Fall?

it's fall! or at least it should be, but the temperature hasn't really dropped here in San Diego. From the people i have talked to, this is the time of year that non-native San Diegoans miss their hometowns the most. Most of San Diego has moved here from other regions of the US, mainly due to the wonderful weather. But, with the months of October and November here, the temperatures dipping for the rest of the country, but not us.... it seems like everyone wants to reminisce about the way the leaves change and rustle; how they used to get bundled up and cover their heads against the cold wind; drink hot chocolate and eat pumpkin pie and other comfort foods.
Here and there in San Diego, i have found the occasional maple tree that's starting to change. Its colors changing ever so slightly from green to yellow to orangey-red, all on one leaf. i miss that smell in the air that feels like fall, when you know it's right arund the corner, or announcing that it's here for another year.
the last couple days the temperture did drop into high 50's in the evening.... and although we don't have the fully changing colors of fall.. we did have fog at twilight, which is another natural wonder in itself.

quote of the day: "you can never have too much gouda!"
spoken by a fellow lover of cheese as we were trying to decide on what to purchase at the store.

my neighborhood

yogurt runs are fun. although not good for your weight, but we won't go there.
i thought i would share a little of what i saw this evening when going for yogurt with my friend, amber in our neighborhood.

1 - tiny miniature white poodle with furry puffed tail and paws
1 - man holding balloon assortment shaped like male reproductive organs
2 - men singing (loudly)/dancing to their headphones/ipods
1 - man who randomly shouted "ah" really loud while walking down the sidewalk
1 - man who came up and stared at amber, before saying "youuuu are so beautiful".
1 - group of adolescent kids having a sidewalk on the party in honor of someone's 21st birthday
1 - lady who came to stand by our outdoor yogurt table to read her paper and comment
on man shouting "ah" to us

that was all in a 45 minute period. it was an exciting 45 minutes. the best of the day. :)

my 500 days of summer experience

so i have been remiss in sharing my experiences in san diego. there are many which i need to recount. mostly are in the category of 'Weird and Strange Things I've Seen'. within that category falls something that i just cannot forget to share, so i am doing it now. the rest will come later.

obviously the title of this blogging tells you i saw 500 days of summer, which was excellent. i thoroughly enjoyed it. what i want to tell is after the movie. when walking out of the theater, the lights had not come up yet, and so it was pretty dark. but i didn't miss the lady in front of me holding her miniature schnauzer in her arms, and saying to the people next to her "...i know... wasn't he so good...". all i could think was "really?? really??" wow i was so blown away by the fact i just watched a movie with a dog.
several seconds later, i realized he was pretty well behaved, since i had no clue he was even there. and i found myself wondering if they had made her pay extra to bring in her dog. it was pretty crazy.
welcome to san diego. :)

i never knew..

what a wonderful world REI was. after discovering there was such a place as REI, it only took me 3 years and another state to make it there. I went last night with my friend, and it's such an amazing place!!
it's amusing that while there, i realized i needed 5 things i had never heard of before. like the wristband with a zipper where you can store keys and cash. totally needed that, and a pair of chaco flipflops, and some merrell shoes and a new nalgene bottle. and a cooking stove, and a daypack, and a sleeping bag.
when we checked out minutes before closing (we had been there an hour and a 1/2) the cashier began telling us about all the benefits of an REI membership... rentals for really cheap, on almost everything.
yes, i am excited about this.
if you remotely like the outdoors, i suggest you go. it's a whole new world. maybe you'll be as excited as me... but i doubt it. :)

i was so excited...

to find that hulu.com has national geographic channel!!!! they have FULL EPISODES online. how cool is that. if you're interested, here's the link. yay!!!
and yes, i am that big of a nerd. :)

Melody & Katy's Adventures in San Diego

hi again.
so last weekend, my good friend Melody and her fun sister Katy came to visit me. Katy just graduated from high school, and Melody took her on a surprise trip to San Diego for a graduation gift. they showed up on Thursday after a debacle with their rental car, which i am not even going to try to retell, but it is too funny. (if you know Melody, ask her about it)
and so, as everyone i know is trying to save money, we went to the grocery store for dinner, instead of going out to eat. although Katy was so tired, i think, she couldn't decide on food, so after we left the grocery store we drove around a little to find something for her. as i'm driving along, i see this small bouncy yellow thing bound into the street in front of me, and at the same time, hear people shouting along the sidewalk. and BAM! the bouncy yellow thing hits the front of my car. how fun. then i hear people laughing, and i look behind me, hoping to see a small yellow thing behind my car. NOPE. so when we stop, i ask Katy to take a look at the front. she thinks i'm silly, but i just know i've got a yellow tennis ball stuck in my grill. and yep, there it was. for a split second i was tempted to drive back by and hurl the ball at the kids. but then it passed, and the tennis ball is now riding shotgun in my car. i should draw a face on it and name it "Wilson" like Tom Hanks in Castaway. I do have to drive pretty far some days.
that night around 9pm i had two girls from Kansas fall asleep on my floor.
the next morning i was off to work and Melody & Katy off to the beach. this was our day for the Del Mar Fair, after i got off work. i was SO excited. not really about the fair, but about the fact that Switchfoot would be playing at the fair. after work, i went down and picked up Melody & Katy from where they returned the rental car, swung by Amber's place to get her, and then we ate at In & Out Burger to fill our bellies before the fair.
we got there right as Switchfoot started, and although we were at the very top of the seating area, i enjoyed every minute. it was also awesome that they had Sara Watkins from Nickel Creek sing and play violin for them on several songs!
saturday we went to see the seals at La Jolla. although it was my second trip in that many weeks, it was still beautiful. we grabbed some food at Pei Wei ( i know, sooo not San Diego, but Katy had never been), and then went home to relax. that night we got to watch the sunset while eating dinner over the water. and sunday morning early i had to take them home.
although it was not even a week since they left, it feels like forever. Melody & Katy, you have to come back soon!

adventures of tilly willy in san diego!

of course this is only a chapter of the story of "The Adventures of Tilly Willy in San Diego", but i feel like i needed a witty title (thanks erin!)

last weekend i had my dear friend cristina from tampa visit me. she showed up on wednesday and had to hang out at the airport for 3 hours (enduring a very rude make-out session near her) for me to pick her up. we promptly went to Trader Joe's, which is my new favorite store, for dinner supplies. we got these awesome veggie burgers, which were so good, although i'm not vegetarian, i purchased them a second time yesterday. Thursday, while i had to work, cristina got to enjoy the San Diego Zoo and that night we got to eat sushi in a boat. Friday, after another work day, i headed out to my car and found one of my tires completely flat. i surely got a nail right in my tire. luckily i had AAA who i called to come change my tire. (sidenote.. i find it emotionally crippling and pathetic that i'm not strong enough to change my own tire. but.. i'm glad God made men and good fulcrum levers.) because i had the ridiculous really tiny spare tire on, i had to get my regular one fixed right away, which only took Sears Auto 2 hours to do. not really sure why.

finally at 8 i made it home where i picked cristina up for dinner at the San Diego Port.
on to the good stuff.. we got to visit Coronado and went to watch The Proposal. (second sidenote: yes, i know, a 'girly' movie. i will do it occasionally for my friends. and watching ryan reynolds never hurt anyone.) And Sunday we went to see the seals at La Jolla, got to walk around Balboa Park and go to to the FREE art museum, and got some yogurt from Yogurtland.

i must admit i wasn't sure what the deal was with all the self-serve yogurt places around here, but i have only been once and now i am dying to serve myself yogurt (you can pick as many flavors as you want) and then pick out the toppings. it's like you can pick one theme, like 'fruity', or 'chocolately' and stick with it, or just pile on whatever looks good... you get to make all the decisions! it's wonderful. and addicting. thank goodness there are about 4 yogurt places i can walk to from my place!
here's a pic of me and cristina at Coronado.. yes, it was chilly that day!

so that is all for now.. i had two more visitors since then, which i will have to document later... but i am sad to see all of you go!

i moved to san diego a week ago, and it has already begun changing me and how i think. leaving dallas not only meant leaving all my friends, but leaving relationships behind at this place. the union gospel mission.

working in the kitchen there, i began some relationships with amazing men, who oddly enough, we were supposed to be encouraging in Christ. every single evening i went, i was astounded by their unrelenting faith and renewed vigor to live for Christ. they encouraged me more than they will ever know. and once, many of them were homeless or incarcerated. or both.

getting to my point, in san diego, there are homeless everywhere... maybe because southern california has incredible weather which never gets too cold or hot. as i came home to my apartment today, there was a homeless man going through our recycling bin. my first thought was to stop and ask him how he was doing. now, i admit that sounds silly. how do i think he's doing? he's homeless and rummaging through a recycling bin, looking for plastic and cans he can turn in for 5 cents each. probably not so good. but of course, i am thinking with the middle-class mind-set that a home and all the extra commodities are good. he may be fine with being homeless, and wouldn't have it any other way. BUT, i didn't stop. i walked on in like he wasn't there.
regardless of how he thinks of himself and his situation, it bothered me that i didn't stop and talk to him. before you freak out (castioni!), it bothers me that we (our society) has grown up being taught and will teach our children to beware of the homeless.!... they will ask for money... they are a nuisance.... it grieves me that yes, i sometimes treat them that way. i try to avoid them and shy away from them on the street. or possibly worse, i ignore them like i did this afternoon. yes, i am a hypocrite because i am not living like i believe and let my fear and society tell me how to behave.
i know people that are homeless are not a population that mainstream society doesn't think about all the time, unless like me, they may find them rummaging in the trash bin.
But along with God's other commands, He tells us "whoever oppresses the poor insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors Him" - Proverbs 14:31; and "whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered" - Proverbs 21:13; and "she opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy" - Proverbs 31: 20, describing the Godly woman, and Proverbs 22:2, which reminds me i should treat all people equally, "the rich and the poor have this in common, the Lord is maker of them all."
thinking of how i am inconsistent in living what i believe saddens me, but i know i am human, and fail miserably sometimes. i know i have a God who gives second chances and still loves me in my imperfectness, which only gives me renewed hope that tomorrow will be different than today.

The Journey Half-way Across the.... Nation

That’s right! I up and moved from Dallas, Texas to San Diego, Californ-I-A. And yes, that was 1400 miles that I traveled and will now attempt to document.

It all began…. Well, really, it all began when I enrolled in graduate school, knowing that during the 4th year of the program, I would move away to complete my externship (which is really just working full-time, while still paying tuition). So the time came for me to move.. which was a sad and painful process, entailing not only saying goodbye to close friends and those I was just getting to know, but also purging my apartment of items I really should let go of.

After three trips to Salvation Army and having most of my belongings packed in boxes, I thought I was ready to begin packing the minivan I rented. My patient friends came over to help and we started cramming things in the van. We thought we were doing okay, until Melody pointed out all the van seats fold down into the floor! Eureka! That was when the fun really started… just kidding. My friends helped me pack the van for 5 HOURS! They were amazing and I owe them for life. They hung in there with me, although much of my stuff was not packed in boxes and they were still trying to help me decide what should travel with me, and what should be thrown away. I apologize to Castioni, who encountered my wrath when she suggested I give away my ironing board. Which I did.. Erin IS wise.
And after many tearful goodbyes, I was off to spend my last night in Dallas in a hotel room with my dad. These are shots of my last drive on 114 to the hotel.


Thursday was spent driving through west Texas, which was actually quite beautiful. Texas is super big! I even saw a tumbleweed!!


We ended up driving all the way to Albuquerque, New Mexico on Thursday night.


All of New Mexico basically looked like this. Not very exciting.


The next day we ate lunch in Flagstaff, Arizona. It was so strange to see mountains covered with conifer (?) trees. It reminded me of Oregon. I could definitely live in that part of Arizona… isn't this awesome??!!

Friday night was spent in Phoenix and I was able to see my smiling friend Julia, who graciously let me bust up her evening plans and tag along with her. It was so nice to see her, if only for a couple hours since we are not sure when we will get together next.

The trip through the rest of Arizona and the eastern part of California was like something out of a horror movie. Driving through desert and desolate towns, where we saw dirt devils swirling through the air (or whatever they’re called). Yuma, Arizona was about the biggest town we drove through, and the question my dad and I kept asking each other was “why?”. Why would anyone live way out there? I didn’t even take many pictures cause it was too depressing. Although... they did have WINDMILLS! which of course, I had to take pictures of.


And yes, I took this while driving. And yes, I know that's not so safe.

Then came the US Border Patrol stops outside of Yuma. I must admit, although I had done nothing wrong I was a little apprehensive about having to stop when we crossed over into California. Those guys look scary with their guns strapped to their side. At that time, I was riding with my dad, and the Patrol guy asked if we were bringing any fruits or vegetables into California. My dad said yeah, we bought some oranges in Wichita Falls, Texas and lifted them up so the Patrol guy could take a look. He just kind of snickered and then handed them back and told us to have a nice day. We wondered why he laughed and realized the oranges we had bought in Texas were grown in California, and we were just bringing them home!
The last several hours driving through California seemed to take forever, and we all agreed, it was the worst part of the trip for some reason. There were two more Border Patrol Stops, several miles of pure sand dunes, many views of the US/Mexico border fence, and climbs to 4000 feet and back before we were finally driving into San Diego.
The first few nights in San Diego I stayed in the hotel with my dad and we just wandered around doing touristy things. Here are some shots from our hotel downtown.










Here’s one of Coronado beach. Sadly, it was cloudy last week end. I didn’t realize how much I have missed being close to the water. It’s just so amazing.


Sunday night all my belongings were moved into my apartment, and Monday morning early, my dad was off to Florida, and I was all alone, left to unpack and settle in.

If you read all the way down to this part, congratulations!! You made it through! I really just wanted to put up pictures of my trip, but I couldn’t really do that without a brief, albeit, boring narrative of the journey. So as long and boring as this read was, that was about how long and boring the trip was. Although, my dad and I both can now say we have driven across the distance of the US. Not all at once of course, but we figure it still counts.

my change of heart

Today was GLORIOUS!
Not just because of the weather… although that was glorious all by itself. It was one of
those rare May days in Texas where the heat doesn’t suck the life out of you, and it was actually cool in the shade.

I was able to help my dear friend Erin move some of her belongings and spend a little time with her, which has been lacking recently with the end of graduate school upon us.

Most of this weekend has been great, although incredibly sad. The graduates in our program returned to Dallas from their externships to receive their AuDs, white coats, and celebrate with friends and family. This was hard, because although the students are not actually IN my class, most of them are close friends. And although I haven’t seen them in several months, we had to say goodbye all over again. But the times that we got to laugh together this weekend were glorious.

Tonight I went to my Community Group, which consists of the most amazing and unique women. Every time we meet, I learn something new about one of them and also something new about myself.
The past several months, I have been so anxious about the logistics of moving that I haven’t spent time with Jesus, which is exactly the time that I need Him. I discovered that I was afraid of spending time with Him and being honest with myself, because I knew that once I allowed myself to ‘feel’ about moving, that my emotions would let loose. And I desperately am trying to avoid this. So this morning, against my instincts, I took that time and allowed myself to ‘feel’. Surprisingly, instead of remaining upset and anxious, I began to have a peace and hopefulness.
When I met with my CG this evening, I was encouraged even more. As Christians, we have this faith in God and in His Plan for our lives. But, there is a difference between living like we believe this, and just believing it. Recently I have been doing the latter. I have been moping about moving, and it IS sad to leave all my friends, it is a GLORIOUS opportunity to make more friends, to experience more of the world, to make more opportunities for Christ to work in my life and others’.
For this reason, I am grateful to the women of my CG for helping me to remember this, and for living their lives as they believe.
And that is why today was glorious.

ahhhhh. (that's an extremely long sigh.)
signaling the end of graduate school - the strictly "school" part anyway, and the beginning of a mad packing/getting things in line time.
i didn't realize how little time i had left in dallas, until last night, when i was reminded repeatedly that i have two weeks left. i think i was in denial a little, b/c in my mind it was three weeks.. but we all know how i'm not really right in the head. :)
but back to the graduate school part... last tuesday i finally realized that all my classmates and i would be separated for this coming year. one of my professors had a get-together at her house where we ate together and got to hang out as a class one last time. here's a little pic of the happy class of 2010.
notice how we all have GIGANTIC grins. the baby in the picture is our little Kerrington Dagley who was born at the end of april to Jessica (in the pink shirt). the only one missing is wonderful Ivonne.. but not to worry, she made it later.

i have to be a girl for a second.. at one point or another, i have seen most of these people cry, and most of them have seen me cry... it was hard; i never expected grad school to be this hard, stressful, or time-consuming. i know that God put our class together for a reason, because i know i wouldn't have made it without my best friend Erin. i would not have made it without the support and help of Erin, Ivonne, Jessica, and Paige. those girls are some hard-working, caring, loyal woman. and i feel blessed to have met them during my grad school.

i'm SUPER cool now

i just have to share this...
yesterday, an 11-year-old boy (who i see for my clinical placement, and is definitely, a cool kid) told me that my watch was "awesome". i must say that i felt i was just a little bit cooler in the world... it maybe upped my cool factor (i know there's really no such thing) just a couple points or so.
just saying.

doubt

last week, as i was driving in the car, listening to my favorite christian radio station, i had this flash of how stupid it was. how stupid it was to believe in a God that i couldn't see physically; to live by principles and beliefs that were professed over 2000 years ago. and with all that doubt crashing over me for several seconds.. so powerful, that had to give in and question my beliefs, i also embraced the fact that there may always be some doubt.
as christians, we believe in stories that others call myths or legends. there will always be questions that crop up regarding the facts of the basis of my belief in Jesus. but i know there are answers. some i may find, and some may elude me all my life, but how can we know everything. we aren't meant to.
that night, i listened to a talk on doubt in our faith and what to do with that. amazingly, the speaker had the same thought that i did earlier that day.. just go with it. seek the answers, but there will always be doubt that comes and goes. in John 6, when some of Jesus' followers began to turn away, he asked the twelve disciples if they also wanted to leave him. Simon Peter said, Lord, to whom shall we go? Jesus is the only way that provides enough answers to my questions about life. There is nothing else to turn to.

dodge challenger

i know i'm a girl and not supposed to love cars... but i think this car is hot.





this car went past me on the street last week and i found myself trying to catch up to it in traffic because i wanted to look at it again... i know, a little creepy, right? dodge has remade a classic muscle car and i must say, they have done a nice job. (ps. it also comes in an awesome blue color.)

bragging about my friend

i want to keep my friend erin folded compactly in my pocket. that may sound a little weird.
let me explain.
she has more information about audiology stored in her brain than i will probably ever have. one friday in class she displayed knowledge of some fact that i don't think i ever learned... or even thought i needed to know. but apparently i do, because she was questioned by a patient. she knew the answer (which was extremely complicated) and i did not have even the slightest clue how i would have answered it. this is why i need to keep compact erin in my pocket. so that when i am faced with a tough question, i can whip her out and she will provide me the answer.
here's a little picture of us. studying. because that's how she got so smart. and ps. she doesn't do that thumbs up thing often.

one fact that most people don't know is that i have moved A LOT. i didn't realize this until recently, but since 1997 i have never lived in any city over 2 years. its not that i want to move. it has been a product of my long journey to find a career and purpose for my life. currently that is audiology. it could change.
so living in dallas for over 2 years has both been a challenge and a blessing. i am past the 2 1/2 year mark already. and i love this place. granted, it looks nothing like my hometown along the gulf coast.but i still love the people and my friends' sincere desire to love Jesus more.

i have always constantly felt in limbo, moving from place to place, where even the town i grew up in doesn't feel like home anymore. so having finally found a place that's close to my heart and having to move ONCE AGAIN, brings a mix of emotions.

i am moving to San Diego at the end of May. i made this decision several weeks ago, when offered an externship (internship) there. it is required by our audiology graduate program to complete our fourth and final year doing full-time work in order to graduate. and i was ecstatic! i will get paid (which is sometimes rare for an externship), i will be able to work with adults (which i love), i don't have to worry about the patients paying for their hearing aids (a fact i also love).

then i got that strange panicky, sad feeling i get right after i make a life-altering decision and realize the implications. i will be moving the farthest from my family i have ever been, who live in florida. they have all promised to visit me and i know they will, but sometimes a hug is better than any voice on the phone.
after decisions like this, my obvious first reaction is to freak out and panic. this reaction is witnessed by my friends all the time. i don't like change. i'm an introvert... and the list goes on of negative reasons why i should be a basketcase. but i must end this blog on a positive note.

so with all the trepidation i feel about moving some strange and foreign place, i have been trying to be positive about the impending move. so i made a little list.

1. beach. i mean, come on. they have beautiful beaches. and it looks like this



2. the ability to be doing things outside, like hiking & running, all year round
3. i will still be incredibly close to my best friend, erin
4. my job!!!
5. the possibility of my little sister moving with me, which would be awesome
6. all the new interesting people i will meet
7. least of all, if i don't like it.. it's only for a year

and after that who knows where i will go!

i never anticipated ending up in dallas or handful of other cities i have lived in. the move wasn't planned far in advance, and each decision was made with the aforementioned trepidation. but in every one i have met friends that i couldn't imagine my life without and with their friendship have shown me God's love and His provision for me. in every city, i have met people who grow me in my relationship with Jesus and teach me things about myself and loving other people. i don't doubt for a moment that He will do the same with me in San Diego. i just have to let go and let Him.
and i come full circle back to being ecstatic about the fresh possibilities of my move!

Toto's been carried off by a twister

there's nothing that strikes fear into my heart more than the sound of a tornado siren.

i remember when i first moved to dallas in 2006 and i first heard the siren. i'm not even sure what the siren indicates... maybe it's just when the wind speed reaches a certain point... but when i first heard them i ran for cover. meaning, in the bathtub with a pillow, on the phone with erin.

fast forward three years... i hear the siren. sit in the hallway, with a pillow, on the phone with erin.
because we are still scared. i don't think the fear goes away.

the first time the siren went off last night i was dripping wet from the shower and had not yet put on clothes. and my first thought was.. "the roof's gonna come off. then they'll find me dead and naked. i'm naked." obviously that didn't happen since i am here typing, but that was my first thought.
and i pictured myself as a little dog, shivering, about to pee on myself cause i was so scared, with wide eyes and that 'run for cover' look, but paralyzed with fear.

and today the sun is shining, no clouds in sight, and it's beautiful. i guess it's gotta do that every once in a while to set things to right.

but i gotta say, these tornados, i could do without.

beware the runner's high

okay.. so you hear people talk about the 'runner's high'? it really is true. i am not sure the chemical reaction that happens in your body when you've been running for a while, (i'm sure i could 'google' it) but it happens. your body just hits that stride where you really feel ALIVE. (snicker if you must).

so for the first time in (i'm ashamed to say) 4-5 months, last night.. i ran. on a treadmill. like a hamster in those little round balls that go round and round, but nevertheless. and achieved the runner's high. i was feeling so good, and so focused on the fact that it feels so good to run, that i walked outside and he location where i parked my car flew right out of my head.
of course, this is funny. and i laughed. for about 30 seconds. then i began to feel like a little ole' lady (no offense to those little ole' ladies, it's not their fault). but REALLY. i'm not even 30 and forgetting where i parked my car. this is hilarious and i hope someone watching got a big laugh.
after almost 5 minutes of walking around and one panicked phone call to my exercise partner, who kindly was coming back to help me, it dawned on me where i parked my car.

and thus, i am again blaming my embarrassing moments on chemical and biological mysteries of my brain.

the "i'm bored, so let's post a list" blog

so this list i stole from misty and greg's blog, who stole it from someone else. this list is supposedly things you should accomplish in your lifetime. the items in bold i have completed...
if you're home on an ice day like me... copy it into your blog and highlight the items you have completed!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch-hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach in moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, plasma, or platelets
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car b
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chicken pox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
4. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone (this one's a little strange, i must admit)
99. Been stung by a been

So, what have YOU done?

beware of migrating schoolbuses

if you ever happen to be caught in a high school parking lot, trapped in your parking spot by big yellow schoolbuses..... whatever you do, DO NOT try to pull out in front of one.
yesterday my boss and i had a near collision with these giant yellow machines which were rolling out of the parking lot like firetrucks going to a fire. it may have had something to do with the falling temperatures and freezing rain which was predicted for later in the afternoon, but my gut feeling tells me this was just any other day for the bus drivers, and they just like to scare the crap out of other drivers by driving within inches of their vehicle.
we tried to pull out four times before we realized there was just no way we could do it without getting clobbered.
on the plus side... they pulled out so fast, the 20 buses were gone in less than 5 minutes.
but if this ever happens to you, just wait patiently. the buses will not stop for you.

the sign

for the last month or so i have been seeing these billboards around dallas that had me greatly puzzled. granted, anyone who knows me knows that this state of mind is all too common for me. they are plain black billboards with a picture of a person and the words "i am second". i was really curious.

finally, last sunday at church my questions were answered. we are starting a month-long series on prayer, and our pastor invited a woman who shared her story and experience with prayer. she is part of the i am second movement. her story was emotional both because of the pain and joy that she had been through. her name was Karen and you can hear her story along with others at iamsecond.com. more of her story can be found here. they described how they found hope in the midst of their total despair and utter longing. even if you have not reached that point yet, we all should know there is always Hope.

christmas break has come and gone

during fall semester of last year, i always felt like doing this.....


so i was incredibly ready for Christmas break.






there was lots of time spent with family and lots of time eating. although both were enjoyable, i miss the first activity most of all now that i am back in dallas. i knew i missed "the fam", but this christmas cinched my thoughts once and for all ..... i must move closer to them. for me, it's not enough to spend just christmas and other holidays with loved ones. it also made me realize i'm still a country girl at heart.
my sisters and i had a photo shoot in order to get photos for a christmas present for dad. here's one where we had some fun.
so among my other activities were beach time (Florida) and lake time (Georgia). my drive to Georgia from Florida wound through small towns and beautiful country. along my drive i saw some things that made me laugh, such as the sign of Striplings General Store, which read "You Never Sausage Place"..... nice. Although some people would make fun of my love of states that would have a store like that, what makes me love it so much is deer crossing the road in the afternoon, cotton blooming, oaks so big that their branches cover the ground, rows and rows of pecan trees, the smell of diesel, sweet tea in every restaurant, water towers painted like peaches, and stars that were so bright, i forgot they could look like that... all of which i saw on my trek this christmas.
here's one i took along the way of Georgia's old courthouses.