49:00.000-06:00

I want to win the lottery. I want to roll in cash. I want to enjoy looking at fine art and sculptures around my Mediterranean styled home. I want to drive around in luxury. I would be very generous, surely. I wouldn't mind bestowing lots of moolah on my relatives. Creating educational trust funds for all the new nieces and nephews. Writing a fat check to our church. Bequeathing an enormous amount of money to a worthy cause: Paying off all the parents' mortgages. Aww, hell. . .How about the siblings' mortgages, too!! While I am at it. . .Nana could use a new place. I think I want a commissioned painting of the whole family. Wouldn't that be nice?? The Rushing Family Scholarship at Belmont. Maybe a sweet little bench at Vanderbilt with our name on it. In the shade of a magnolia tree right over by the Divinity school.

The truth is. . .I do desire to do all this stuff for my family. . .But mostly. Right this minute, I want a housekeeper. What a crazy indulgence! It's not that I don't have the time to clean the house. I just don't like doing it. I know. That is a horrible thing for an unemployed woman to say, but its the gawd awful truth. Wish me luck on winning the lottery. I think that is the only way I'm gonna be able to justify a maid. Actually, wish me more luck on getting the house clean.

Tell me I am not a messy, dirty person. Go ahead.

Ahhhhhhhh, Thunderstorms!

2005-02-24T02:08:00.000-06:00

I have always loved thunderstorms. I like the way they roll in. . and how you can hear them from a distance, rumble across the hill and dale. As children, my brother and I would sit on the tailgate of Dad's pickup truck and watch the clouds grow more and more ominous. The green leaves on the trees seemed to change color against the gray sky. As soon as it got nasty outside, we would go inside begrudgingly, and look thru the front window to see what damage the wind and rain would do. It should be no surprise that Jason ended up as a meteorologist.

Now as an adult, I still like storms. I like the low rumble and the ongoing crackling. The flashes of lightning that finger thru the edge of the blinds. The sound of rain against the window lulls me to sleep, only to be reawakened by the the sensation of a furry being nuzzling up underneath my pillow. No, Im not talking about Scott.

Reagan has never loved thunderstorms. In fact, I would go so far as to say she hates them. If by chance a line of severe weather were to move thru Waco during the day, she will hide in the closet or crawl up under my legs. But, if it is night time, she will jump up on the bed, creep underneath the covers and burrow her head between our pillows. She sometimes shakes a little, other times she just holds her breath and occasionally comes up for air. Its kinda sweet, if it weren't so pitiful. I swear I can hear her curse the doggie gods, wondering what she did to deserve such wrath.

Besides the discomfort it causes my dearest puppy, I still love the hear of the beep of the SuperDuperDOPPLER Tornado-meter come across the TV. My heart skips a beat, and I have to practice lamaze breathing. My season is coming!!! Sorry, Reagan.

Pet the puppy. And by "pet the puppy", I mean, "Affirm me".

Movie Buff

2005-02-21T23:52:00.000-06:00

Ok, you guys know me well enough to suspect that I am NOT a moviephile like the rest of my family. Scott and Jeff and Rann could probably sit all day and give Harry Knowles a run for his money on his world famous, "Butt-Numba-Thons". . . I havent the patience. No doubt, I enjoy the occaisional movie. . .A lighthearted romp. . . a tear jerker from time to time. I like an action flick where the bad guys get their asses kicked. I like it when there is no question who the good guy is. What happened to good old fashioned movies?

Im sure this query has been posted before, but I'm not sure if it is for the sames reasons as I write tonight. I heard that movie announcer voice earlier this evening. . . .You know the one. You have all heard him before. It seems like he is contracted to do the voiced-overs for all the sucky movies. I dont remember that guy ever being used for new classics such as, "The Godfather", "The English Patient", or "LA Confidential". Instead he is spending his time with quality films like, "Beethoven VI", "Gigli" and now the pending blockbuster, "Man of the House" The moment I heard Mr Voice say, "When five cheerleaders are the only witness to a murder. . . . . . .," I knew. I just knew. Im gonna just have to wait for Jeff to see it. . and read his review.

Affirm me.

First post---EVER

2005-02-21T00:25:00.000-06:00

Ok, folks. Here is the deal. I'm jumping on the blog bandwagon. Knowing me, I will fall off shortly. Be that as it may, I will make attempts like my dear brother-in-law Jeff. . .to make you like me. Jeff, you inspire me to new heights. Really.

Ive considered doing this for some time, but no one could ever convince me that I have anything worth writing about. But after much thought, I think I will share with the world what annoys me. Perhaps this will make me a better person by not loudly verbalizing my snippy ideas about my fellow man.

I am open to suggestions, as I am not usually a spiteful person. Following, you will find a short list of items that piss me off. . .and in the coming weeks, perhaps i will find time to elaborate.

Obvious sportscasters
People who dont use their right turn signal
People in LARGE SUVs that I cant see around
Fashion reporters, ie Joan Rivers
Stupid programs on Vh-1 that show outrageous wealth and make me feel small
Forgetting to pay the phone bill
Black Ice
Points/Kroger/MVP cards at the grocery store
Dust bunnies

Ok, that is all for now. Gimme comments, damnit.