Barometric Pressure

This Barometric Pressure shift is really messing with my head today... literally.

I called in to work to tell them I'd be going in late today.

And I was completely genuine when I said that my head was pounding. I took some medicine and went to lay back down, hoping that would help a bit, and then I'd go in at lunchtime.

So I lay back in bed, trying to go to sleep (it's always sooo much harder when you're fighting one of these splitting AND throbbing headaches. Double whammy. Be still my heart. *sigh).

As you can tell from the fact that I'm writing a blog right now, I am not able to sleep. My head is ssllooowwwwllly feeling better, but something even bigger happened. I'm being 100% vulnerable with you guys today (like I'm not usually?! Ha). I was trying to think about something... anything to get my mind off of the pain so that I could sleep and it would go away. Sounds like a good enough plan, right?!

Yeah. God thought so, too.

He knew it would happen. He knows how I tick. He knows what happens when the barometric pressure drops or raises (whatever it is, today) and my head starts running the show. He knows what my usual plan is to make the day bearable again, and he knew it would happen today. Right?! Right.

I started (don't even remember it getting there, actually, but grateful that it did, to be honest) thinking about running. I think it was because today is a running day for me (this evening, anyways), and how I'm meeting a girlfriend for dinner, so it'll be a late run, and possible hard to do since it's supposed to rain and/or I'll have just eaten... blah blah blah. It doesn't matter, really. But here's what does -

As I sat there thinking about my training for this 1/2 marathon in December and how it benefits a foundation which would find a cure and/or treatment(s) for a disease... I began thinking about all of the other races out there.

In that moment, I felt God directing me. And I felt it so strongly that I started to cry.

I still keep welling up, even as I write this post. I sat. I googled. And after seeing that there are similar events, but nothing quite like it, I just knew...

Now, I don't have all of the details or logistics, yet. I don't have a clue how it'll work or when it'll happen. All I know is this:

Through God's grace, I am going to organize a race.

Ideally, it will mix a 5k, 10k, 1/2 and full marathon, so that anyone with any and all background in running/walking - rolling, for that matter - can participate.

And every bit of the money raised will go to building water wells in 3rd world countries.

As I lay there thinking about how I would need to hydrate at the right time for my run tonight, and then what hydrating would be like during the race. My mind wandered to people that don't have water. And then it wandered to people that have to walk a marathon or more just to get to water... water that may or may not even be clean...

My heart just broke.

How silly am I? I'll tell you: I am a self-proclaimed water snob. I don't like Deer Park because, to me, it tastes peppery. I don't like Dasani because, well, it tastes like chemicals. I'm fine with most, but not all, tap water and I prefer the water from my Pur water filter at home...

???

How much more of a selfish, spoiled little ungrateful girl can I be?!?! I'll probably still prefer water this way. But honestly, AT LEAST I HAVE CLEAN WATER available at my FINGERTIPS pretty much any time I want it.

I'm not saying any of this to sound holier than thou or anything - this was a very very personal conviction. Well, less of a conviction, really, and more of an appreciation for my American comforts, all while there are people that still die of dehydration.

That sounds so... Hollywood 'Sahara Desert", doesn't it? Or so "Oregon Trail"...

But it's true.

And it breaks God's heart to see some of his people living so comfortably, all while some of his children SUFFER just because there in another part of the world... and world which, in it's entirety, was created by his own hand.

I won't sit here and say that he looks down on us for that. I don't believe that. But what is wrong with us, as Christians... Heck - as a human race - if we just sit back and do nothing with something so simple?!

This is true for any and every sadness in this world, really: Human trafficking. Slavery. Drug smuggling and addiction. Terrorism. Abuse. Neglect. Corrupt government. Greed. Gluttony. The fact that the porn industry is one of the most successful. I could go on for quite some time, unfortunately, but this just isn't the point.

How hard could it be to give clean water to a village. We have the capabilities. We have the technology. We have the manpower and the resources. I mean... water is one of the most abundant resources on earth, and yet people grow ill and die because it's out of their reach.

So I've done just a little bit of research in the past hour (Trust me, there will be MUCH more done), but here's what I found from one reputable organization that helps collect money to build wells... in Africa, specifically (for the record... I want to even go beyond Africa, but this is a huge starting point, and there is a HUGE need there):

"Every day, nearly 4,000 children die as a result of drinking unsafe water. Every 22 seconds a child perishes from waterborne diseases such as typhoid, cholera, and dysentery. Six million people are blind as a result of contaminated water and bacteria. Please help bring safe, clean water to children and families across Africa.

To give water is to give life. Clean water can cut a community’s child mortality rate in half. It means food for families whose crops are failing due to drought. It saves livestock. It gives parents a powerful way to improve the health, hygiene, and well-being of their children, and enable them to reach their God-given potential.

Your gift will help us dig wells to bring safe, clean water to thousands. You can also help provide purification equipment to treat contaminated water, and water storage containers to save fresh rainwater for later use. And, most importantly, your gift will help improve children’s health with sanitation systems that keep water sources clean.

No other gift produces a more dramatic effect on life than clean water and sanitation. You can help wash away suffering by providing access to one of life’s most precious resources..."

Can you believe that? Look at that first paragraph again: 4,000 children a day. Every 22 seconds!! That is just gut-wrenching.

And read those diseases again - typhoid, cholera, dysentery. The only thing I know about those illnesses is that your eldest daughter in Oregon Trail almost always die from something like that... or diarrhea. But I have don't even have any idea what that looks like, much less what it feels like or how rough it can be on the body of a child.

Well, that's that. This is what's on my heart, right now. I just talked to McStudly about it and I'm snotting like a baby, again.

Wow. Even with all of the crying and blubbering... my head feels a lot better.

So here's what I need from you guys:

#1 - your opinion. Do you think it's something people would do? I mean, with God ALL ALL ALL things are possible, but I'm being a silly little girl and wondering if people will do it.

#2 - your voice. I want TONS of opinions, here. I want to hear from people who run and people who don't even walk more than to the mailbox. I want to know if this is a cause they'd push themselves for. So do me a favor - spread the word about this and encourage other people to comment, as well.

#3 - your experience. Have you ever started your own race before? Do you know someone who has? Have you ever been part of a "1st" race before?

#4 - your suggestions. I was thinking it'd be super cool to have the race somehow involve Embassy row in DC, but the realist in me knows that probably couldn't happen. But who knows, right?! Are there any other locations that you think would be awesome? Maybe starting and finishing the race in Baltimore at the World Trade Center in the Harbor would be awesome. Ideas, people... give me ideas!

#5 - your support. I know this is a huge feat. I need lots of prayer. Tons of encouragement, and a whole Whole WHOLE love of accountability. Ask me about it. Challenge me. Call me out on other posts. Remind me what God's placed on my heart and don't let me get caught up or distracted by little petty things, but keep me focused.

#6 - your help. This could be monetarily as we move closer to the race. This could be signing up and running it with us. This could be cheering us on through the process or on the sidelines of the race... handing out water and goodies to the runners.

Anywhere you can help, I'd be GREATly appreciative. I do still plan to run the 1/2 marathon in December, if I can, to benefit Crohns' and Colitis. It's still something near to me and my husband, since he was diagnosed last June. But even beyond running, I'll get to see that a race of this size is like and how it's organized. I may even get to make a few contacts while I'm there? At least that's what I'm hoping. So continue to pray for us with regard to that race, as well. We need to race a good amount of money and will need a lot of support and encouragement through the training... and we can always use prayer - can't get enough of it!

You'll see a little link or some "Donate" button action in the coming months, so help us spread the word when that pops up. the less stressed we are on raising funds for this race, then the more I can focus on preparing, planning, and organizing the Race for Water (I'm not sure if that's what we'll be calling it, yet, but we'll get to those details later, eh?!).

I pray that God will provide every single cent, and then some for this race in December, as I know he can. And then for the Race for Water, he'll continue to provide: Every single runner. Every single penny through fundraising. Every cup of water needed for the race, and thus every drop of water through a well to villages and countries in need around the world.

Today, I'm thinking God for shifting Barometric Pressure... just remind me of that the next time I complain about a headache, will ya?!

It's Official

Last week I was honored to be a part of some very special celebration. My friends Mike and Aiyana tied the knot (FINALLY!) after much anticipation and we couldn’t be happier for them!!

**Congrats you guys – we love you!

Well along with the wedding came rehearsals, a bachelorette party, a lingerie shower, and a bachelor party for the men-folk. Good times were had by all (well… mostly. Poor Mike was 7 shades of red when the guys surprised him with this embarrassing accessories for the evening) and though it all went by quickly, I’m just glad that Studly and I were able to be a part of it and celebrate with them.


But I tell that story to tell you another story… one that comes with a need for your assistance in the coming months and a willingness for you to bear with me as I prepare. *teeth chattering

And for those of you not paying attention and trying to figure out what it is. Just be patient… you’ll learn soon enough.


Thursday night was Aiyana’s bachelorette party. The ladies all met at Fuji for dinner (and entertainment. Have you seen those hibachi grill chefs? AHHmazing!) and then went back to the maid of honor’s house for a little lingerie action (oww owwww!).

Wait.

Let me rephrase.

We went back to have a lingerie shower for Aiyana. *whew That sounds MUCH better.


Back to the story… while I was there catching up with some girlfriends I hadn’t seen in a while (which is ALWAYS a ton of fun, right?!), my friend Amber gave me this amazing tidbit of information. Here’s what happened.

She had been at Atlanta Bread Company earlier in the day and came across this pamphlet. Upon further review, she discovers that the event focuses on Crohns’ and Colitis.

As most of you know, McStudly was diagnosed with Crohns’ disease last year. It was actually this time last year, actually, when he was finally diagnosed, so it’s been about a year now that we’ve been learning and trying out different medications and treatment options. Growing through the process.


So basically – to state that this hits close to home would be a total understatement. It’s not close to home, people… it IS home! I mean, you can’t get a whole whole lot closer than that, right?!


Anywho, she gave me the pamphlet (thanks, Amber. You’re such a sweetheart!) and I took it him to look it over and do a bit more research on the subject. And after talking it over with the Stud himself, we decided we were game.


It’s official. This December, the 5th to be exact, McStudly and I will be running the Rock & Roll ½ Marathon in Vegas. The proceeds go towards helping the CCFA (Crohns’ & Colitis Foundation of America) find a cure.


Fact: Did you know that chronic, and often debilitating digestive diseases impact more than 1.4 million Americans? True Story.


But I’m tired of just talking the talk. Crohn’s hit home for us. And see how it affects people in all different ways makes me wanna get off my butt and do something about it. But since I don’t have my doctorate and am certainly not a scientist, this is where I can help. So I’m going to do it, dang it!


So how can you help? I’m glad you asked.


Don’t worry, you don’t have to sign up to run it with us. In fact, you can do everything from the comfort of your couch with a big ol’ bowl of popcorn and a nice Big Gulp on the table next to you… or whatever it is you eat while you think about other people exercising. For me, it’s Chocolate Chip cookies and/or brownies with a nice big glass of milk. Yumm… I can feel myself getting fatter already. Woohoo!!


No – in fact, all we need from you is a lot of encouragement and a little bit of moolah.

Okay – I’ve already lost some of you. *sigh


Really though – let me explain. This money isn’t going to us. It’s not going to some VP’s pocket. It’s not going into the big hole that is the US Government’s “treasury” (which reminds me - doesn’t something need to be in it for us to actually consider it a “treasury”? I’m just sayin…). It’s going directly into the funding of finding a cure for Crohn’s and Colitis.

By giving us just a few bucks here and there, as you’re able, you would not only be changing my husband and I’s life by helping us run this race, but you’ll be absolutely changing the lives of over 1.4 million Americans that are impacted by these diseases. And for that, my friends, I will be in huge debt to you.


For those who don’t know the whole story, my husband wasn’t sick hardly a day in his life until all of a sudden WHAM! He’s got an auto-immune disease that he’ll have for life. Umm.. whaaa?! That’s a lot for someone in their 20s to all of a sudden have to deal with. Not to mention how he went from not even knowing what a headache really was to having them on a consistent basis thanks to the steroids they put him on. He’s since switched treatments and now goes in for infusions every 8 weeks. If he misses one, he feels it.

That’s quite an adjustment.


Basically – we need your help. We need to raise $3,500 a piece to be able to compete in the ½ marathon and support such an amazing cause. But for those of you that are as skeptical as I am about these things, here’s where the money goes:

$2,500:
- 16 weeks of training with a professional trainer and the team of other runners in your area, to make it easier for you to be able to complete the race
- Race entry fees, which aren’t all that cheap for this one
- Hotel accommodations for race weekend
- Entry to the Pasta Party on the eve of the race, to make sure you load up on carbs before the big day
- Moolah moolah moolah going towards the whole reason for the race

$3,500:
- Airfare to and from Vegas (and I live almost as far as one can live and still be in the same continent) for the race along with your team
- Ground transportation to and from the airport, as well as throughout the weekend for the various organized activities


I know it seems like a lot of money – TRUST me… I’m worried that we won’t be able to raise enough to be able to participate. But I do know that even if something happens and we can’t raise enough to race, the money that we have raised will still go straight to the cause. And that, my friends, is music to my ears… er – McStudly’s intestines. ??


There you have it. McStudly and I will be training to run a ½ Marathon in December to benefit Crohns’ and Colitis research, and we’re stoked! Our only concern has nothing to do with training or getting there… it’s whether or not we can raise the money in time to be able to participate and support a cause that has such an effect on our lives already.


So that’s where you come in. Can you help? Any little bit will help us go a long way when combined with the other little bits we’re hoping to receive. AND come August, we’ll have a link on the side of the blog that’ll take you directly to our Team Challenge fundraising sites so you can contribute. So start setting aside money, if you can. We’d be greatly honored, probably more than you’ll ever know.




Thanks guys!!

The Task at Hand

Your job... should you choose to accept it... is to help me find affordable tables like these for my living room.

Coffee Table:

End Tables:

I LOVE them! They are exactly what I'm looking for and would go PERFECT with the theme I'm headed towards. And just to get your minds a bubbling, I'm getting ready to paint an orange accent wall.

*GASP* Did she say orange?!

Yes. Yes she did - er I did. BUT it's not the primary school sun painting orange that you're probably thinking of, it's more of a faded clay or a burnt, softened orange. It's going to be AWESOME with my pale green accents and our new living room furniture. I'm SO loving the idea! Some of you are really scratching your head at my intentions, but I promise you that you'll like the end result. And if you don't?! Ah, well you don't live here, so you can rest easy, right?! :-P

Here are some of the inspiration pieces that led me to this point:

The Rug - KMart, $68:

The Pillows - Bed, Bath & Beyond, "Make Your Own Pillow" covers:

The future Kitchen accent colors (Wal-Mart and Target finds):

As you'll soon see in our walk through my home, our kitchen and living room and dining room are all opened up to each other. So we'll need to incorporate the colors into each room to keep it more fluid. These colors, my friend, are the key. It's going to be amazing, and I cannot wait!

My dream is to paint the accent wall, the wall that runs from the dining room through the living room, in this faded clay color (Valspar's Faded Clay, WV37013 - warning, it looks horrible on computer but amazing in person) and then the remaining walls in this Almond Oil color (also Valspad, but don't have the code with me). Then along with a few added corresponding orange accents, there will be a few green accents (think Valspar's Sag Harbor, WV36011) as well. All of this is building up to the Contemporary Country Casual style that I adore. I think I made up that name, but it's SO me (uh... and McStudly?)!!

Tonight, I'll be buying samples and painting a bit of the wall to make sure everything is kosher. Then we'll hopefully be painting one upcoming weekend in the near future (anyone want to dog-sit my over sized cuddle-bug? He's got loads of personality, and tons of spunk!). I'm so excited! Little by little I feel like our house is really becoming our Home. (for those of you that saw the bathroom in the previous post, you know that this place is in some serious need of help in that area).

Anywho, that's your task, if you have a chance. Maybe you've seen something similar while window shopping, or have a comparable piece in your own living room? These pieces are out of our price range (about $150 per end table, and $250 for the coffee table!), for now, so we're hoping to find something less expensive, if possible, or we'll just have to hold on until we can save up and get a few other things done around the house.

So, what do you think - am I nuts for painting ANYthing in my house orange? Can you find/Have you found anything like these for less than those unreachable prices? Are these tables too simple and look like you could make them yourself (I'd be willing to pay!)? Will our house EVER become a home? Stay tuned and I guess we'll all find out.

I would post pictures of tonight's effort tomorrow, but my camera's battery charger is still missing. Speaking of, if you happen to see her, would please tell her that she's in BIIIIG trouble?! Kthnks.

Feeling Lyrical

So, I'm one of those people who is really impacted by music. The be and flow of it alone can render me tear-filled and sobby, but then you throw in some lyrics and I could quite possibly become a total mess. Am I the only one?! Ah who cares, either way. It's just how I am. So it's funny that I'm married to someone that, although he likes music, doesn't really feel it's impact most of the time. Don't get me wrong, there is still the occasional song that may catch him off guard or have him thinking, but it doesn't happen nearly a often as with me. I'm Sarah, a I'm a musicaholic... (hi, Sarah.)

So one of my favorite things to do, with regards to music, is to find these artists that aren't well known. Artists that are extremely talented, but, for whatever reason, aren't out there, yet. It gives me this random sense of discovery. Songs on the radio can spark a search, which leads me to another artist, then to another, etc. Until I find one that's now all that popular, yet. Oddly enough, usually within a few weeks of finding them, I end up hearing them on the radio, and seeing their name in iTunes or on some banner online. It's pretty cool, cause then I think "Ooh... I found them FIRST! Take THAT, Apple software!" I know, I'm lame, but hey - who cares.

Well, a few months back (like 6?) I became a BIG fan of Meredith Andrews. I heard her on the radio, and I just LOVE LOVE LOVE her CD. If you haven't heard it, and/or don't own it, go get it. Check out some clips on iTunes and then buy it. You'll thank me, later. :-) She became my selection of choice for a bit, because I'm one of those people that sticks to the same CD for a while before moving on to another.

So after some one-on-one driving time with Meredith (yeah... we're close like that. ha ha), I started artist hopping, again. I went from her to Brooke Fraser (who's CD, apparently, McStudly had already ordered for me on amazon, as a surprise - he knows my love for music). She's amazing. She's originally from New Zealand (her dad was a famous Rugby player, in his early years), then moved to Australia where she became one of Hillsongs United's worship leaders. She also began her career as a solo-artist. She's amazing. her songs are thought-provoking, much like Meredith Andrews, but she's more guitar-driven and rockin' than Meredith's full band sound and tear-jerker songs that make you want to go deeper (ha - that's the name of one of her songs, even!).

Anywho - after some one-on-one time with Brooke, it was time to hop again. So I went online. iTunes has this feature called "genius". For those of you who don't know what that is, it's super cool. Straight from Apple's website: "While you reacquaint yourself with the music you already own, let Genius introduce you to new music you’ll love. As you select songs in your library, the Genius sidebar displays songs from the iTunes Store that go great with it. The Genius sidebar won’t recommend songs already in your library, and you can preview and buy recommended songs directly from the sidebar." Get it? So pretty much, it tells you what artists and songs that, according to your current library, would be a good fit for your 'style' of music.

And it's named perfectly. Genius led me to Francesca Battistelli. Now, she's starting to be played on the radio, now, but she wants when I "found" her. At least not in our neck of the woods. I was starting to think that our radio stations don't even know what current music exists, much less want to play it on their station. But she's amazing. She's got more of a Sara Bareillas type feel, with her piano-driven songs, but her lyrics are totally though-provoking and face-slapping (in a good "I just realized I'm a total loser" kind of way... as opposed to the bad "I just realized I'm a total loser" kind of way). She just puts things in a kind of light that can, in a sense, help you re-realize what's real. Wow - I'm not making any sense. Just take a look at these, if you will... maybe that'll help, some:


Excerpts that have me thinking:

"I don't know where the story ends
But I'll be alright 'cause you wrote it.
I don't know where the highway bends, but I'm doing just fine.
You're in control
Even when I don't know
Where my life's gonna go.
You're keeping me guessing."



"Even though I've got the lines rehearsed, A picture only paints a thousand words…
Things aren't always what they seem
You're only seening part of me.
There's more than you could ever know, behind the scenes.
I'm incimplete and I'm undone,
But I suppose like everyone
There's so much morethat's going on, behind the scenes…
When it's hard to find hope in the unseen,
I have peace in knowing it will find me."

"Sometimes I believe
That I can do anything
Yet other times I think
I got nothing good to bring
But you look at my heart and tell me I have all you seek
And it's easy to believe, even though

I've got a couple dents in my fender,
Got a couple rips in my jeans.
I'm tryin' to fit the pieces together,
But perfection is my enemy.
And on my own I'm so clumsy,
But on your shoulders I can see
I'm free to be me."

Okay so those are just a few - the only ones I could find already typed up online (and I'm too lazy to type them up myself, since I'm supposed to be doing actual work right now.

So this chick is awesome. You really have to listen to her songs to like her, because just looking at the lyrics make it seem... eh... overly simplified. But maybe that's the beauty? I think we all have a tendency to over-complicate things. Especially the female variety (AMEN, sista!). But since I'm one to really read into artists as I find them, I was checking out Franny's (yep... we're cool like that, too) blog/journal and there was a quote that totally whimp-slapped me upside my head. I mean I really had to read it a few times before I could get through it without being totally floored with it's application to my life.

As most of you know, I wrote a while back about how I feel like God's really been pushing me to use the gifts he's given me. And so I start pushing further. But I slacked off a bit. I make stupid excuses and even though I have people trying to help me push myself, I am pretty convincing when I make excuses for them, as well. Not to mention they have their OWN stuff to deal with, here. But really - what's my PROBLEM?! Well, here's the quote that pretty much knocked me off my comfy little cushioned work chair, this morning:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." ~ Nelson Mandela

Umm... OUCH!! Did that knock anyone ELSE'S socks off?

So yeah. That's where I am today. Where are you?

(and no, I don't know to know where you physically are. Let's be real, here, people... if we can't be vulnerable hiding behind our computers, where can we be?!)

MHR Friday!

Here we are - it's Friday, and my Husband STILL rocks.

You see, I've been having a really rough time, lately. I have been completely exhausted. I haven't been sleeping well, and no matter what I do, nothing seems to work. I have also been wanting to start working earlier, so that I can get off work earlier, and so I've been trying to change my usual routine (as of this week, this is).

So, while talking to McStudly last night on the phone (he works nights, so that's kind've all we get), I asked him to wake me up a little after 6, when he gets home, and help me get up for the day.

Well, to sum up the complete frustration that has been my last few weeks, now, I went to bed around 10 or 1030, and didn't get to sleep until around 2 (last I looked at the clock, it was 130!).

So when he got home this morning, McStudly came in to wake me up, but could sense my hesitation (which was to be expected). Once he found out that I didn't get to sleep until around 2, instead of his usual way of forcing me out of bed, he just lay down next to me and said "Okay, but is your alarm at least set for the normal time?"

He let me go back to sleep, after I made him SWEAR to get me up last night. He's so understanding, and patient, for the most part. I know he's just as tired of all of this as I am, but at least he's understanding and patient, and not just mean about it.

I love him. He's so good to me, even though he knew I'd be beating myself up for not getting up, later... he knew I needed it.

(I know this seems like a weird MHR post, but believe me, if you had any idea what the past few weeks have been like for me, you'd know how much this meant to me.)

He knows me better than I know me, sometimes. He's so dreamy!

Pet Peeves, Plans, and Other Bloggy Goodness

Have I mentioned before how much I HATE IT when I can hear people's mouth noises? It drives me CRAAAZZZY!!!!

I sit on the other side of a room from this guy - at LEAST 10 feet away, with his cubicle wall adn my cubicle wall (and a small walkway) between us. And I can STILL hear his FREAKING mouth noises! IT'S SO GROSS!!

I am like tensing up and all itchy (like when you hear nails on a chalkboard - yeah. Exactly!). This is sofrigginirritating!!!

I can't handle it. I may have to go for a while. SohelpmeGOD! I may just throw my stapler!!


*breathing*





Sorry - I don't handle it very well. I need a timeout.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~





ANYwho - what's on YOUR agenda for the week's end and the weekend? I have to find costumes for McStudly and I (my idea for Tony Romo and Jessica Simpson was shot down rather quickly). Our Underground (that's the Young Adult group at church, not anything scandalous) Halloween Party at church is Sunday evening, and we've got NOTHING! Granted, I was having enough trouble figuring out my own costume before he came home. Now, I have to pick it out for BOTH of us, becuase he'll be working 12 hours a day until Saturday night.

He also said "I want you to pick them. That way if I look stupid, I can say I didn't pick it out." Niiice, McStudly. Thanks for that. No pressure or anything, right?! *blank face*


Any ideas? And preferrably something I can buy, relatively cheap at a local Target, Walmart, or Halloween store, that doesn't involve cleavage (umm, hello... have you seen me lack thereof?), blood and gore, or anything innapropriate. I also have to be able to wear it to the youth service the following Wednesday. Keep that in mind.


Since THAT knocks out about... oh... say 3/4 of the options that currently exist, I'll say I'm stink-outta-luck! I know I'll find something, but it won't be anything great or memorable.

I'm fresh out of the creative juices. I've got nothing.

Wow. What happened to me?! I used to be good at this stuff. My fuddy-duddy husband is ruining my Halloween spirit.






Pssh... let's face it - I didn't have much (if any) this year anyways. Who am I kidding?!

Dog Poop and Valium

McStudly and I just moved into our new home about 3 weeks ago. Actually - I believe it was exactly 3 weeks this past Sunday.

Well, without going into too great of detail with you guys, let's just say we're not getting along well with a certain neighbor of ours.

Other than this lady, everyone in the neighborhood is fantastic - really! They are super nice. Willing to help out with anything, and easy to talk to and just hang out with through the nice weatehr we've had lately.

But this lady... oh my goodness! I am trying my hardest. I really am - but for some reason, she's got it out for us (from the mouth of another neighbor). You see, she's not too happy that Austin leaves his little "piles" in our backyard. Now, before you jump to any conclusions, please keep in mind that I clean the backyard every 2 - 3 days (and by clean I mean pick up and hose down).

Well, when I got home yesterday, she approached me for the third time (3rd in person, but 5th altogether) int eh three weeks we've lived here.

Let me pause for a minute and tell you that everytime she's approached us, we've gone out of our way to clean the yard up right away, even if we'd just done it the day before, because we're trying to avoid a neighbor war. We're also VERY nice and polite with her (I know, right? HUGE surprise!).

Back to the story-

She approached me yesterday all flustered and upset. I did my VERY best to ignore her. I saw her by her car when I got home, so I filled my hands with things (to look preoccupied), went to check the mail, and looked down at the mail the entire time I walked EVER so slowly up to the house, but she stopped me in my tracks by stepping in front of me.

For the most part, the "conversation" went something like this (I use that term loosely, because it was more like a trial):

Neighbor Lady (NL): all huffy and puffy like "I just want you to know that I called ProCom again [our HOA management] and the Health Department about that back yard of yours. I just can't stand it anymore. I had company over this weekend and it was just horrible..."

Me (M): very calm and with hands filled, so unable to portray any body language "Ok. Well, I've talked to the HOA and my lawyer, and they've both advised me that we're not in violation of any regulations, so -" cut-off... and this won't be the last time...

NL: raising her voice, now "YES you ARE in violation. I know that for a FACT! You have had a pile out there ALL day and it's just horrible!"

yes, you read that correctly - A pile...

M: "He went this morning jsut before I left for work and I didn't have time to clean it up, I'm sorr-"

NL: yelling, now, and for the rest of the conversation "That's just NOT acceptable! You have to clean it up just like EVERYBODY else in this neighborhood! We all clean up. I don't let my cat go out there and crap all over the place!"

umm... cats are usually litter-box trained, btu whatever, lady... just... whatever

M: "Well, our backyard is considered private property, and we clean it up whenever we get the chance. I'd app-"

NL: pointing around the court "ALL of this is private property and everyone else cleans up after their dogs! You need to have respect for your neighbors! That dog got you kicked out of your last place, and I'm not going to stand it here! I don't have to live like thi- I will NOT live like this!"

M: "Well, I'm sorry, but we're not violating any regu-"

NL: "YES YOU ARE! And I won't stand for it! he got you kicked out of your last house, and you won't be able to get away with it here, either!"

M: "That was an agreement between us and our Landlord, and-"

NL: "Well, I'm not your landlord!!"

M: "No ma'am you're not, and I'd appreciate it if you'd stop harassing us about this, so that I won't be forced to seek further legal action with this matt-"

NL: "THIS ISN'T HARASSMENT! I'm your NEIGHBOR and you have NO respect for your neighbors!"

M: "I'd appreciate it if you'd stop talking to me like this."

NL: "YOU ARE IN VIOLATION OF HEALTH CODES, AND I WON'T STAND FOR IT!! There are flies EVERYWHERE out there!"

M: "I'm sorry, but we're not violating any regulations according to the HOA and-"

NL: "YES YOU ARE AND I WON'T LIVE LIKE THIS" *queue slamming door

WOW! Yes - it went something like that. Holy goodness!

Well, needless to say, I went inside and BALLED my EYES out to McStudly. I can put my foot down when I have to, but I am trying SO SO hard not to give this lady any leverage against us in anything. And I held in SO much frustration that I just caved in to tears and incoherent-like talked to McStudly about what happened. He told me to go call the HOA and document everything else that had happened, so I did, but the guy was gone for the day, and so was his assistant. I left a message with the front desk, and she marked it as urgent.

So now we're here: I talked with the HOA Assistant to our comunity this morning (unfortunately for her, she's very familiar with the situation, as I've spoken with her about it before) and she advised me that apparently, the lady has called MANY times about the situation, even yelling at THEM over the phone, and they have told her that we are in compliance with all regulations, as well as all bi-laws, and that she needs to leave us alone.

And since I've now asked her twice to leave us alone, the HOA had "advised" us to call the police, should the issue happen again. I couldn't quote the lady, but she pretty much said 'there's nothing further we can do, beyond what we've already done. We've told her that you guys are in compliance, and to leave you alone, and if she doesn't, then can only suggest that you call the police. If it does come to that, please just send us a copy of the police report and we'll keep it on file here, so that we're on the same page as you through all of this. And if it shoudl come to you having to file a peace order, just, again, send us a copy, and we'll keep it on file as well. Just try to keep us informed about whatever is going on, and we're sorry you have to deal with all of this, but it is harassment, and you have every right to call the police. You should not have to put up with that.' Something along those lines.

So here we are. Not only did I clean up the back yard AGAIN last night (I cleaned it up after she approached me - with company over - on Sunday afternoon) after the incident, AND again this morning... hosing it down each time. If she approaches me regarding this today, I may not jsut call the cops, but... hey - does anyone have the number to the Crownsville Mental Insitution?

So, Yeah. I think she needs valium. All in favor - say "Ay!"

Serious Pill

I didn't mean to take one, today, but it seams that they must have gotten mixed up with my Happy Friday Vitamins. So today - a dose of seriousness.


I read a quote today, in reference to some shortfalls of a well-known evangelist of our day, and it sort of slapped me in the face with way more meaning than I think the writer may have intended. I'll share it with you... and then tell you what it made me think.



"As good as it is to have an ambulance at the bottom of the cliff to help the injured, it is much better to have a fence at the top of the cliff to prevent someone from going over."



Now - maybe that's not a new quote, and maybe I'm just slow off the gate with it, but... it speaks a lot to me. Let me essplain...



As Christians, sometimes we wait for God to bring them to church so that we can "love on" them. Or we wait for the Pastor to bring them to the altar so we can "pray into" their lives. Or even more still, we wait until they respect us and our beliefs before we respect them and theirs (Ouch!). So, tell me - are we being a fence, or an ambulance?



I'm sure there are a lot of other examples in our lives of when we do this, but it really caught me off guard. I'd LOVE to hear your comments and opinions on this topic... or even just the quote.






And just a little encouragement - Speak up! God may be able to hear you, but what about the world around you?

Your Mission...

... should you choose to accept it ...

Is to help me find this year's Halloween Costume (yes, I'm starting early, but I need all the time I can get, and lots of help!!).

Here are the top three things I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to be for Halloween:

#1 - Rainbow Bright. The problem I keep running into is finding a version of the costume that isn't called "Sexy Rainbow Bright". Yes - I'd like to be the plain ol' regular Rainbow Bright, if you don't mind. BUt I suppose I could always buy this one and wear shorts under it, if worse-came-to-worse.

#2 - A Fraggle. Yes - any character from Fraggle Rock, really, but I can't find ANYTHING!! Not a THING! I've only found t-shirts when characters on them, and that's just not good enough.

#3 - A Snork. Unfortunately, more people were deprived as children and do not even know what the Snorks are! Please oh PLEASE someone has GOT to help me find a costume. It's our only hope!!

Okay - that's that. PLEASE let me know if you find ANYTHING!! And... the cheapest version, of course, would be most helpful!

Toodles!

What to wear?!

Okay - I have a dilemma. I have the PERFECT little pencil skirt and black heels to wear to the wedding on Saturday, BUT I CAN'T figure out what shirt to wear!

Yes... I know... I'm SUCH a girl. But I don't do this often!! So look below and tell me what you think.

Thanks much!!

Sorry - the colors got weird on this pic, for some reason. :-(