God Is In Control

I've been very slack in my blogging lately. I'll admit it's mostly because I spend more time using Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr. But, I need to get back into blogging, because it truly is what I enjoy more than any of the others.

I've had A LOT on my mind lately, but have been struggling with how to get it all down on paper (on screen). Sometimes, as hard as this is to believe, I'm at a loss for words. This post will probably go in about a hundred different directions and may possibly get lengthy. I'm simply going to type as the thoughts come to my mind, so please bear with me.

As I mentioned above, I use Tumblr, which can be used as a blog, but I use it to post (mainly re-blogs) quotes, pictures, etc. that I love. Rarely do I post anything original (as in, my own) on there. There have been a few things on there lately that have just made me stop and REALLY think. There are really too many to post on here at one time, so I'll go with the ones that have most recently had me thinking the MOST.

"The only people you need in life are the ones that need you in theirs.”
- Unknown

MY THOUGHTS: It's hard for a people pleaser, like me, to come to terms with the fact that there are people in life who simply want to use & discard you, all the while never once entertaining the thought that you may just be what they need in their life. I've had to step back and look at things from a distance lately. That's not easy to do. It's not easy realizing that people who call themselves your "friend" really are anything but that. Even harder is removing yourself from the situation. I've had to do A LOT of 'weeding' in my relationships over the last couple of years. It's true what they say ... "You realize who your true friends are when you've lost everything and have nothing to offer." My Daddy always told me that by the time I was an adult, I would be able to count my TRUE friends on one hand. I used to scoff at him when he would make that statement. Unfortunately, he was so RIGHT! I don't say any of this to imply that I'm a perfect friend - I am NOT! I have made many mistakes & failed miserably many times. Thank God for forgiveness and restoration. None of us are perfect!

MY THOUGHTS: Seems simple enough, but … what if the ONLY option you’re ever given is to leave someone alone? The truth is, everyone wants to be loved. And, I'm not speaking of only romantic love. People want to feel loved by family, friends, etc. While I agree that the two options are really the only ones there are, if you're never given the chance to love someone, how are these options fair? There are many people in my life, in the past and currently, who I have tried to show love to. For whatever reason, they avoid me, shut me out, etc. I used to blame myself for these actions, but I've had to come to realize that A LOT of the time, people have been hurt so badly that the only choice they feel they have is to put up huge walls. I've also come to realize that I have huge walls built up around me. I've missed out on A LOT of opportunities for love, friendship, happiness, etc. because I've been too afraid to take a risk and let down my guard. It's taken me a long time to wrap my mind around the fact that God does not want me to live in fear. He wants me to give Him my life and trust in him completely. Since I've come to grips with that, my life has been so much happier. That's not to say that I don't have bad days - I do! It's not to say that I don't have worries - I do! But, when it's all said & done, God already has my life mapped out and He wants me to stop trying to control things & listen for His voice. With that said, don't put yourself in the confines of a box and give people only the option of 'leaving you alone.' You'll miss out on so much if you don't also give them the option of 'love me.' We must realize, however, that with this option comes the chance of being hurt. We must have faith in God & trust that He'll never give us more than we can handle. Life is full of hurts! We'll never know true happiness & contentment until we're willing to listen to & follow God's direction. So, take some risks! God's in CONTROL!

The past few years have been very difficult, but I know that God is using all of it for a purpose. He has a plan for my life and I'm so excited to see where He takes me. I will have to remind myself EVERY SINGLE DAY that I cannot stand in His way; that I need to seek His will, listen to His voice & follow His direction! Otherwise, I'll never be in the center of His will for my life! And, if I'm not in the center of His will, I'll never know true peace, contentment & happiness!

Thanks to all of you who have loved, supported & encouraged me. Most importantly, thanks to all of you who have lifted me up in prayer! I love & appreciate all of you more than you will ever know!

So Many Men ... Yet, So Far Away

Well, hallelujah ... I have finally discovered what my problem is - I'm living in the WRONG place. I need to head out West or down to Florida. Then, maybe, just maybe ... :-)

(You can click on the image to enlarge it.)

Life Is Too Short

This quote is a great reminder to me that life is too short to live in self-confinement. I need to take risks, quit worrying so much & live my life to the fullest. With Jesus in my life, it's DEFINITELY worth the ride and He will take care of me, irregardless of what happens. I CANNOT have the life God intended for me if I'm not willing to do whatever he asks me to do, no matter how scary it is! I need to step out on a limb, take some chances & let God handle the rest!

I hope that this quote will encourage you, as much as it has me.

“Life is too short to wake up with regrets.
So love the people who treat you right.
Forget about those who don’t.
Believe everything happens for a reason.
If you get a chance, take it.
If it changes your life, let it.
Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised
it would most likely be worth it.”

Things That Make Me . . . Happy, Laugh, Smile, Etc.

This is a list I’ve been compiling for quite some time & will probably be added to every now & then. I believe that we must stop & take the time to be thankful for the small things in life and this is a great way for me to do it. ENJOY!!

THINGS THAT MAKE ME . . . HAPPY, LAUGH, SMILE, ETC.
(Past, Present, etc.)

• “American Graffiti” soundtrack
• “American Idol”
• “Annie”
• “Bambie”
• “Beaches”
• “Cinderella”
• “Cosby Show” marathons
• “Criminal Minds”
• “CSI”
• “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”
• “Fresh Prince of Bel Air” marathons
• “Golden Girls” reruns
• “Grease”
• “Home Alone 2”
• “Home Alone”
• “Law & Order: Criminal Intent”
• “Law & Order: SVU”
• “Little Mermaid”
• “Pretty Woman”
• “Radio”
• “Reba” reruns
• “Riverdance” live
• “Saturday Night Live” (the old ones . . . from the 80s and 90s)
• “Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs”
• “The Lion King”
• “Top Gun”
• “Will & Grace” reruns
• “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory”
• “Wizard of Oz”
• 1st Kiss
• 1st trip to New York
• 80s music
• 8th grade dance
• A child's smile & laughter
• A good book
• A shuffling iPod
• An old couple holding hands
• Animal Planet
• Art by Ansel Adams
• Art by Georgia O’Keefe
• Art by Jim Booth
• Atlanta Braves baseball
• Babies
• Barnes & Noble
• Bath & Body Works
• Beach trips with Lyn, Cory & Heather
• Being appreciated
• Being on yearbook staff in high school & college
• Bill Engvall
• Billy’s laugh
• Biltmore Estate
• Black & white photos
• Blimpie subs
• Boston
• Breakfast for supper
• Broadway Shows
• Bubble baths
• Calendars (I’m all about planning)
• Candles
• Carriage rides in Charleston, SC
• Charleston, SC
• Chatting online with Shell
• Childhood friends
• Childrens’ books
• Claire’s ‘voices’
• Clemson Tigers football
• CNN
• Coffee punch
• Coffee table books
• Collection of ornaments (each one has a story)
• Compliments
• Cool breezes
• Cory hitting a baseball over the fence when he was smaller than the bat
• Cory playing the guitar
• Country music
• Court TV
• Cute return address labels
• Dalton's hugs & kisses
• Decorating for Christmas with my mom
• Downtown Greenville
• Drafting a legal document “well” the first time
• Early morning/late night walks on the beach
• Elmo
• Encouraging words from others
• F.A.O. Schwartz in NYC
• Facials
• Fall
• Falls Park
• Family reunions in GA
• Feeling understood
• Finding a great deal
• Finding money
• Finished projects
• Fireworks displays (especially the one at Stone Mountain)
• First time roller skating
• Fitting into an old outfit
• Flat Rock/Hendersonville, NC
• Flowers – gerbera daisies, orchids & lilies, specifically
• Flute
• Fox News
• Fresh sheets
• Furman lake
• Fuzzy bedroom shoes
• Game Night with friends
• Getting my first job
• Giraffes
• Girls' Night Out
• Going for a walk
• Going to the aquarium
• Going to the movies
• Going to the zoo
• Greenville Drive baseball
• Guitar
• Haircuts
• Hallmark (after all, I’m the “card lady”)
• Handmade cards
• Having a clean house
• Having loving & supportive people in my life
• Head massage
• Heather dancing, cheering & singing
• Heather talking about her "baby shoot" (aka "bathing suit") when she was little
• Holding hands with someone special
• Homemade ice cream
• Honesty of children
• Hot apple cider
• Hugs
• Hummingbirds
• IKEA
• Inside jokes & secrets with Crystal
• Italian food
• Japanese food
• Jeff Foxworthy
• Joel's impersonations & reenactments
• Journaling/blogging
• Kentucky Derby
• Knowing that God has a special plan for my life
• Knowing that God is in control of my life (and I’m not)
• Knowing that I have more than 1 person that I can count on
• Knowing that I will see my loved ones again in Heaven
• Laughing until it hurts
• Lifetime TV
• Light bulb moments
• Lighthouses
• Listening to the rain
• Live music
• Local bands
• Long, winding roads in the middle of nowhere
• Losing weight when I'm not trying
• Love from Daisy (Mel & Claire’s dog)
• Magazines
• Magnets
• Making handmade Christmas ornaments
• Making people laugh
• Manicures
• Mark Lowry
• Martin Lawrence
• Massages
• Matthew McConaughey
• Memories of dances with Jerry
• Memories of Liberty
• Memories of Lizzy
• Mexican food
• Mission Trips
• Mom’s “obsession” with the Weather Channel
• Mom's lasagna
• Monkeys/chimpanzees
• Mountain trips with the girls
• Movie nights with Bridget (Reggie)
• MSNBC
• Music - basically anything (with a few minor exceptions)
• My brother’s upcoming wedding to a great girl (Candice)
• My brother's sense of humor
• My church family @ Marathon Greenville
• My circle of friends
• My daddy's last words to me
• My Life Group girls
• My PaPa (my grandfather Gulley) taking me every day to Sky City or KMart to ride the horsey
• My upcoming graduation (finally) from college
• Ocean breezes
• Old photos
• Passing Anatomy after A LOT of hard work
• Pedicures
• Penguins
• Pens
• People-watching
• Piano
• Picnics
• Planning a trip
• Playing Chickenfoot with Mom, Daddy & my brother
• Playing Phase 10 w/ the girls
• Praise & Worship music
• Precious (my brother & his fiance’s dog)
• Publix birthday cakes (chocolate with whipped frosting)
• Putt-putt
• Quotations
• Rainbows
• Reading devotions and Bible verses that always fit with what’s going on in my life (God’s funny that way )
• Reality TV
• Receiving flowers (especially if they're my favorite)
• Receiving mail that doesn’t involve bills and/or junk mail
• Reconnecting with old friends on Facebook
• Rock & Roll music
• Samples/Freebies
• Santa’s White Christmas coffee (from Barnies)
• Scavenger hunts
• Searching for seashells
• Sending & receiving Christmas cards
• Sending cards
• Shirley Temple movies
• Shopping with Mom
• Silence
• Singing in the shower or car
• Sitting by a roaring fire on a cold winter night
• Sleeping in
• Snow
• Sonic Happy Hour
• Starbucks
• Staying up all night - sharing & laughing
• Studying at the Milliken campus in college
• Sudoku puzzles
• Sunrises
• Sunsets
• Swinging at the park
• Taking Dalton to see his first movie
• Taking pictures
• Temptations music
• The beauty of the mountains
• The first time I met Dalton
• The last trip our family took together
• The stories my daddy always told about his childhood
• The trials in my life . . . because they have made me a better person
• The way it smells after it rains
• Tigger
• Times spent with Mama (my grandmother Gulley)
• TLC
• To-Do Lists that are complete
• Toile
• Towels just out of the dryer on a cold morning
• Traditions
• Trips over "the mountain" with my brother
• Tumbling (on Tumblr)
• Twitter/Tweeting
• Unconditional love of a pet
• Unexpected "thinking of you" gestures
• Van Morrison music
• Violin
• Volunteer work
• Waffle House at 3am (in my younger days)
• Watching Dalton play
• What it feels like to get a 4.0 GPA for the 1st time
• Windchimes
• Wrapping Christmas gifts
• Youth group memories

Reba's Meme

I snagged this from Reba (she's a rottweiler) over at Reba's Run.  For a dog, this is a good meme.  Nothing on TV worth watching, so I figured I'd play along.  Here goes:

You're feeling:  somewhat accomplished (since I did get the house cleaned and laundry done).
To your left:  the bedroom wall.
On your mind: what God is trying to teach me through the current events in my life.
Last meal included:  Baked spaghetti & garlic bread, which was oh-so-YUMMY!!!!
You sometimes find it hard to:  relax.
The weather:  a lot cooler than it has been.  It's stayed in the 80s this week, which has been nice compared to the 100s we've had.  We actually got a little bit of rain earlier this evening.  We need a lot more, though!
Something you have a collection of:  lighthouses.
A smell that cheers you up:  clean smells (laundry detergent, fabric softener, etc.).
A smell that can ruin your mood:  cigarette smoke.
How long since you last shaved:  Day before yesterday.  It'll be time again in the a.m.  I hate shaving!
The current state of your hair:  overdue for a cut.
The largest item on your desk/workspace (not computer):  I really don't have a desk/workspace at home.  I usually just sit in bed when I'm on my laptop.  I'll go for the desk/workspace at the office & say . . . other than my computer, I guess it would be my file bins.
Your skill with chopsticks:  not skilled at all.
Which section to head for first in a bookstore:  true crime.
Something you're craving:  ice cream.
Your general thoughts on the presidential race:  not hopeful!
How many times have you been hospitalized this year:  None, thank the Lord.
Favorite place to go for a quiet moment:  I usually retreat to my bedroom & shut the door.
You've always secretly thought you'd be a good:  private detective.  Well, I haven't really secretly thought about it because I've had several people tell me I'd be a good one.  I'm not sure if that's a compliment or if they're saying I'm 'nosey.'  :-)
Something that freaks you out a little:  deep water terrifies me, so to say it freaks me 'out a little' is an understatement.
Something you've eaten too much of lately:  sub sandwiches.
You have never:  traveled outside of the U.S., but I would love to.
You never want to:  get married just to say I am.  I want it to be the real deal!!!

Hope everyone is having a great weekend. 

Love,

A Little Bonus

So, I was reading all the blogger's answers to some of the Friday memes and saw this little added 'bonus' over at The 3 R's: Reading, 'Riting and Randomness's blog. 

This is an open-ended fill-in meme.  I found it very interesting, so here goes . . .

My Ex . . . is someone I'd rather forget.

Maybe I Should . . . learn to relax because the stress is way over the top & it's gonna kill me if I don't chill!!

People Would Say . . . they're your 'friend,' but sometimes I have my doubts.

I Don't Understand . . . a LOT of things, but it would take too long to tell you everything.

When I Wake Up In the Morning . . . I usually want to just go back to sleep.  I am a major insomniac, so I'm never well-rested.  :-(

I Lost . . . A TON of respect for a few different people over the years - - - all for different reasons.

Life is full of . . . uncertainty.  You can never really 'plan' your life.  While you're busy making plans, life is happening . . . and, a lot of the time, your plans aren't God's plans.  I've learned that over the last few years.

My Past Is . . . some good, some bad, but all what makes me who I am today.  

I Get Annoyed When . . . people are loud, obnoxious and have no regard for others.

Parties Are . . . not really my thing.  If they're small, private affairs, I'm okay, but I can't stand large crowds with a bunch of people I don't know.

I Wish . . . I was more financially secure.

Dogs . . . are the best!!!  They're really my favorite animal and make the world a better place.

Cats . . . are fine, but not my favorite - - - mostly because I'm highly allergic!

Tomorrow . . . is a new day - - - start over!!

I Have a Low Tolerance for . . . pain.  I'm a big, fat wuss!!!

If I Had a Million Dollars . . . I'd be more financially secure, but I'd still be the same person I am right now.  The money wouldn't change me!!

I'm Totally Terrified . . . of deep water and public speaking.  What a pair, huh??

SO . . . THIS IS HOW IT FEELS TO BE RUN OVER BY A MACK TRUCK??!!

Since Wednesday night, I've probably gotten 10 hours of sleep.  I'm beyond EXHAUSTED!!!  Now, at almost 2am, I'm so keyed up that I can't close my eyes and get some much-needed rest.  At this point, there's not much reason to even go to bed, since I've got to be up no later than 6am to finish up a few things before the movers arrive at 8:30am.  WHY, oh WHY, did I schedule movers to arrive on a Saturday morning at the tail crack of dawn??  I guess I was temporarily out of my mind when I scheduled them.  Even more so is the fact that I planned it for Memorial Day weekend.  What a way to spend a holiday, huh?  I've been on 'vacation' from work since yesterday and won't go back until Wednesday, but believe me . . . I am NOT having any fun.  I've decided that I'm not doing anything on Monday that involves packing a box,  unpacking a box, cleaning, hauling trash, etc.  If it involves more than relaxing, it's NOT gonna happen on Monday.  That's going to be MY day!!!  Depending on how tomorrow goes, I may take Sunday off, too.  I haven't been to church in what seems like a month & I just feel really disconnected!!  I miss my friends and my 'life.'  So much has happened in my life over the last few months.  And, since I can't sleep,  now's a good a time as any to fill you in . . .

Due to some happenings in my life over the last year or so, some completely out of my control, I've made the difficult decision to move back home with my Mom.  This will be a temporary move, but how temporary, I'm not sure.  I figure at least a couple of years, until I can get back on my feet.  I wish that I could be happy about the move, but . . . I'm NOT!!  There's nothing exciting about packing up the life you've built and worked so hard for & moving back home with Mommy at the age of 32.  Mom & I get along, for the most part, but I've been totally independent & on my own for a long time and living with someone [especially my Mom] is going to be quite an adjustment.  I know that I'll get used to it & I might even enjoy it, at some point, but I'm just not feeling it right now.  I feel like a failure because it came to this, but I did EVERYTHING I knew to do to change things.  I am thankful that my Mom was willing to let me move back home.  If not, I'm not so sure what I would've done.  She moved last weekend into our new place - - - a quaint little townhouse not too far away from where either of us have been living.  Our Connections Pastor & his wife live next door to us and there are several others from church who live in the community, so that's a plus.  The other plus is that this is a brand new community & the unit we're living in has never been lived in, so everything is brand spanking new.  Which, is so nice!  I think we'll all settle & adjust with time.  Lizzy, my sister-with-fur, is having to adjust, too.  She's never lived anywhere else, so at 12 years old, it's rocking her world.  I think when we all get into a routine, she'll be fine.

As if all of this wasn't enough, I've gone back  to school to finish my degree.  I was working on my degree when Daddy got sick, so I took a 'leave' because he needed round-the-clock care + I just couldn't handle the pressure of school & dealing with a sick parent.  I started classes 2 weeks ago and it's looking like it's going to be a long, exhausting summer.  I'm taking 2 classes this semester - - - Workers Compensation and Litigation Applications.  So, to answer the question of what my degree is in [for those of you who don't already know] - - - I will have an Associate of Public Service [Paralegal].  I have classes on Mondays & Wednesdays and those days are very long because I'm in class in the morning, go to work in the afternoon & then back to school in the evening.  On the days I'm not in school, I work all day at my job, which has it's on set of stresses.  I'm thankful, though, that my bosses were willing to work with me so that I could adjust my work schedule in order to finish this degree.  I will have 1 class during the fall semester - - - Interpersonal Communications.  I have NO CLUE what this class will involve.  It was either take it or Public Speaking & I certainly didn't want to take that, so I'm hoping this won't be too bad.  The schedule won't be as demanding because I'll have the 1 class late morning, so I'll work a few hours in the morning, go to class & then come back and finish out the day.  And, I'll go back to my normal schedule [11:30-5:30] on the days I don't have class.  And, come December 18th, I will be a college graduate . . . HALLELUJAH!!!!  It's been a long time coming!  And, I hope it pays off in the end.  I certainly have worked my hiney off, so I hope it's not been for nothing. 

I'm still fulfilling my Online Chair job with Relay For Life, as well, though our Relay was in March.  I've really enjoyed it, but it's been a very demanding job.  I'm going to have to do some serious thinking & praying about whether I will take on that task next year.  While I love it, I don't want to burn myself out.  We'll just have to see.

I'm also teaching the kids every other week at church.  I'm loving it!!!  I'm blessed to have found such a wonderful church after a very long search.  I FINALLY joined a few months ago, though I've attended for about a year & a half.  I've met some AWESOME people & walk away every single week feeling more blessed than the week before. 

So, to say I'm busy is an understatement.  And, if any of you are wondering where I've been lately . . . now you know!  I'm either sitting somewhere with my nose crammed in a legal book, packing a box, drafting some legal documents, raising some money for the American Cancer Society or teaching some precious children.  That's A LOT more than I have time for, but . . . it's my CRAZY life & I love every minute of it!!  [Well, almost every minute of it]

Sorry to get so lengthy.  I haven't done a 'real' post in a long time, so I had a lot of catching up to do.  And, now . . . I'm sitting here fixing to drop like a fly, so I'm going to go try to grab a couple of hours of shut-eye before the BIG MOVE!!!!  I'll be sooooooo glad when it's over.

I hope everyone has a great Memorial Day weekend!

Maybe I Should . . .

Saw this over at The Wood Family blog and thought I'd play along.  I really have plenty of things to be doing, but . . . just want to take a break right now, so . . . here goes:

Maybe I should . . . take a nap & then just stay up ALL night and ALL day tomorrow to get this house completely packed up & ready for the movers on Saturday morning.
I love the smell of . . . an ocean breeze.
People would say that I . . . talk too much, but that I get along with pretty much everybody & that I'm fun to be around.  [At least, I hope that's what people would say.]
I don't understand why . . . some people thrive on drama.
When I wake up in the morning . . . I almost always want to go back to sleep.  I do NOT get enough sleep at night & I'm always sooooo tired when I wake up.
I lost my will power to . . . diet years ago.  No matter how hard I try, I just can't lose weight, so I don't waste time worrying about it anymore. 
Life is wonderful with . . . my family & friends!
My past made me . . . realize that I shouldn't live my life for others; that I should live every day moment to moment.  Life is too short to live for others.  Nobody is guaranteed tomorrow.
I get annoyed when . . . someone asks you a question and while you're trying to answer them they're either talking over you or are just not paying attention.
Parties are not . . . something I've ever been super excited about.  The only parties I ever look forward to our our annual Christmas party with friends & family and my nephew's birthday party.  I'm just not a 'partier' and never have been.
Dogs are . . . the BEST!!! 
Cats are . . . fine, but just not my favorite.  They're moody and not very snuggly.  Plus, I'm highly allergic!!!
Tomorrow I am going to . . . finish packing up this house so everything is ready for the movers on Saturday morning.  I HATE moving!!!!
I have a low tolerance for . . . pain - - - I'm just a big wuss!!! 
I'm totally terrified of . . . deep water.
I wonder why I thought my life would be . . . relaxing & calm.  Mine is sooooo not that, especially right now!  But, I wouldn't have it any other way.
Never in my life . . . have I been outside of the U.S.,  but I'd love to.
High School was something that . . . I try to forget about. 
When I'm nervous . . . I fidget and/or bite my nails (bad habit, I know).
One time at a family gathering . . . my brother almost caused my 2nd cousin to have a wreck.  This was years ago and he was just a little dude (about 5 or 6) and loved to make impressions of driving sounds (squealing tires, crashes, etc.).  We were driving to the Mall during the Christmas rush-hour and he all of a sudden let out a LOUD tire squeal & she just about slammed into a car in oncoming traffic.  It wasn't funny then, but we laugh about it now!
Take my advice . . . you can never make everyone happy, so quit trying!
Making my bed is . . . something I rarely do!  [I can hear the gasps from here!]
I'm almost always . . . awake after midnight.
I'm addicted to . . . Criminal Minds, American Idol and the Food Network.  I'm also addicted to sudoku & the internet.
I want someone . . . to come over here & help me finish packing up this house!  Any takers???  :-)
I NOW TAG . . . nobody.  Feel free to play along if you'd like.  Leave a comment & let me know so that I can check out your answers!

And the WINNER is . . . DAVID!!!

And the WINNER is . . . DAVID!!!  David Cook, that is!  I am beyond thrilled!  After watching 7 seasons of American Idol, my pick from the very start finally won the title!!!  I just love him!  I  think he's an awesome singer who seems very humble & grateful for the opportunity he's been given.  I think he has big things ahead for him and I hope he stays exactly the same!  I loved him from the beginning and fell more in love with him with each passing week.  Here are some of my favorite performances from the season and just a few of the reasons I just can't get enough of him . . .

 

 

 

 

Mercy . . . did I mention  that I LOVE him?!!  He is just awesome & I can't wait until he has an album out!!  I could listen to him 24/7!!!  This season, by far, has been the most talented, in my opinion.  This is an American Idol tour that I wouldn't mind seeing.  Unfortunately, they're not touring in my city.  :-( 

Tonight, David Cook sang with ZZ Top,which was one of my daddy's favorite bands.  Daddy soooooo would've loved this performance.  Here it is . . . it was pretty dang AWESOME!!!!

ROCK ON, DAVID . . . ROCK ON!!!!

Another AWESOME performance on tonight's finale was David Archuleta singing Apologize with One Republic.  Check it out!!!

More Than You Ever Wanted To Know . . .

This may very well be the longest survey/quiz/meme I've ever done.  But, I'm bored out of my mind & wide awake, so I have to do something to pass the time.  So, here I go:

Okay, what's your name?  Jennifer

Nickname?  Jenn, J, Jenn-Jenn, Horace 

Guy or girl?  Girl

What color undies are you wearing?  Salmon"y" color, if you must know.

What time is it?  9:45pm

Have you ever been kissed?  What was it like?  It's been sooooo long, I had to think about it, but . . . yes, I have!   And, it was nice!

Are you in love?  Not at the present moment.

Did you ever eat a crayon?  Not that I can recall.

How many pairs of shoes do you have?  Lots, but I only wear about 4 of them.

Do you use floss?  Yes, every single day.

How many doors are their in your house?  10 

Do you have a myspace?  I did, but not anymore.

What's your screen name?  TwoBlackLabsnSC and legalchick43076

Would you rather have a huge project or tons of homework?  Huge project.

Are you OCD?  Yes

About what?  Organization, mostly.

Your best friend?  Shell

If you had to write a story of your favorite place, what would that place be?  My favorite place to visit is Charleston, SC, but I also love the NC mountains, so it might would include both of these locations.

Do you like to take surveys?  Yeah, couldn't you tell?

Truthfully, is it because you have no life?  Sadly . . . yeah!

What are you currently looking forward to?  The weekend. 

What was the last thing you said?  Be careful!

What are your school colors?  Well, I've long been out of school, but they were kelly green, gold & white.  GO BULLDOGS!!

Is your school small or big?  It was pretty average.

Do you have a favorite outfit?  I'm a big fan of my jammies. 

Favorite sugary food?  Chocolate, of course.

Favorite color?  Blue, green & yellow.

Okay, done with the favorites for a while.  Do you like answering favorites?  They're cool.

Now the question I can't avoid asking.  Who would you want to be tied to for 24hrs?  I don't know that I could be tied to anyone for 1/2 an hour; never mind 24 hours.

Do you have dry skin?  Yes, especially in the winter.

How's your love life?  What love life?  Need I say more?

How many questions should a survey have to make it a good one?  20 or so.

Have you ever made a survey?  Nope

Classic or modern?  Classic

Gross or nasty?  Gross

Short or tall?  Short

Big or small?  Big

Do you prefer using tape, glue stick, glue gun, or glue bottle?  Tape or glue gun, usually.

Quizzes, tests, or surveys?  All of them.

Do you like to read?  Love it!

Would you rather direct, act in, or write a movie?  Write 

Why?  It's what I would be best at doing. 

What's your "dream job"?  Working for a non-profit or event planning.

How old are you? (have I already asked this??)  I'll be 32 a week from today! 

Boxers or briefs?  Couldn't care less.

Would you rather swim with sharks or alligators?  Neither, but if I have to say . . . I guess alligators.

Is your father a good man?  Daddy was the BEST!!  I miss him so much! 

What's your favorite music genre?  This is a hard question to answer because I love all kinds, but I guess I'd say Country, mainly because I listen to it more than I do anything else (at the moment).

What makes Bzoink better then other survey sites?  I have no idea what Bzoink is.

You fart. How do you cover it up?  Blame it on the dog.  HA!HA!HA!  :-)

Does someone have a crush on you? Do you like them back?  I'm thinking no!

Now for some either ors!  Color or black and white?  Black and white.

Past, present, or future?  Future

Shorts or skirt?  Shorts

Cat or dog?  Dog

Pain or no gain?  No gain.

Sports or arts?  Arts

Good posture or bad?  Good posture, though I'm not always good at it.

Christmas or your birthday?  Christmas

Do you have a religion? If so, what?  Yes.  Jesus Christ is my Lord & Savior!!

Did you/do you like pokemon?  Pokemon was soooooo after my time. 

What about Yu-gi-oh?  I have no clue what Yu-gi-oh is.

Have any pets?  I have a "sister with fur."

Describe yourself in 3-5 words:  Funny, loyal, emotional, hard-worker, anal retentive.

Describe your best friend in 3-5 words:  Focused, anal retentive, hard-worker, trustworthy, funny. 

Do you have a favorite cousin?  No

Are your feet gross?  Aren't all feet gross? 

Aren't all feet gross?  Like I said . . . aren't all feet gross?

Do you have pretty eyes?  I've been told I do.

What's the sweetest compliment you've ever received?  That I was "awesome," "loved" and "beautiful."

The nicest?  See above.

The meanest?  If it's mean, it wouldn't be a compliment, now would it?!  Let's just say I've been called a few things in my time and we'll leave it at that.

Do you give compliments often?  Yes

When there's and awkward silence, what do bring up?  (ex: the weather)  Pets, children, jobs.

Pet peeves?  Loud & obnoxious people, talking with mouth full, cell phones, bad drivers, rude people (burping, clearing throat, smacking, etc.), and the list goes on and on.

What do you hate?  I hate people who are constantly angry or have a bad attitude.  I also hate people who find it necessary to lie all the time.

And what do you love?  My friends & family!

Who do you hate?  I don't hate anyone.  I dislike some people, but it's mainly because of what I hate (see above).

Why?  See above.

What's the best quality a person could have?  Compassion.

Do you have that quality?  Yes, I think I do.

Serious or goofy?  Goofy

Unique and weird or sane and normal?  Unique and weird.

What's your favorite season?  Fall

What are your initials?  JLH

What is the last thing you wrote?  A birthday card.

Do you regret it?  Uh, no!

Are you lying?  No

Are you lying about lying?  Uh, NO!!!!

Okay, enough with that... why do you take surveys?  To pass time, learn something new about others & myself.

What's the most annoying question a person could ask?  Oh, there are lots of those, but . . . the one I hate most is:  When are you going to get married? 

Have I asked this question you hate so much?  In reality, most people have asked me that.

I'm sorry if that's the case.  No prob.  Just don't let it happen again!  HA!HA!  :-)

Do you say thank you? Please? Sorry?  Absolutely!

How long does it take you to get ready for school/work in the morning?  About 30-45 minutes.

Are you a morning person?  Absolutely NOT!!!

What's your favorite female name?  Male?  Grayson Elyce (for a girl) and Austin James  (for a boy).

Are you wearing socks?  No

What color is your toothbrush?  Blue/green.

Do surveys control your life?  No

Do they make you feel like you know yourself better?  Yes, sometimes!

Have you ever been to a therapist?  No, but probably should've been.

Psychiatrist?  Again, no . . . but, probably should've been.

Doctor?  (I hope so . . . If not maybe you should consider scheduling a visit!)  Yeah!

Dentist?  Yes

When you read, do you create a picture inside your head?  Almost always!

Are you tired right now?  WIPED out!!!

What's your mood?  Worried, sad, emotional, tired. 

Do you like your name?  It's fine!

Do you need a masseuse?  Oh yeah!!!

Is this survey becoming too looooonnnnng?  Sorta kinda.

Do you email?  Yes,  so long as it's not SPAM! 

What's the reason for the email address you have?  My first initial & last name (for work) and my love of labrador retrievers (at home). 

Do you have any nervous habits?  Grinding/clenching my teeth.

What are you plans for today/tonight?  Well, the night is over now, but . . . I went to dinner with a group of girlfriends to celebrate one of their birthdays!  Happy Birthday, Melody - - - love you girlie!!

Do you like to shop?  Not especially.

What's the worst injury you've ever had?  I chopped the tip of my finger off (to the point there was nothing left to stitch) - - - OOOOOOOOOOUCCCCHHH!!!!

What's the worst injury you've ever given someone?  Probably just a bruise.

Does this prove the theory of karma, or not?  Does what prove the theory of karma?  My worst injury compared to the worst injury I've given someone???  If so, not really! 

Are you addicted to anything?  Music, internet, reading.

What's your favorite ice cream flavor?  Peanut butter & chocolate.

Do you wear contacts or glasses?  Yes.

Do you have homework you should be doing?  I have plenty of housework I should be doing!

Are you married?  No.

Do you type fast?  Yes.

Do you sit in the front or the back of the class?  When I was in school, I was always somewhere in the middle.

If I ended these questions right now, would you be sad?  Uh, no!

Do you read classic books?  I have, but they're not my favorite.

Rite Aid, CVS, or Walgreens?  Walgreens

Walmart, Target, or Kohls?  This is a hard question because I like all of them, but I would have to go with Target as my 1st pick!

Are you a failure in life?  No, but I'd be lying if I said I never felt that way from time to time.

Do you cover who you actually are?  A lot of the time, yes!

Wooops!  You dropped your cell phone!  What do you do / say?  Probably 'crap' and then check to make sure it's not damaged!

What time is it?  10:01pm

Well, that's all folks!  Did you have fun?  Sure!

A Little of "THIS," a Little of "THAT"

Snatched from Insanity Prevails.  Here goes:

1. Do you still talk to the person who hurt you the most?  No - it was better just to cut ties and move on.
2. Do you lecture people about drugs?  I don't lecture people about much of anything, but if I did . . . drugs would be close to the top of the list of topics.
3. Favorite animal?  Besides dogs, I love monkeys.
4. Have you ever kissed anyone named Bob?  No.
5. Have you ever been in a relationship you weren't 100 percent sure of?  I've never been in a relationship that I WAS 100% sure of.
6. Name something funny that happened this week.  There's not a day that goes by that something funny doesn't happen.  So, it's hard to remember!!
7. Anyone ever told you that they want to spend the rest of their life with you?  No, but that would be a great thing to hear.  Someday . . . maybe!
8. If you could pick the temperature of the outdoors for the rest of your life, would you?   Probably.  High 60s or 70s with no humidity would be my ideal weather.
9. Are you moody?  Oh yeah - - - I can be!
10. What's bothering you right now?  I wouldn't go into it on a public forum like this, out of respect for the other people involved.
11. Do you believe that you can change for someone?  I think in order to change for someone, you have to want to change for YOURSELF first!
12. How many times a day do you drop your cell phone?  Not very often.
13. Do you drink coffee?  Oh yeah!!!!
14. Do you get along with girls?  As long as they don't get "catty," yes!!
15. Do you like funny or serious people more?  Funny, for sure!
16. Do you put yourself before others?  Almost always!
17. Do you like surprises?  Not usually, but I guess there can be good surprises!
18. Do you have a teddy bear?  I have several because I used to collect them.
19. Do you think people have any misconceptions about you?  Yes.
20. What'd you do last night?  Watched The Water Horse with my mom.  It was really good!  Then, came home and watched Becoming Jane, which was really good, too!
21. Who was your last call from?  Shell
22. Who's the last person you had a deep meaningful conversation with?  Mom
23. What's on your mind right now?  Oh, lots of stuff - - - most of which I would rather not discuss in a public forum.
24. Do you have family problems?  Who doesn't have family problems from time to time?
25. Who are in three of the pictures in the room you are currently in?  Daddy, Mom & Jeffrey.
26. Plans for this week?  Working Monday-Thursday.  Taking a vacation day on Friday.  Having dinner over at some friends' tomorrow night & watching the CMT awards.  Testifying in a hearing on Wednesday (uuuugggghhhhh!!!!).  Life Group on Wednesday night.  Relay for Life all day/night on Friday.  Sleeping the better part of Saturday (to make up for the lack of sleep on Friday).  Church on Sunday.  BUSY, BUSY, BUSY week ahead for me!!!
27. What kind of car have you been in today?  Just mine - - - Jeep Liberty. 
28. You ever been to California?  Nope. 
29. How many hours of sleep did you get last night?  Somewhere in the 7-8 hour range.  SHOCKING, for me!   
30. Have you cried today at all?  Yes. 
31. What were you doing at 8:00 this morning?  Getting ready for church. 
32. What were you doing 3 hours ago?  Watching a movie - - - The Brave One - - - which, was AWESOME! 
33. Three words to explain why you last threw up?  Major migraine headache!!! 
34. What color is your hairbrush?  Brown. 
35. Where/when did you buy the last thing you bought?  Sympathy cards @ Wally World (aka Wal-Mart) yesterday afternoon. 
36. Where do you keep your money?  When I actually have $$$ - - - in a bank!! 
37. What was the weather like today?  GORGEOUS - - - a little on the cool side, but sunny & breezy! 
38. Do you want to cut your hair?  In a few more weeks, it'll need a trim. 
39. Do you watch wrestling?  Nope!
40. Do you know anyone named Daisy?  Yes. 
41. Do you make up your own words?  Of course!  :-) 
42. Are you ticklish?  Oh yeah! 
43. Are you typically a jealous person?  Not typically, but I've had jealous moments in my life. 
44. Do you have curly hair?  No.
45. What's the next concert you're going to?  I have no idea.  I know of plenty I'd love to go to, though. 
46. What should you be doing right now?  Packing up this house, since I'm moving next month. 
47. Do you have a nickname?  Jenn, J, Jenn-Jenn, Horace (don't ask).
48. What are you listening to?  A variety of tunes on Rhapsody - - - trying to figure out which ones to burn for the Relay for Life event this weekend. 
49. When was the last time you did the dishes?  A long time ago, since I'm never at home and never cook. 
50. Do you like anyone?  I like lots of people, yes. 
51. Do you trust all of your friends?  What's the point in calling them "friend" if you don't trust them?!
52. Do you believe that everything happens for a reason?  Absolutely!  I'm a firm believe that even the most difficult trials in our life happen for a reason. 
53. Could you make a dollar in change right now?  Probably! 
54. Which one of your friends do you think would make the worst doctor?  Bubba - he couldn't stay still long enough & can't even handle the cat puking.  Of course, my brother, is right up there with him.
55. Are you afraid of falling in love?  Actually, I think I AM!!!  But, I'm not objecting to the possibility. 
56. Is there someone who pops into your mind at random times?  Yes. 
57. When was the last time you flew in a plane?  A very long time ago.  I couldn't even tell you when it was. 
58. Have you ever kissed anyone with braces?  Yes.

Supporting Google

Saw this over at The Bright Side of Life and you know how I love a good survey/quiz/meme, so here goes:

Where do you live?

This is the downtown area of my hometown.

What is your occupation?

This cartoon is too funny!  It's hard finding pictures that represent my occupation. 

How old are you?

Well, almost . . . I'm 31 3/4 (my birthday is April 30th)

What is your middle name?

No, my middle name isn't "Massachusetts" . . . it's Lynn!

What's a movie you've watched over & over?

One of THE BEST movies ever!  It's about a town and a man in the area where I live.  VERY inspiring!!!

What's the album for the last song you listened to?

"You're Gonna Miss This" was the song I was listening to.  I love it!

What's something you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Most of my time is spent volunteering with the

American Cancer Society!

What's your favorite flower?

Gerbera Daisies are my very favorite!

What's your favorite food?

What's the last book you read?

What's your favorite color?

This was a lot of fun!!!  Some were difficult to find & others were easy!  It's a great way to pass the time + others will learn little tidbits about you that they might not have known otherwise.  If you play along, let me know & I'll head over to your blog & check it out!

Stolen . . .

Found this little treasure over at A Work in Progress and it looked like fun.  Here’s all you do:

• Go to www.photobucket.com
• Type in your “answer” to the question in the search box.
• Use only the first page!
• Insert the picture on your blog!

1. What is your current relationship stat?

      

2.    What is your current mood?

       

3.     What is your favorite movie?

       

4.     What is your favorite band/singer?

        SUGARLAND

        KENNY CHESNEY

5.     Where do you live?

      

6.     Where do you work?

      

7.     What do you look like?

      

8.     What do you drive?

       

9.     What is your favorite TV show?

      

      

      

10.  Describe yourself?

      

11.   What are you doing today?

       

12.   What did you do last night?

       

13.   What is your name?       

        

Sooooooo Sweeeeetttt

I saw this on The Furry Diva's blog and thought this was one of the sweetest pictures I've ever seen.  So, here's the question - - - which is the puppy and which is the towel? 

 

I could just cuddle up in a ball with this precious little puppy.  Couldn't you?

In other news - - - still in the bed recuperating from this nasty flu.  I'm having a really difficult time with my throat today.  I'm hoping that I'm not going to wind up with the bronchitis that I've heard has been an issue with this strand of the flu.   I guess I'll just continue hacking & hope for the best.

I am officially bored out of my mind.  I've watched all 3 tapes of TV shows mom brought me yesterday.  I'm now back watching old school VHS movies.  Tonight's selection was . . . I Am Sam.  If you haven't seen this movie . . . rent it!  It is both funny and moving.  Sean Penn is brilliant and Dakota Fanning and Michelle Pfeiffer both do an awesome job, as always.   You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll be inspired!!

Well, I'm hacking myself to death, so I'm gonna scoot.  Enjoy your evening!

Name That Tune

I snatched this from Bea's Weblog.  

Open up your iTunes* and fill out this survey, no matter how embarrassing the responses might be. 

How many songs total: 3956

How many hours or days of music:  10.7 days

Most recently played: Nothing Lasts Forever by Maroon 5

Most played: Bubbly by Colbie Caillat

Most recently added: Cleaning This Gun by Rodney Atkins 

SORT BY SONG TITLE:

First Song: ‘Round Midnight by Kenny G

Last Song: Zoom by Lionel Richie 

SORT BY TIME:

Shortest Song: Outtake #1 by Brad Paisley (00.26)

Longest Song: Sahib Teri Bandi by Dereks Truck Band (15.03) 

SORT BY ALBUM:

First album: 10,000 Charms by Robbie Seay Band

Last album: Your Man by Josh Turner

First song that comes up on Shuffle: Hiding Place by Jars of Clay 

SEARCH THE FOLLOWING AND STATE HOW MANY SONGS COME UP:

Death – 1

Life – 81

Love – 282

Hate – 7

You – 661

Sex – 6 (and they’re all on my comedy albums)

* I don't do iTunes, but I have all of my tunes on Rhapsody.

The 'Under 30' Crowd

I got this in an email from one of my friend’s and it just made me laugh. It’s so true!!! If you’re under the age of 30, don’t take offense - - - I’m not calling you spoiled - - - the email is calling you spoiled.

When I was a kid, adults used to bore me to tears with their tedious stories about how hard things were when they were growing up; what with walking twenty-five miles to school every morning ... uphill BOTH ways. Yadda, yadda, yadda.

And I remember promising myself that when I grew up, there was no way I was going to lay a bunch of crap like that on kids about how hard I had it and how easy they've got it! But now that... I'm over the ripe old age of thirty, I can't help but look around and notice the youth of today. You've got it so easy! I mean, compared to my childhood, you live in a Utopia! And I hate to say it but you kids today, you don't know how good you've got it!

1. When I was a kid we didn't have the Internet. If we wanted to know something, we had to go to the library and look it up ourselves, in the card catalog!!
2. There was no email!  We had to actually write somebody a letter . . . with a pen! Then you had to walk way down and across the street and put it in the mailbox and it would take like a week to get there!
3. There were no MP3's or IPODS. If you wanted to steal music, you had to walk to the record store and shoplift it yourself! Or, you had to wait around all day to tape it off the radio and the DJ would usually talk over the beginning and MESS it all up!
4. We didn't have fancy crap like call waiting! If you were on the phone and somebody else called they got a busy signal, that's it! If you were waiting for a boy to call, you had to make sure everyone else was not using the phone - which usually involved getting into a fight with your parents or siblings.
5. And we didn't have fancy caller ID boxes either! When the phone rang, you had no idea who it was! It could be your school, your mom, your boss, your bookie, your drug dealer, a collections agent, you just didn't know!!! You had to pick it up and take your chances.  Also, there were no answering machines - so you never knew who called when you weren't home.  Plus, some of us over 50 may remember "party lines".  You shared a phone with someone else in your town or a town 10 miles away.  You might pick up your phone and hear someone you didn't know having a conversation.  This meant you couldn't use the phone until their call was done.  Then, you could either listen in or hang up and wait for their call to be over.  Remember, when you made a call they could also listen in on your conversation.
6. We didn't have any fancy Sony Playstations, the Wii, or X-Box video games with high-resolution 3-D graphics! We had the Atari 2600! With games like Pong, Space Invaders, and Asteroids, and the graphics were horrible! Your Guy was a little square! You actually had to use your imagination! And there were no multiple levels or screens, it was just one screen that took forever! And you could never win. The game just kept getting harder and harder and faster and faster until you died!  Just like life!!!!  Finally we got a little fellow call PAC MAN and he was awesome - we had hit the "big time". And then his sister came along - Ms. Pac Man.  Boy, were we in seventh heaven.
7. When you went to the movie theater there was no such thing as stadium seating! All the seats were the same height! If a tall guy or some old broad with a hat sat in front of you and you couldn't see, you were just screwed!
8. Sure, we had cable television, but back then that was only like 15 channels and there was no onscreen menu! You had to use a little book called a TV Guide to find out what was on! And there was no Cartoon Network either! You could only get cartoons on Saturday morning. Do you hear what I'm saying? We had to wait ALL WEEK for cartoons!  Plus, we had to ACTUALLY get off the sofa or chair to change the channels.  No REMOTE.  CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?????
9. And we didn't have microwaves. If we wanted to heat something up, we had to use the stove or go build a fire . . . imagine that! If we wanted popcorn, we had to use that stupid JiffyPop thing or a pan with HOT oil and real popcorn kernels and shake it all over the stove forever like an idiot.  But boy, did it taste good.  It was worth the wait.
10. When we were on the phone with our friends and our parents walked in, we were stuck to the wall with a cord, a 7 foot cord that ran to the phone - not the phone base, the actual phone. We barely had enough length to sit on the floor and still be able to twirl the phone cord in our fingers. If you suddenly had to go to the bathroom - guess what we had to do . . . hang up and talk to them later. And if by some chance you walked too far with the phone (which of course was attached to the cord), the phone would fly out of your hands - like a boomerang - and god forbid someone was within standing distance - they might of gotten hit.  And don't forget, those cords stretched so much that they would get tangled - so there was the added chore of "untangling" your phone cord.

That's exactly what I'm talking about! You kids today have got it too EASY! You're spoiled. You guys wouldn't have lasted five minutes back in 1980 OR 1970 OR even 1960.

Regards,

The Over 30 Crowd