Monday, April 30, 2012

Oompa Loompa

I have to apologize to you...my blog is all run together...that is not how I wrote it...something is new with Blogger and I don't know how to use it so bear with me and by next blog I'll get it fixed... 

Oompa Loompa
doompadee doo
I've got another puzzle for you
Oompa Loompa
doompadah dee
If you are wise you'll listen to me

 Ok, no it would often NOT be wise to listen to me...
I only become a sage occasionally...and usually I'm on wine when I write this so I definitely would not listen to what I say...

 So why the Oompa Loompa song you ask? Read at the bottom...

 Actually it mostly has to do with the fact that right now I am feeling very much like an Oompa Loompa. (you know that is a hard set of words to type) I am feeling chunky and short...

 Oh my weight...the up and down of my weight! 

I was doing so good...sooooooo good...

and then...

 BAM!

 I lost control...

 I've spent the last 2 weekends out of town so that sure hasn't helped. Eating out is not good for the figure.

 And since one weekend was spent on the choir trip...and at a water park (where healthy options are as scarce as women who actually belong in the bikinis they are wearing)...there was no hope for me.

 Add to that the dip that manage to fly, without my help, into my basket at HEB...I looked down and there it was so I left it because I think it wanted to go home with me. I bought it a companion...Special K chips...but they are just a vehicle for the dip...

 The choir trip was doomed from the start.

 Not for the choir...heck, those kids pulled out their 9th straight sweep of all 3 categories they competed in against choirs from across the state...no, the kids were fine...the doom was with me and the food...

 I started off stressed because I had to make 2 trips back to my house before the bus left because:

 1) I left my wallet (not a good thing) and

 2) my son left his retainer (not a good thing)

 Oh, and that retainer...well, we should have just left it on his nightstand...more on that later...

 So I wolf down a veggie burger at the school...not too bad except for the mayo I drowned it in. I did do good and eat some mediterranean barley salad (way yummier than it sounds and I will send you the recipe if you want).

 Ok so I was doing good and I HAD worked out that day.

 We get on the bus...we barrel down I-10 with the kids watching...AND SINGING ALONG TO...Mamma Mia...it was awesome!

 We stop,..
 At Bucee's...
 All praise Bucee's...best stop on the freeway.

 I walked into Bucee's with good intentions.

 I walked out with:
turkey sticks
sweet n hot jerky
fudge (lots of fudge..it's "buy 4 get 2 free")
yogurt parfait (ok, that was delicious and I highly recommend it)
banana pudding (not to my liking so I ate a few bites and pitched it)
a half a sandwich (I ate a few bites and gave away)
kettle corn

 Yeah, that just about sums it up...I got rid of the sandwich and pudding quickly...at 1/2 the kettle corn,took a small bite of fudge...the rest pretty much came home with me except for the turkey sticks GOTT and I ate at the park. Those things are GOOD people...

 We got to New Braunfels, checked into the hotel, went to Gruene and shopped around (GOTT and I always buy t-shirts for him, me, GOTTSON, and GOTTESS in Gruene) and then took the kids to a park to run themselves ragged.

 No casualties...amazing...although one boy did get accidently kicked in the mouth while playing soccer...and it was my son's foot that connected with his mouth...the boy assures me I am not liable for his dental bills...

 We then took the kids to eat...at a bar b que place...

 The chaperones always go through the line first so we can eat quickly (i.e. inhale our food) and help the kids...62 kids in a line...they did good.

 I.did.not.

 I ate pork ribs, potato salad, sausage, cole slaw, and banana pudding (still not what I was looking for...but I ate all of this one).

 UM....yeah, I was starting to feel like Violet Beuregard after she eats the everlasting gobstopper and starts to blow up like a blueberry.

 Once we fed the kids we headed back to the hotel and monitored the halls and got the kids locked into their rooms. I talked on the phone to a friend, took a shower and passed out from exhaustion.

 We got up the next morning and I went back to the trough and ate the free hot breakfast at the hotel...can't pass up a bagel...even a bad one at a Hampton Inn.

 We took the kids to the choir competition and they nailed it...it was amazing...and I can't believe it is the last time I will hear GOTT conduct a middle school choir. I cried...a lot...

 After that we went back to the hotel and packed up and checked the rooms...amazing that kids will throw away socks and underwear rather than pack them back in a suitcase...

 We hit Schlitterbahn water park and of course there are no healthy choices there...except for the carrots I managed to snag in the food line. We watched over the kids stuff and they checked in with us and at one point we (some of the chaperones) managed to even have some time to float in the lazy river. It was fun... I avoided ice cream, dippin dots, and icee's....

 Once the awards were given out...
 Oh yeah... WE WON!!!! 
9 years in a row....swept all 3 competitions...mixed choir, men's and treble...

 Back to regular programming... once the awards were given out we got back on the bus and headed down the road and then stopped at Whataburger to feed everyone.

 I would like you all to know that I now can confirm that I can easily become a server at Whataburger if all else fails me.

 It was quite an experience... 62 kids...7 chaperones...one very understaffed Whataburger. The poor kid taking orders was overwhelmed to say the least. For some reason Whataburger feels the need to have someone come out and serve you ketchup and another person bring out your order to you. Well, my friend MathQueen (the Math teacher) took matters into her own hands and put an end to that...she took the tray of ketchup from the server and informed him our kids could help themselves (thus freeing him to make milkshakes) and she started passing out the orders (thus freeing those guys to make french fries) once I had finished my large fries and whataburger with cheese and jalepenos and mayo, I joined her in the serving.

 The poor kid taking orders just started to number each order "48", "56" or "97"...and only those numbers.

 We got the right food to the right kid anyway.

 As a reward I gave myself a chocolate milkshake.

 Once they were all fed we got back on the bus and I passed out from sun, water, Whataburger, and exhaustion. We got home at 1 am...loooooong day.... GOTT is amazing...he runs it like clockwork and makes it look easy. If you think it is EASY to take 62 kids on a trip I will inform the head of school of your desire to join the kids next year...

 Yesterday my son wanted pizza...so I ordered it...and ate it...

 But last night I went to Whole Foods and bought salmon and power greens and did manage to eat something healthy. My body is in shock. I also managed to work off 650 calories tonight with my workout...and ate more salmon. But I still feel like a little round oompa loompa...

 Oh yeah...and Dimples is leaving me...he's moving away...but for the BEST reason...to be with his gorgeous and fabulous fiancee who has a new job. I will miss him but I love them both so much I can't feel bad about it...but that is all for another blog...

 For now, I am pouring some more wine, taking a quick shower, and climbing into bed with my book on my iPad (thanks to that great Kindle app)...

 More to fill you in on, like my daughter and prom...and why I love Boston...and why I miss lacrosse...but that will be another blog too...

 Inspiration Song: "Oompa Loompa" from the cast of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Why? Because I look like an Oompa Loompa...and because we are doing "Willy Wonka" as our 8th grade musical...and I have 35 Oompa Loompas to costume...

 Bye Darlings...do a better job with your food than I am so I can get back on track...MOTIVATE ME!!!!!!!!

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Somebody that I Used to Know

Don't you love it when I use intriguing little titles like this?

No, I'm not going to discuss my ex...because if you know the song it is about a bad breakup.

No, I have been obsessed with this song for a couple of months now and I thought...that would make a great blog title...

so here goes...

Most of you are most likely reading this through Facebook...you either get this as a direct link because you are signed up to receive it or you see it on your Facebook news feed.

Facebook...with almost 900 million users worldwide...is a fascinating social network.

I have friends that spend hours reading the news feeds and responding to what is posted there. I have other friends that almost never look at it.

I fall somewhere in the middle but closer to the "not pay attention" end of it...I mean, I stay logged in but I'm mostly just on my own page and usually it is just to post a blog. I usually don't look at the newsfeed and I rarely look at my friends pages.

Sorry...

There...I admitted it...

I am a bad Facebook friend...

I don't always read what you have posted.

But I sure as hell get happy when you read my blog!

I guess I should be classified as a "selfish" facebook user...I only care about myself.

It's not that I don't care what is going on in your world...I do...you know I care...it's just that so often when I finally am at my leisure at my computer (and not paying bills, etc) I don't often have time to really "surf" facebook.

Right now I am having to share my computer with Ke$ha Barbie.

I don't like sharing a computer with a teenager...I find all kinds of strange windows open after she is done. Sometimes I learn something (like when she leaves khanacadamy.org up) and other times I am frightened (like when she has up some sort of political blog).

But I got to thinking about Facebook today and how it brings people together.

People you might never have talked to again...or reconnected with again...or would have found harder to connect with again.

I've been blessed by Facebook and not really cursed.

Oh, I have had a few Facebook "stalkers" but they are blocked...this is Facebook guys, not match.com!

But mostly my facebook experience has been positive.

It gets my blog out there....and in reality it is not so much about who reads my blog but rather that I write it and it is an outlet.

But I have made some great connections and reconnections!

I could not breathe without AngelAmy and Twirler Girl...both who are back in my life thanks to Facebook.

I've also connected with "new" friends...people who I did not really know before but feel like I am getting to know now...like my friends the Fabulous sisters (their last name starts with "F" and they are fabulously gorgeous). StarChild and her sister RadiantRita are my sister's age...I didn't really know them in school...but through facebook we have become "friends" and communicate! In fact, I responded to a message from RadiantRita while I was in the back of the ambulance! Hey, what else was I gonna do while I was strapped in the back of the meatwagon...It was fun to send a message to a friend saying "I'm in an ambulance headed to the hospital!"

So connecting with them has been a blast...and I can't wait to get together with them for real!

I also am able to keep up with my precious niece and nephew (my Bella Bella...and my RumbleRory) as well as my beautiful Sister in Law...and my aunts and uncles and cousins and their wonderful kiddos! So family reunions via Facebook actually can happen...

I keep up with former students...the ones I have friended on Facebook are the kids that I love like my own...if you are a former SF student and you are my "friend" on Facebook then you should know that I love love love you...and you are very special to me. I don't "friend" just any of you...

I've got a former boyfriend or two as a friend...hey, why not? I don't really have anyone I have broken up with that I don't really still like...

So for the most part Facebook has been a good thing...

Isn't it funny that it all started in a dorm room...

I never did anything special in my dorm room except illegally cook things...and I held hands with a few friends when they took pregnancy tests (no, I never had to do that myself). The biggest thing that ever came out of my dorm room was my suitcases when I moved out...

So these boys in college invent Facebook and are now billionares and we spend time checking out each other's lives via the social network they have set up.

Makes me wonder...

What the heck will Ke$ha Barbie invent in HER dorm room?

Inspiration Song: "Somebody that I Used to Know" by Gotye...I'm obsessed with it...obsessed...

Bye Darlings...who have you connected with?

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Change the World

Today in church Pastor Kenny gave a sermon called "The Gospel According to Steve Jobs".

I've missed the first 3 sermons in the series...the Gospel according to Oprah (I know you are flabbergasted I missed THAT one but I do plan to hear it on the web), Donald Trump, and Lady Gaga. Spring Break and a little vacation at Methodist Hospital kept me out of church these last few weeks.

So today was Steve Jobs...a man who truly changed the world.

I think he was brilliant and fascinating.

He changed how we communicate, how we watch movies, and how we listen to music.

It is not lost on me that right now I am typing this blog on my Mac, and I am listening to my iTunes library, and that I took my notes in church on my iPhone.

All thanks to Steve Jobs and his innovations.

Steve Jobs was once fired from his own company...isn't that incredible? They FIRED him.

If Steve Jobs can get fired from a company he started and built, well then who is safe?

He said being fired was the best thing that ever happened to him.

But it was what he did NEXT that made him the unique individual he was.

What he did next was to found NeXT...another computer company. Later he would integrate software technology from NeXT back into Apple when he rejoined the company. NeXT sorta failed (except for the software stuff) and he moved on to purchase The Graphics Group (which later became Pixar) from Lucasfilm.

Now many people may look at the technology that Jobs introduced to the world as the "smarts" he gave us.

But with Pixar he gave us some heart...

Movies like "Finding Nemo" and "Toy Story" are not only entertaining but heart warming as well. They are among my favorite movies of all time (along with "Cars" and "The Incredibles").

So there is my little tiny lesson in Steve Jobs...there is so much more to say but you don't come here for lessons in personalities...I THINK you come here to be entertained..and maybe something here sparks you to think about something too...

So how did Kenny tie this all in to church and God?

Well that was the interesting part...I knew the Steve Jobs stuff already.

But Kenny's point was, and I love these questions he asks...

"what is going to be the center, the hub, of your life?"

and

"is what is at the center of your life worth it in the end?"

Biq questions.

He suggested that if you can't put your finger on what is at the center of your life, then, if you are brave and REALLY want an answer...ask someone.

If we are to be good Christians, GOD should be at the center of our lives. And if He is, well then the rest will all fall into place.

BUT...

and here's a big "BUT"...

most of us don't live that way.

We have other things at the center of our lives.

For Steve Jobs it was Apple and technology...his family too but to a lesser extent I believe (from accounts I have read).

If you ask my children,, they would say working out was the center of my life these days.

Not true...but in their minds it seems all I do is work out.

They just don't realize what I do the other 21-23 hours a day.

The center of my life IS THEM. But they don't see it that way...they don't realize how many hours of the day I am doing something related to them.

Heck, even my working out is related to them so that I will be healthy and live a long life...so that Ke$ha Barbie can continue to be Satan to me into my old age. I'd like to think that I will be a loving enough mother that she will come and visit me in the nursing home and put lipstick on me and brush my hair but I have a feeling that will never happen.

Oh, the nursing home will happen...Ke$ha Barbie is not going to let me live with her...

Ke$ha Barbie coming to take care of me will not ever happen.

The Cutest Boy in the World (TCBITW) better marry someone really amazing.

So on my way home I got to thinking...Steve Jobs changed the world...Pastor Kenny changes the world (or at least my heart) every time I hear him speak...but is there anything I can do to change the world?

Hmmmmm....

In a sense I have...I gave birth to 2 amazing kids...Ke$ha Barbie might very well change the world with her art. And I have a feeling that TCBITW is going to do amazing things too.

But no, that is not really ME changing the world...

I started thinking about this blog...and all of you who read it...and wondered...

MAYBE I HAVEN'T CHANGED YOUR LIFE, BUT HAVE I EVER SAID ANYTHING HERE THAT GOT YOU TO THINK? OR TO CHANGE YOUR MIND ABOUT SOMETHING? OR TO OPEN UP TO A NEW POSSIBILITY?

OR...AT THE EVERY LEAST...DID I GET YOU TO TRY SPIN CLASS OR DO SOME EXERCISE?

Well, if the answer to any of that is "yes"...for even just one of you...

Well, then...

I CHANGED THE WORLD!

Well, maybe not the world, but I did something that caused a change for someone.

I"m not capable of changing the world. I do not possess the brains, money, or talent to do so.

But I can change lives...or at least make an impact...or do something that is good for someone else.

I don't plan to use this blog as a platform (although I do sometimes...), so I won't go and get in all the Christian and God stuff as it applies here...you don't come here for a sermon...you can go to your own church...or join me at The Bridge Fellowship...

but I do want to encourage you to try...daily...or at least weekly...to do some good for others or for the world...

I"m challenging myself this week to do that...to try, on a daily basis, to do something for someone else...someone who is not my family or children...someone who needs my help...or that I can do something for...and my real challenge to myself is to try and do it with an act or deed and not money.

It's just a little experiment with myself.

Because sometimes I get too wrapped up in the "me" of me...I mean, I do things for others but very often I get so caught up in my own life that I miss significant things for others.

Like my best friend's birthday...yeah, I am the worse bestie in the world cause I totally forgot her birthday. She has forgiven me but I will never forgive myself. I just got wrapped up in my own stuff and let the day slide right by me.

So I"m gonna straighten myself up and quit thinking so much about myself and me, me, me...

And see what I can do to change the world...

I may not be Steve Jobs, but I don't need to be...

I just need to be a better version of myself...and I'm not talking about the outside of myself but the inside of myself...and do something for others...

I'll let you know how it goes...

Inspiration Song: "Change the World" by Eric Clapton. I love that song...it is beautiful...

Bye Darlings...what is at the center of your life? Is it worth it? And what can YOU do to change the world?