Motivation and Inspiration

We all go through times in our lives that are difficult, painful, disappointing, or a combination of all of the above.  Nobody can get through that by themselves.  I am so thankful that I don't have to deal with that alone either.  The size of my support system amazes me.  I am incredibly thankful and lucky to have been able to surround myself with amazing, supportive, caring people - especially in difficult times.

Another thing that always helps me is to find motivational, inspirational, positive quotes.  Being a bit of a quote-junkie anyway, this is a bit of a natural thing for me to turn to, but it never fails to help.  Here are a few that I have found lately that make me re-evaluate where I stand in certain situations.

“We are not put on earth for ourselves, but are placed here for each other. If you are there always for others, then in time of need, someone will be there for you.”

You are somebody’s reason to smile.

Life isn’t about finding yourself.  Life is about creating yourself.

Though no one can go make and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.

Unless it’s mad, passionate, extraordinary love, it is a waste of time.  There are too many mediocre things in life.  Love should not be one of them.

“In your life, you meet people. Some you never think about again. Some, you wonder what happened to them. There are some that you wonder if they ever think about you. And then there are some you wish you never had to think about again.”

“Throughout life people will make you mad, disrespect you and treat you bad. Let God deal with the things they do, cause hate in your heart will consume you too.”

“Find a guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot, who calls you back when you hang up on him, who will lie under the stars and listen to your heartbeat, or will stay awake just to watch you sleep... wait for the boy who kisses your forehead, who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats, who holds your hand in front of his friends, who thinks you're just as pretty without makeup on. One who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares and how lucky his is to have you.... The one who turns to his friends and says, 'that's her.'”

“No man is worth your tears, but once you find one that is, he won't make you cry”

Never allow someone to be your priority while allowing yourself to be their option.

A woman has got to love a bad man once or twice in her life to be thankful for a good one.

Some people come into your life as blessings; others come into your life as lessons.

The longer you wait for something, the more you’ll appreciate it when you get it, because anything worth having is definitely worth waiting for.

Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets.  So love the people who treat your right, forget about the ones who don’t, and believe that everything happens for a reason.  If you get a chance, take it.  If it changes your life, let it.  Nobody said it would be easy; they just promised it would be worth it.

Don’t fall for just anyone.  Only fall for the person who can prove that they are worth it.

Sometimes we need to forget some people from our past because of one simple reason - they don’t belong in our future.

You’ll never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.

Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn’t arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I’m going to be happy in it. (Groucho Marx)

Out of clutter, find simplicity. From discord, find harmony.  In the middle of difficulty, lies opportunity. -Albert Einstein.

Everything happens for a reason.  People change so that you can learn to let go.  Things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they’re right.  You believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself.  And sometimes, good things fall apart so better things can fall together.

Laugh when you can.  Apologize when you should.  Let go of what you can’t change.  Kiss slowly.  Play hard.  Forgive quickly.  Take chances, give everything, and have no regrets.  Life is too short to be anything but happy.

Every story has an end, but in life, every end is just a new beginning.

I don’t need someone who makes my heart whole.  Instead, I need someone who will never let me feel broken.

Find someone who can make you smile, and never give up on them.

“Why compare yourself with others? No one in the entire world can do a better job of being you than you.”

To all of my amazingly supportive family, friends, and co-workers - Thank you!  You are the best people I have ever had the honor of having in my life.

Love the Holidays

It's finally started to cool down in North Texas.  It's even cool enough now to consider it getting closer to the holidays.  And then I had a genius idea.  I'm going to cook Thanksgiving dinner for my whole Texas family.

Yep.  The whole thing - for six people.  Let's hope I don't screw this up.

Of course, the part that worries me the most is the turkey.  The quintessential centerpiece of the Thanksgiving meal - the bird.  Just to clarify, I don't think it's particularly difficult, but it is intimidating.  If I mess that up, we eat side dishes for dinner that night.  And let's face it...as deliciously wonderful as those sides may be, it's just not quite the same Thanksgiving experience without the turkey.

I do have a few tricks up my sleeve, though.  Don't worry.  But still cross your fingers for me, please ;)

A Trip Home

As much as I like a change to a routine, I really like consistency too.  So I'm now determined to make this my consistency.  My goal:  to write at least once a week.  And, I'm starting now by blogging about a return to a place where you can fall right back into a routine - a way of life - that you once left.

A few weeks ago, I returned to Indiana to stand beside one of my closest friends as she got married, which is obviously a very special honor.  But before I journeyed north a few hours for the shin-dig, I spent a few much-needed days at my old home, falling right back into the comfortable niche of small-town, country life.

As soon as you enter the county and then the city limits, it's almost as if you are transported back to the time when you lived there.  It becomes simple again.  And I, for one, fall right back into the cozy routine that has always been there.  A few things are different, but the mind-set is the same.  Driving down the main highway, I spotted some God-awful, bright yellow rocking chairs on a porch and immediately wonder who thought that would be a good idea.  I couldn't fathom why someone would tarnish my cute, little town with those hideous monstrosities on their porch.  That, folks, is a prime example, of the little country town mind set - that sense of connection to everything in the town.

I continued on, speeding down the country back roads.  They are those familiar roads that you just have to drive fast on, hugging the curves of the hills that you know like the back of your hand.  Then, you pull out of that blind curve to come face to face with a Sheriff's cruiser, which I never thought twice of before.  But, suddenly, I remember, I'm driving in a car that those deputies don't recognize anymore with Texas plates, which look suspiciously similar to Ohio plates.  And let's face it...a Buckeye on Indiana backroads is a red flag to a deputy.  I may as well have had a flashing, neon sign coming out of my sunroof saying "GIVE ME A TICKET!"  Luckily for me, the deputies in that quiet town still have no desire to write tickets.

One routine that I didn't fall back into seamlessly was the one that gives the ability to spot a deer near the road from a mile away.  I lost my deer-dar.  You know, that's like radar, but for deer.  I'm clever, I know.    Those extremely sneaky, ridiculously stupid animals sneak out of the corn fields just as you reach that point when it won't really matter if you slam on your brakes - if they decide to jump at you, they're committing vehicular suicide.

But, hey, at least they go out with a great view of the stars.  Oh, those stars.  That's definitely one thing I miss by living in the city.  You can see every single star in the night sky.  The only thing that makes a clear night sky better?  Having a bon fire, especially with one of your best friends on a crisp, fall night.  You know, the kind that you need to wear a warm sweatshirt to be comfortable.  That is the epitome of a night in small town America.

For me, a typical Sunday in that same area is watching football with Dad, and falling asleep on the couch.  It never fails.  I can be wide awake, talking and alert, and before the second quarter, I pass out.  It's just a given.

The most consistent parts of home are the familiar faces - family and those friends that are so close they are family.  They're the kind that you can go years without talking to them regularly, but you can catch up with them one night and it's like you never missed a day.  They're the kind that know not to knock on the door, but just walk in, instead.  They're the ones that fit into the family, easily.

There are certain things that never change in small town America.  Those are the things I love the most about it.  And it just goes to show, you can always go home.  Just don't speed too much with out-of-state license plates.

Oh, and the wedding was beautiful!  Congrats to the new Mr. and Mrs. Undercoffer :)

SHARK WEEK!!!

Duun nuh....Duuunnn nuh...Duun nuh...Dun nuh, Dun nuh, Duh nuh, Dunnah, Dunnah, Dunnah....

C'mon, use your imagination.  It's the Jaws theme, duh!  I'll wait while you re-read that line so it sounds right in your head...ok, ready?  Read on :)

If you can't find me the first week of August each year, check in front of the TV.  I'm more than likely camped out terrifying myself from ever stepping foot in the ocean again by watching shark specials on the Discovery Channel.  Even though it's horrifying, I love it!  I have shark-shaped cookie cutters.  I bought a shark squeaky toy for my Beaux Beaux.  I even have a shark scrubby-holder in my kitchen.  And all so I could feel like it's Shark Week all year round.

I'm obsessed.  But more importantly, I'm unabashedly ok with it.

The first day or so of Shark Week, I'm extremely gutsy and brazen about the idea of sharks lurking in the waters where we swim.
[You know, the day when they show all the shows about how the sharks eat seals, fish, and everything else sharks are supposed to eat]
All I can think about is when I can go diving in a shark cage, even with Great Whites.  I'm brave to the point of stupid, I know, but it sounds like an awesomely exciting idea at the time.

Then, they begin to show the specials about shark attacks in the shallow waters near the beach.  Or the shows where the experts with 20 years of experience dive in a shark cage - exactly like the one I, the non-expert, just wanted to dive in - and almost get eaten by a Great White shark.  Or the slightly dramatic and overly terrifying show depicting just how closely humans and dangerous sharks really are in the ocean.  After I see all of those shows, despite how incredibly interesting they are, I become a giant chicken all over again.

So then, I begin to think that maybe, just maybe, I was a bit over-zealous about swimming with the [really big, really strong, really sharp-toothed] fishies.  In fact, I begin to rethink ever stepping foot in the ocean - or any body of water {read:  river, lake, pond, pool, puddle, bath tub} - ever again.

I get over it in a few days, or at least by the next time I go to the beach or want to take a bubble bath.  But the process repeats itself every, single August.

Happy Shark Week!

Beaux Beaux ♥

My dog is cooler than yours.

Case in point.

He is awesome.  Why, you ask?  How could this spotted dog be any different than any other dog?  Lots of reasons.  Here are a few...

He is always happy.  And I do mean always.  His tail wags even in his sleep.  If you think I'm kidding, you'd be wrong.  When he's awake, his tail cannot be captured in a picture - it's just a white blur.  What makes him even happier are:  anyone scratching his belly, anything chicken flavored, going for a ride in the car, running laps, and seeing Jon, Devin and "his girls," (B, T, & M).

He is a special puppy.  He was rescued from the pound on his last day.  They told me that if he didn't get a home that day, he had to be put to sleep.  Now who, in their right mind, could let a face like that one, be put to sleep??  If that wasn't enough, they also said that he had been found on the side of the road after someone had thrown him out of the window of a moving car.  He had a wound on the back of his neck that was almost completely healed when he came home with me.  Now, you'd never know anything traumatic had ever happened to him.  Plus, I cannot imagine why anyone in the world would even fathom throwing any dog, but especially my Beaux Beaux, out a window.  See?  Special.

He snores when he sleeps.  Really loudly.  Seriously.  He rivals my father and grandfather, two of the loudest snorers I've ever heard.  Other dogs may snore, but my dog snores.  Good thing it's endearing, well, and that I've been de-sensitized to snoring from said family members.

So, overall, he's one of the highlights of my day, every single day :)  How could this little guy not make you smile or make a bad day better?  He's a little miracle.  And the best puppy in the world.

Joplin

I've never known anyone in Joplin.  Actually, I don't think I've ever known anyone from Missouri.

Still, I feel especially horrible for the people of that area after the recent tornado.  Obviously, the damage is devastating.  And something unescapable.  Those poor people had such little notice, and even if they had had more time to prepare, it wouldn't have made much difference.  They were face to face with a monster 7 miles long and 1 mile wide.  I did a 5K on Sunday and realized that's not even HALF of the length of the tornado that tore through Joplin on the same day.  I can't even fathom a storm that large.

I want to do something.  I don't have money to just throw at them.  I don't have the time needed to go help on the ground.  Yet, I desperately want to help the victims of this horrific storm.

What can I do?  Make stuff.  I can make blankets, quilts, bags, anything of the like.  But where do I send it?  If anyone has any contacts in Joplin or nearby (as I'm sure mail is quite hindered), please let me know.

Obviously, it won't be much, but it's something.  And I encourage you to do something too, if you can...or help me!

You know what....

Writer's block sucks.

I really don't like the times when I want to write a blog post, but I can't think of anything to write about.  I suppose this one will be free-styled tonight.

While the last week or two have been pretty uneventful, the months coming up are going to be busy!  Not that you're interested, but since I am not able to think of anything else, you'll be the lucky audience to hear about my summer-and-beyond plans :)

First plan - Leah is moving to Dallas!  That means a realllllly long car ride for Megan as Devin and I bicker at each other for all 14 hours of it.  Sorry, Meg!  Then, we all get the joy of packing up Leah's crap to drive it all back to the big D.  And then, of course, after all that is said and done, she'll take us all out to a nice dinner.  Thanks, Leah!

Second plan - Another trip to the Hoosier state for Manda's nuptials!  There will be lots of celebrating for the happy couple :)  And maybe even a little for my 25th birthday!

Third plan - Ashley comes to visit!!  That's about all that needs to be said.  It'll be an awesomely-fun weekend with one of my favorite people!

Fourth plan - Indiana-bound again for Chad and Danielle's Indy wedding!  A little bit of traveling and a whole lotta fun with great friends!

The next few months should be very busy, but very fun!  I can't wait :)

Not too shabby for starting off with no idea of where to go in this post, if I do say so myself :)

Vacation Planning!

For as long as I can remember, I have said that I will go to Hawaii some day.

Sure, I was there when I was about two or something, but really, do you think I remember anything from it?  Actually, I do.  I remember getting bitten by a bird at the zoo when I stuck my finger in its cage.  I also remember drinking bubbles because I couldn't comprehend that to make bubbles you had to exhale through the straw instead of inhale.  Any of the cool stuff?  Just lost in my sub-conscience.

The top thing to do while there: Visit Pearl Harbor.  Aside from my obsession with the Pacific portion of WWII, my Gramps was in Pearl Harbor.  To visit the Arizona memorial is on my list of top 5 things to do, ever.  It's our history.  There are men entombed in that ship for eternity because they died in service to our nation.  That's powerful stuff.  And I, for one, can't wait to see it for my own eyes.

Also, it's Hawaii.  Duh.  What more reason would you ever need to make this trip??  It's gorgeous, with a capital G.  I know, I know.  So many people say it's too popular and overcrowded.  I don't care.  It's Hawaii.  It's America's own little paradise.

Plus, my name is Lani.  Doesn't get much more Hawaiian than that, folks.  It's almost like I'm obligated to go.  Honestly, I don't mind having that obligation.

So....let the saving begin!  Remember, personal checks can be made out to me ;)

Just kidding!

Hawaii, here I come!

Victory

"Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival." - Winston Churchill

This weekend was full of victory, and very important victories, at that.  Yes, there are some insignificant victories. And, yes, I had a few of those this weekend too, but writing about them here would just water-down the power of the most important ones.

There were many victories at the Relay for Life this weekend here in Grapevine, TX.  It began with the survivor lap.  Those men and women walking around a middle school track have been victorious against cancer - the terror, to which Winston Churchill referred.  We were there to celebrate their victory, and to try to help others be victorious as well by raising money to find a cure.  We honored the memory of those who were lost too early to the terror, and we continued to relay for those who still have a chance at survival.

"Victory at all costs" - We walked all night; we pushed ourselves.
"Victory in spite of all terror" - Even when it seems that our fight, cancer patients' fights, will be useless, we continue to fight.
"Victory however long and hard the road may be" - We didn't get a break because cancer doesn't give breaks.  It's a continuous battle until we find a cure.
"For without victory there is no survival." - We fight because we have no other choice.  And we will continue to fight.  Until hope becomes a cure.  We will find a cure.

And, of course, we have the victory over a very literal terror - Osama Bin Laden was killed by US forces after almost 10 years of searching.  His terror reigned over us since September 11, 2001.  He is solely responsible for thousands and thousands of American lives lost.  He ignited a fire in the American people that day, and we vowed to be victorious over him.  Finally, we were.

"Victory at all costs" - Thousands of men and women sacrifice their lives in the armed forces in pursuit of our freedom.  Their lives and the sacrifices of those among them are the unmatchable costs of this victory.  We should all be forever grateful.
"Victory in spite of all terror" - When the deck was stacked against us, many in this country doubted our mission in the war against terror, in our mission against the enemy.  There were points where the enemy was winning, but eventually, we got our man, despite the terrors we faced along the way.
"Victory however long and hard the road may be" - It was a long road, and we still have a good deal of road ahead of us.  We will get there.  This victory is a step along that road.
"For without victory there is no survival" - That's it.  There is nothing more to say.  We will continue to be victorious against terror because there is no other option.

Winston Churchill said it best.

Hello, Old Friend.

It's been looooong while, little bloggy.  I'm sorry I have neglected you.

But I'm back now that the craziness of a move to a new apartment a whopping 3 miles away from the old one is over.  And, since that monopolized my last month or so, I have not much to write about.

One other thing I have squeezed into my time is a self defense class.  Yes, that's right.  I have learned how to fight off assailants by continually beating up my sister-in-law, nieces, and an honorable member of the Grapevine Police Department.

We've learned strikes, punches, kicks, stomps, scrapes, how to get out of head locks and just about any choke hold you can think of, how to ground fight, how to distract, and, most importantly, how to get away should we get ourselves into a bad situation.

Even though the first week just consisted of the officer/teacher tellings stories to scare the buh-jeez-us out of us after dark, the next weeks have been very educational, and I feel more confident in my abilities to protect myself.

Given all of that, please don't attack me right now.  I'm sleepy from the crazy month.  I'll show you what I learned some other time.

Speaking of crazy month, it continues this Friday and Saturday with the American Cancer Society Relay for Life.  That means there are still 3 days left to donate!  Do it!!!

Thanks :)

A Proud Butler Bulldog

I know, I know. This is starting to look like a blog solely for the Butler Bulldog men's basketball team.  I don't care.  This was a big year, and I am proud.  I am so proud that I will voice my pride in any way I can, including this blog.

Besides, after a game like last night, how can you not write something about it??

But that something I'm going to write isn't going to be about the specifics of the game that everyone is talking about.  Not because that isn't important - It is.

BUT there is something much more important in all of this Butler championship game stuff than just not coming out on top in the end.

Butler has always been that team that nobody thought could do anything.  We are the underdogs, the Cinderella, the tiny little school from Indiana with no hope of making any noticeable run in the tournament.  

In the last 8 years, we have proven all of the nay-sayers wrong.  Everyone who ever doubted Butler as a force was wrong.  With consistent spots in the tournament, including shots at the national title in the last two years, we are anything but an underdog.

The team that nobody thought had a chance, made a chance for themselves.  They made it all the way to the national championship TWO YEARS IN A ROW.  I, for one, have never been prouder to be a Butler Bulldog.

What they have done is proven that it's not the size or the big names that take you far in this world.  It's your heart, your determination, and your drive.  And at the end of the day, what is important is the people around you and your integrity.  It's not the size of the [Butler Bull]dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the [Butler Bull]dog.

We may not have won the last game, but this little private school from Indiana wreaked havoc on brackets all over the country for two consecutive years.  That is a major accomplishment.

And who knows...maybe the third times the charm.  Here's to next year!

GO BUTLER!!!

Cinderella? Underdog? How about BULLDOGS?!?!

I don't think I have ever, and I mean E.V.E.R., been so incredibly proud to be a Butler Bulldog.


Seriously.


I thought I was going to explode this time last year when they made it to the championship.  This year, the feeling doesn't even compare.

{TWICE}

They've made it to the national championship two years in a row!

If there was any way for me to make it to Houston, sadly enough, only a short drive down I-45, you can bet your bottom dollar I'd be there in a heartbeat.  However, since I didn't hit the Power Ball last week, I can't make it.  *sad face*

Instead, I apologize in advance to my neighbors for the yelling and screaming that will come from my apartment on Monday evening, beginning promptly at 8:15PM CST.

Don't worry.  I've been sure to let all of Texas know what the Butler way is about, who Butler is, who WE are.

Technology Isn't Always My Friend.

I've struggled with anything technological constantly the last few weeks.

{My faithful blackberry for work died a slow and painful death.}

The poor thing just kept ringing but couldn't manage to allow me to answer the call.  You know how when someone gets into a car accident and the horn sometimes keeps continually beeping even after the horn isn't depressed anymore?

Yeah, it was kinda like that.

The pitiful little thing got his retirement.  The only acceptable replacement - a new phone with a duck quacking ringtone.

{I almost missed my movie night out.}

Groupon:  GREAT deal!
Fandango:  eh, kinda confusing...if you don't read the date before you hit submit.

I got an amazing deal on two movie tickets to see Matthew McConaughey movie (completely had to google his last name to know how to spell it).  I had to purchase the tickets online to get the deal, but I bought them for tonight instead of tomorrow.

Ok, ok, this one may not be due to technological difficulties all together, but Fandango should have an option to adjust the date for which you are purchasing the tickets in a very obvious place.  If I can't find it, it's not obvious enough.

Thank goodness for helpful Jeff and Patrick at the theater, ready and willing to help repair my technological and 2nd grade reading blunders.

{Relay for Life website tried to deny me of my team!}

Per the last post, I had some major malfunctions with this website.  Then I had yet more issues with the customer support hotline.  Oh yeah, then I had some more problems with the local Relay office in Dallas.

I just wanna collect some money for one big birthday party!

But, you know what they say:  The 14th time is the charm.  And that it was in this case as well.  Finally, after speaking with an uber-helpful assistant to the actual person I was told I had to talk to this whole time, all issues are solved, and we are now one big ol' money-raising, relay-walking, cancer-fighting machine!

[Enter shameless plug for Relay for Life support/donations here.] 

And if you don't know what one of those shameless, Relay for Life support pleas looks like here's one now:  Please, please,  pretty pretty please donate to this amazing cause to save so many lives!  As my niece so eloquently stated, you never know...it could be YOU that they are trying to find a cure for in the future (although we really hope that isn't the case!).

So, now that you know what the plea looks like, go donate people!!

Click HERE to donate now!

Did You See That Butler Game?!?!

So?  Did you?

That game was CRAZY - with a CAPITAL C.  Well, and capital R-A-Z-Y, too, for that matter.  But it is exactly the reason I am so proud to be a Bulldog, especially in March!

They always keep me on my toes when watching a game and never give me a chance to stop jumping around, screaming at the TV.  I love it and hate it all at the same time, but I wouldn't miss it for the world - unless, of course, I have to work.

One of my favorite parts is watching a game with someone who isn't necessarily a Butler fan and doesn't understand "The Butler Way."  It's just an entirely different way of playing basketball, and of carrying yourself or living your life.

The Butler Way focuses on team playing, or the group over the individual.  It "demands commitment, denies selfishness, and accepts reality, yet seeks constant improvement."  The entire college commits itself to The Butler Way and teaches the students to live this way as well.  It creates an environment of cohesiveness and a sense of family.

In basketball, it also creates a calm confidence.  It results in a slower-paced game, which throws off the opponent who is constantly trying to run down the court.  Another major difference that is very visible during a game is Coach Stevens' attitude.  While the other coaches are running up and down the sidelines, stomping their feet like a child and screaming at their players, Brad Stevens stands calmly on the sidelines, signaling plays.  He doesn't scold the players as they come off the court.  Instead, he pats them on the back and gives a few encouraging words or some constructive criticism.  I love to point out when the other coach is winded and red-faced, Stevens is calm, cool, and collected, watching Butler win a game.

The Butler Way makes all the difference.  They may not have the perfect record or the top stats in the largest conference, but they play the right way.  And they are a pretty darned good team at the end of the day, with a fairly decent record.  Oh, and there's that little thing about a spot in the SWEET SIXTEEN!

GO BUTLER! 

Celebrating Birthdays.

For close to 10 years now, I've participated in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, and loved every second of it.  The cause is near and dear to my heart, having family members who struggled or were lost to cancer, even as recent as a couple months ago.

The ACS slogan this year is "Celebrating More Birthdays," and it's perfect in my eyes.  With any luck, the money raised at events like this could very well give many, many cancer patients more birthdays.

I want to help give people more birthdays.  

So, here's the scoop, and I hope it inspires you to give people more birthdays as well.

Relay for Life is an amazing event, based on continuous movement on a track of some sort for 12-36 hours by teams, raising money for cancer research.  The concept is that you create or join a team, and at least one person from each team is walking on the track for every second of the event.  Cancer patients never get a break from their diagnosis, so there are no breaks in the walking.

The night begins with an amazing survivor lap, which features cancer survivors, and ultimately, their care-givers as well, walking one lap around the track to kick off the event.  Also featured are contests, fund raisers, live music, and lots and lots of walking and running.

Throughout the evening, you can purchase luminary bags to decorate in memory or honor of someone who has lost their struggle with or is currently battling cancer.  After dark, the track is lined by the bags with a candle in each one, and the lights are turned off.  What you are left with is one extremely emotional experience.  You can physically see the effect of cancer on each person present, as these luminaria represent a person that each person there knows personally.  It is by far my absolute favorite part of the entire event, and I look forward to it each year.

Here are a couple pictures of the bags to give an idea of just how special these are:

{photo cred:  Tory Warner}

I have always been lucky enough to have people that support my passion for this event, and join a team with me.  Last year, we began a company/family (since they are basically one in the same at our company) team.  It was such a great night that we have decided to do it again.

However, I've run into some technical difficulties with the website.  I'm working with the wonderful people at the American Cancer Society to get to the bottom of the issues and will *hopefully* have it resolved tomorrow.

Sooooo...that means for all you fantastic people wanting to join our team, Metro Mobile Electronics & Friends, or donate to this life-changing cause, please please please (yes, I threw out the triple-please - I'm not ashamed to beg for cancer research) let me know.  I will be more than ecstatic to take your money for this organization and I'd be even happier for you to join us on April 29th and 30th!!!

I will have instructions for whoever is interested in signing up {fingers crossed} tomorrow afternoon!  Hope to hear from you!

A Goal is Made.

Confession:  I am an arts & crafts nut.  

Yeah, yeah, stop snickering.  Not those popsicle-stick, finger-painting, paste-eating kind of arts & crafts, not that there is anything wrong with that, if you're a paste-eating kind of person....  

I like to think my arts & crafts are a bit more mature and sophisticated.

I love almost all of it - sewing, needle point, crocheting, quilting, scrap booking, drawing, cake decorating...I'll try most of it at least once.  And if I like it, well, then it's all downhill from there.

The only issue I seem to have is that I really do love it all.  My ambitions are much too high.  

Wait...is that possible?  No - no, I don't think it is.  Let me rephrase:  My list of ambitions is much larger than my time and money allotted to devote to these projects.  The way it usually works is that I see something I want to try, I acquire the necessary materials, I start the project, and before it's half done, I've found another project to try as well.  

What happens to the first project, you ask?  It mostly stays right where I leave it - half completed.  

Today, in this somewhat public forum {only in the sense that some people may read it}, I am dedicating myself to finishing the projects I begin and not starting another until the first is completed entirely.  

Shouldn't be too hard, right?  Wrong.  Just look at this list I've got going already...

1) Finish quilting the secret project I'm making for my Grandma.  After all, she gave me a TON of fabric and quilting patterns.  The very least I can do is make her something with those supplies, right?  Right.

2)  Finish the crocheted baby/toddler blanket for little miss Lily.  For some additional insight into my problem, this began as a baby blanket, but I've had to adjust the title since the project has continued past the baby stage and it's recipient is now a toddler.

3)  Make a sun dress.  I have this horrible past time of looking for crafty ideas online or on TV shows, which just makes my list longer.  This one is an adorable and very simple idea that I just can't pass up.  

4)  Fully decorate a cake, using the cake decorating tip set I just found while cleaning out a closet.  Another confession:  I just added this one to the list this afternoon.  

5)  Make a wire hanging basket chandelier.  Yeah...found this one today, too.  I have a serious problem.

This is gonna be a long process :)  Wish me luck!

To Protect and Serve

If you know me, you also know that most of my family are or have been involved in some sort of law enforcement in their lives.  This means two things:

1) I am not likely to be chosen to serve on a jury ever in my life.
2) I will always defend police officers who are honestly and honorably doing their jobs to protect the community.

While reason number one is very convenient, reason number two is the point of this post.

I heard a story on the radio this morning about a Fort Worth police officer that is in the hospital now after what began as a routine traffic stop.  Isn't that always how the really bad stories begin?


It was just a normal, boring, routine traffic stop.  Then something went wrong.


This one went wrong when the man he had stopped decided he had something to hide from the officer, with his three children, ages 7-11, in the back seat.  The man tried to flee, and when the cop tried to stop him, he rolled the police officer's arm up in his window.  This trapped the officer, who was then dragged along the side of the vehicle for blocks.  He was being pulled under the car.

Let me pause at this point to visit the options the police officer had.  First, he could be pulled under the car, run over, and never get to see his family again, while this degenerate continued to roam the streets after putting his children through this horrible car ride.  Or, his second option would be to do something to end the not-so-joyful-ride and save his own life so he is able to return home to his family.

It's a no brainer to me.

The cop then decided to take action to end the scene.  He was able to reach his handgun and shot the suspect in the head, killing him instantly.  Unfortunately, the man's three children were in the back seat of the car when this all took place.

[Warning: This post is going to become very opinionated.  If you can't figure it out yet, refer back to reason number two at the top to give you an idea of what is to follow.]

Now, the media and community are hounding the police officer, people are going to the hospital where he was admitted for his injuries to make threats against his life for killing their friend, and they are not even releasing the officer's identity in fear for his safety.

This is unbelievable to me.

The man was a criminal, with a wrap sheet a mile long.  If the officer had allowed that to continue, he would have been pulled under the car and killed.  He wouldn't have gone home to his family ever again.  He was doing his job as an officer of the law by trying to apprehend a criminal and his life was in danger.  He had no other choice but to use deadly force.  This man was not going to stop any other way. The choice was simple:  stop the car or die.

Yes, it is extremely horrible that his children were in the seat and had to witness what happened.  But here is the kicker:  THEIR FATHER PUT THEM IN THE CAR IN THE FIRST PLACE.  He exposed them to what they saw.  They watched their father drag another human being with their car.  He made the choice to flee from the officer.  He made the choice to close the officer's arm in the window.  Ultimately, he chose his fate.  He had any number of opportunities in this situation, as he did through his entire delinquent past, to make choices that would have not led to legal trouble or his own death.

Bottom line, this police officer does not deserve to come under fire.  He did his job.  In doing so, he put his life on the line.  Unfortunately, he was forced to use lethal force against someone else to save his own life, the lives of innocent bystanders, and even that man's own children.

I cannot tell you how many times my father told me that he never wanted to discharge his weapon while on duty.  I can guarantee that this police officer felt the same way.  But it's part of the job.  When it comes down to protecting the community and yourself so you can go home to your own family, it cannot be avoided at times.

This officer had to choose to end someone else's life to save many others, including his own.

I'll get off my soap box soon, but before I do, remember that police officers might be there to write tickets or take you to jail when you've done something wrong, but they are also those who lay down their lives daily to protect you when something goes wrong.  Their families never know if they are going to make it home the next morning because they are out protecting the lives of others.  They are making a sacrifice to keep you and others safe every single day.  Don't forget that.

A Fond Memory

I think my college experience was a bit different than most other people's.  While most college experiences are about the classes you take and fun you have with friends from campus, I found my fun in another way. Don't get me wrong; I met some amazing people at school, and still cherish their friendships to this day.  There is just one experience that has always stood out for me.

When I was in my second year of college, I moved into an apartment building on campus that required anyone living on my floor to complete a certain number of volunteer hours.  Through a little research, and what I consider to be a whole ton of luck, I found a spot at Strides to Success.  It is a non-profit organization in a small town west of Indianapolis that offers equine-assisted learning and therapy for special needs adults and children.  They use horses to teach lessons and help people cope with issues in their lives.

In my mind, it was just as therapeutic for me as it was for the clients.  In fact, I feel a bit selfish for the amount I benefitted from my time there.  From the first day I stepped on the facility, I was hooked.  It started as a visit two times a week.  Then it progressed until I was there every chance I got, even for entire days at some points.  Every person I met there - client, employee, or other volunteer - was beyond fantastic, and I consider myself lucky to have been allowed to spend with them what little time I was able.

This facility had a central theme of continuity and consistency for their clients.  Because of this, and luckily for me, I was able to work with the same clients through my three years there.  I was able to continue with the same clients and see them grow in their learnings.  Each one of them touched my heart, and I honestly will never forget any one of them.

Some people may question the actual effects of equine-assisted learning, but I will be the first to tell them, it works.

It works well.

As an example, one autistic student I worked with over three years would not speak to anyone except his parents.  Over his years at Strides, he began slight verbal communication with his teacher.  When I started as his volunteer, he wouldn't even look at me.  When I said good morning to him, he would run to the nearest corner and cover his face.  Through the years I worked with him, we worked past that.  He shook my hand.  He laughed with me.  He smiled at me.  But he NEVER spoke.

Then, on one of my last days at Strides, when I was obviously struggling with the fact that I wouldn't be working with him any longer, he spoke to me.

It wasn't much; just a word or two, and I really don't even remember what those words were, but he spoke actual words to me.

Trust me, it is just as amazing an experience as it sounds.  And that was all I could ever need.  Just recalling it makes me want to find another equine-assisted learning volunteer opportunity in this area.

Someday, I will.  Maybe even tomorrow :)

Not Everyone Gets a Three-Day Weekend.

Since when is President's Day anything besides a make-up day when you have too many snow days in a school year?  I'm pretty sure nobody had President's Day off last year.  This must have something to do with Obama.

Anyway, because not all of us get 3-day weekends, I had a wonderfully normal weekend spent having a TON of fun with Jon and friends at a Toby Keith concert and PBR event!

If you're thinking to yourself, "Another PBR post?"...you would be correct.  This event deserves a post all its own because it's going in the books as one of the most exciting events I've been to thus far.

To start, it was in the Cowboys Stadium, which, despite whatever criticisms you have about Jerry Jones, his money, his power, and his use of said power and said money, that stadium is amazing.

After a late start due to time spent waiting on a MAN, and some confusion about parking, we fought our way to the entrance about 15 minutes after Toby had started singing.  In all actuality, he was probably just taking shots those first 15 minutes because he wasn't sounding his finest last night.

How he sounded didn't really matter to us since we had plenty of entertainment from the people sitting around us.  There was an adorable little baby boy trying to steal Jon's Miller Lite and hamming it up to everyone surrounding him.  Then of course, there was the large, older man seated in front of us and decked out in full-on cowboy gear, breaking it down to every song they played, even the music they played later during the PBR, including Justin Beiber's greatest hits.  Why they felt that PBR fans would catch Beiber-fever, I will never understand.

Of course, the highlight for me was the bull riding.

Duh.

This event was set up as a bracket system, pairing riders against each other to advance further in the competition, ultimately vying for $50,000.  In the last few match-ups, it came down to the home-town favorite, who is not normally the winning type, versus the golden child of Brazilian bull riders, who is not normally the losing type.  They both bucked off, and it seemed that the Brazilian had taken it.  But in a last second challenge and slow-motion review, the Fort Worth boy pulled it off by just a few hundredths of a second.  Every person was standing and cheering him on through the final rides, making the atmosphere great.  He went on to finish it off with a $50,000 check under his arm as he walked out of the arena in his home town.

All in all, it was a great night spent with amazing company :)

Thanks for going with us, guys!

It's a Small World....Even in Texas.

Texas is a huge state.

Gigantic.  Massive.  Amazingly large.  A whole-ton-of-people-everywhere kind of big.

So, is anyone able to explain to me how, of all the cars in this really big state, I ended up behind a car from Ohio this morning?


A buckeye.

It's like they are drawn to me.  I leave the tri-state area in Indiana, thinking I'd never have to deal with buckeye drivers again, and it seems that Texas has this little surprise up its sleeve for me.  Darn you, Texas and Ohio, teaming up to mess up my morning commute.

At first, I made myself think that maybe, just maybe, someone was looking down on me at that exact moment and the buckeye wouldn't fall into the same pattern of poor driving skills shared by every other holder of an Ohio driver's license.  But, no.  The universe couldn't be that kind.  So, of course, this guy had no idea how to operate a motor vehicle and drove just like all other buckeyes that I've had the displeasure of driving behind.  Besides, if this buckeye could actually drive decently, there would be an obvious imbalance in the universe.

Shocker - they also had a vanity plate.  Yes, that's right, just like .EVERY. .SINGLE. .OTHER. buckeye in the world.

I know what you're thinking.  "Lani, stop being so stereotypical.  I'm sure not every buckeye drives like that."  But you know what, I can stereotype if I want, for two reasons.

1)  Stereotyping is just recognizing patterns.  I have a degree in Sociology and spent 4 years learning how to recognize these patterns.  You say stereotypes, I say patterns.  Tomato [toe-may-toe], tomato [toe-mah-toe].

2)  This is my blog, and I can say (write) whatever I want.  So, there.  Justified.

However, I do recognize this may upset some people from Ohio.  Just to be nice, I'm sorry if you are from Ohio and this offends you.  All the same, though, this is my blog, so I win :)

On the same note, for all you buckeyes still reading this, take this as a friendly reminder - look at the front of your car the next time you walk past it.  Is there a vanity plate there?  Yes?  Keep reading....

GET RID OF IT.

It's not cool.  Especially when everyone else in your state has one too.  I'm just trying to help you out.

Oh, and in case anyone was wondering, I did make it to work on time.  I guess someone was actually looking out for me.

P.S.  I love you, my friends in Ohio :)

Turn the Radio Up!

Today was a gorgeous day in North Texas!  What goes better with gorgeous weather than driving with windows down and the radio up?

Nothing.  That's what.

Of course, I have a few tried-and-true favorite songs that are on some sort of good-weather radio speed-dial in my car.  It's like my brain automatically tells my hand to skip all the other songs and go directly to the best ones.  Coincidentally, they are all country songs, which makes me think that I relate driving with loud music to the Indiana country roads.

So here you have it - my pretty day driving play list.

1)  How Forever Feels - Kenny Chesney.

2)  Jackson - Johnny Cash.

3) Blue, Clear Sky - George Strait.

4) What Kinda Gone - Chris Cagle.

5)  Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not - Thompson Square.

6) Groovy Little Summer Song - James Otto.

7) Rumor Has It - Clay Walker.

8) Calling Baton Rouge - Garth Brooks.

9) No Reins - Rascal Flatts

10) Favorite State of Mind - Josh Gracin.

These are some of my all-time favorite songs that can either make a bad day not so bad or make a good day even better!

Listen and enjoy!! :)

"Uhh, Excuse Me...Can I Touch Your Arm?"

Some people love football.  Some people love shopping.  Some people love painting.

I love to watch bull riding.

Go ahead - laugh all you want.  It won't be the first time I've been laughed at for it.  It won't be the last time I'll be laughed at for it.  And I definitely won't love it any less.

I'm utterly obsessed. 


:)

For years, I have watched Professional Bull Riding (PBR) on TV and travelled thousands of miles all over the country to watch it live.

In Tulsa, which happened to be a trip for my 21st birthday, we got to meet the riders.  That's right - cowboys.  And lots of them.  We were as excited as....well, as excited as cowboy-loving 21-year-old girls getting ready to meet a bunch of bull-riding cowboys.  In fact, the title of this post is a true-life-not-even-kidding-you quote from my best friend, Ashley, to her favorite bull rider.  We have no shame.  We even had the stereotypical cheesy [read: awesome!!!] shirts that we hand-made to bring with us to the meet and greet for each of the riders to sign. 

{Yes, it is framed in my closet.  Don't judge.  At least it's not hanging in my living room.}


This year, thanks to the BEST SISTER EVER, I get to go to the event in the Cowboys Stadium!!!  I am beyond excited, as if you were not able to tell by my use of underlining, bold print, capital letters, and exclamation points.


So here is your challenge:  I dare you....no, wait.  I triple dog dare you (yes, I went there) to turn your TV to a PBR event, and try to not enjoy yourself.  I don't think it's possible.


A bunch of cowboys (in cowboy hats, no less) riding 1500 pounds of crazy, bucking, twisting, fiery-eyed beast for eight terrorizing seconds - who wouldn't love this sport??

Gosh, I Feel Old...

My little, baby brother is turning 20 tomorrow.

TWENTY.  

He is no longer a teenager.

Honestly, I find it hard to comprehend that he is (for only a few more hours) a teenager, let alone is becoming (in only a few hours) a non-teenager.

I'd say adult, but I guess that's really when you turn 18, unless you want to be specific and say that you have a be a legal adult at 21 to be considered a true ADULT.

Anyway, back to the point.

This boggles my mind.  I still think of him as this:

{Sorry, Ad-man.  I just had to.}

He was always this annoying little boy that I could trick into trading me a dime for a nickel.  Not only is he too smart for that now, but he is almost as smart as I am!  I know, I know, that's hard to do.  Side note:  He learned how to be modest from me as well.  I digress again.

Anyway, he is growing up.   **TEAR**

But, you know, that is okay by me.  He is so much funnier today than he was above.  Unless, of course, you include laughing at his wardrobe in that picture :)  Really, though, he is hilarious now.  Just to give you an idea, one day I got this text from him:  "Lani, I just saw a midget with a weed-whacker, and now I can't stop laughing.  If you are going to say this is mean, go find a midget, give him a weed-whacker, and try not to laugh."  See what I mean, folks?  Hysterical.

[Insert all of the politically-correct objections to this joke]  

I don't care.  This is hilarious.

So, Ad, this post is for you, mostly because I didn't get you a birthday present this year.  Before you say anything, you remember, I got you a real life giraffe for Christmas.  That counts as three gifts at least.

My point, in all of this genius rambling, is to wish my precious baby brother a very happy birthday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ADAM!!!  

Love you, bud.

Monday Night Guilty Pleasure

I'll admit it.

I watch the Bachelor.

I'm not one of those people that has watched the show from Season 1 and can recite the names of each bachelor and their picks at the end of each season, or one of those people that watches just to see if the bachelor will pick the girl I think he should.  I have my own reasons...

Well, most generally, I watch to laugh hysterically at these people.  What do these girls expect?  They put 25 women, or however many they start with, in one house, all fighting for one man.  Amazing entertainment value?  Of course.  How these women think this will be a fun few months, I will never understand.  I don't think I could live with that many girls in a single house on a normal day, so how these women deal when they are all competing for what the bachelor totes as his sincere love is beyond my normal understanding.  And what is this man thinking?  I couldn't name 3 straight men in the world that would volunteer to spend months with a house full of overly-emotional, conniving, vengeful women.  These producers must be paying each bachelor a hefty sum.

The drama of it all is so entertaining.  I mean, c'mon, is there a need for each of them to bawl hysterically in the limo ride away from the mansion?  You got eliminated on the first night.  You didn't make a fake connection with a guy on a reality TV show.  There really is nothing to cry about.  You probably weren't even there long enough to lose your job like the other girls that did make it past the first rose ceremony.

They have so many issues in the dimension of the show, it makes me feel better about myself.  They spend months criticizing every move of each of the other girls in the mansion.  That one doesn't straighten her hair enough, so he couldn't possibly care about her.  That one wears tops that are too flashy, so he couldn't want to marry her.  That one has a huge nose, so there is no way he would pick her.  It reminds me how lucky I am to not have to deal with that all day long and makes me realize that their lives are just riddled with issues and problems throughout their stay on the show.  If I had to deal with that, I'd be happy to jump in that limo and drive away.

Dealing with those girls for that long would be tough, but if you'd seen any seasons previously, at least you'd know what you were getting into.  They put the same type of girl on each season.  There is always the sweet, girl-next-door type who seems to glide through every elimination ceremony.  She's almost guaranteed to make it to one of the last few weeks.  Then there is the bad girl that the bachelor seems to keep for a good long while, either because he is fulfilling every man's fantasy of the edgy girlfriend or because the producers make him keep her for ratings boosts.  They always include the weirdo or freak.  She lasts for a little while, mostly because she's just too weird/interesting for him to let her go that quickly.  Then, there is the mean girl.  This is the girl that seems to despise every other girl in the house, not just for the competition-sake, but seems to have just a solid, deep hatred.  Really, it's not like these girls are going in blindly every season.  I mean, honestly, who hasn't heard of the bachelor enough to know these patterns exist?  Have they been living under a rock?

So, there you have it - my justification for watching this trashy reality TV that brings in millions of viewers every week.  I wouldn't cry like those girls in the limo if I missed it, but hey, it is my Monday night guilty pleasure.

Movies, Movies, and More Movies!

There are few things more relaxing than a movie-marathon weekend with good company :)  Good movies make it even better, which was what my marathon was filled with this time around.  Variety is the key - a few classics, comedy, drama, classic comedies...you get the point.  Here's how it went:

1) Men In Black - I hadn't seen this movie in so long that I had forgotten how awesome it is.  If you haven't seen this, you need to close this browser window, go to the nearest Red Box or Blockbuster and rent it ASAP.  If you have seen it, and you don't like it, you should be evaluated ASAP.

Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones fighting aliens.  Does it get any more entertaining?  Well, since you asked....

2)  Men In Black II - It does get more entertaining!  Entertainment Part Dos!

How do they follow up a masterpiece such as the first MIB?  You'll have to watch the whole movie (which you should absolutely do, if you haven't already) for the whole story, but here's a bit of a teaser for you.  The world is going to be destroyed by an evil alien, and the only person that can save it is Tommy Lee Jones.  But wait...dun dun dun...his memory was erased in the first movie!  What ever will happen to the Earth now?  Don't worry - they are the MIB.  Of course they will find an answer.

3)  Turner & Hooch - I had only ever seen bits and pieces of this movie, but to finally see them all together and in order was great.

It reminds me of what a great actor Tom Hanks is, and made me realize that he hasn't made anything new in a long time.  Also, this dog was awesome!

4) Billy Madison - Yet another classic.  This one doesn't even need explanation, but it goes in my books as one of Adam Sandler's finest pieces of work to date.

How could anyone not love a movie about a degenerate son of a hotel mogul going back to school to prove to his father that he isn't an immature failure in order to take over the family business?

5)  50 First Dates - The first Adam Sandler movie of the marathon was such a hit, we had to follow up with another A.S. favorite.

This movie makes me want to move to, well, at least visit, Hawaii.  Seriously.  I had to price trips while we were watching it.  Let the saving commence!  Anyway, back to the movie.  The classic Adam Sandler crew are in full force in this one - Rob Schneider, Allen Covert, Blake Clark, Peter Dane.  I did have to look up those names, since I only knew them by their roles in other A.S. movies.  However you identify them, if you add them all up, they make a great movie.

6) Four Brothers - Another movie I had never seen from start to finish, but now that I have, I LOVE IT!

You gotta love a shoot 'em up movie fueled by sons seeking revenge for their adoptive mother's murder, starring Mark Wahlberg. They turn on each other, turn on everyone around them, just to find the truth and avenge their mother's murder.

7)  Good Luck Chuck - Dane Cook makes movies, so it has to be funny.

Side note - how cool would it be to take care of penguins all day long??  I'm not sure how many more funny movies Dane Cook will have left in his repertoire, but his humor definitely made it into this one.

Finally, one last thing that we saw in between movies was the Troy Aikman "southern hospitality" Super Bowl commercial.  All of you DFW-ers know what I'm talking about, but for those of you who aren't in this area, this is a commercial specially designed the Super Bowl.  It features Troy Aikman telling all of us living here to be nice and respectful to the visitors and guests in town for the Super Bowl.  Of course, that will happen, Troy.

TGIF!

TGIF.  For real.

This week, Tuesday felt like Friday, then Thursday felt like Tuesday, so today when I woke up and it felt like Friday, I was doing well.  Confusing, I know.  This is my life.  

To celebrate the week, here are a few things I was reminded that I love through the week:

1)  Cooking.  I have come to love cooking.  I like throwing things together and seeing how my thoughts play out in a pan.  I haven't had too many horrible failures, but a few things were a bit questionable.  Poor Jon is the guinea pig most of the time, but he is a trooper.  This week's adventure was a beef stew made with top sirloin, fingerling potatoes, carrots, onions, tomato paste, red wine (yes, I cooked with wine.  FANCY!), and stock.  It was YUMMY, if i do say so myself.  And I do.

2)  Progressive insurance.  I've said it before, and I'll say it again - I LOVE my insurance company.  Love and insurance are two words that are rarely in the same sentence, but this is the exception.  My rates have dropped every year since I've been with them.  Every time I call for a question or issue, I get to speak with someone in the US who speaks very clear, understandable English.  They are extremely helpful every time I call.  They never try to trick me or overcharge me for something, not even when I had a claim.  Repairing hail damage was leaps and bounds easier than I expected.  I could make my own commercial for them.  Oh!  Idea :)

3) 70 degree weather in January.  Another rarity.  Unless you're in North Texas - gorgeous weather today.  You know what that means, folks - sunroof open, windows down, and music up.  The only downfall, it'll be 20 degrees in a few days.  For now, I'm enjoying the break from the cold.  Bring on the spring-time weather!

4) Last, but certainly not least, writing.  Little blog, meet the world.  World, meet my little blog.  This week, I introduced this blog to the world.  Up until now, this has been entertainment only for me.  It's been my way to begin writing again.  I've always loved writing, but had no reason to do it since college. This week, I was ecstatic that people would even read this if not forced, let alone that they would enjoy it.  So, thank you, to all of you for reading and letting me know that this whole project has been worthwhile :)  You've all made my week!  

Happy Friday, all!  Enjoy the weekend!

Crunching Numbers

Newflash!  The Super Bowl is gonna be in Arlington, TX this year.

Of course, the local news here is inundated with news about the big game.  It's a constant barrage of numbers, and it is mind-boggling to see how much money is being spent.  I'd take even 2% of what they have spent on this crazy game.

Just to give you an idea, here are some of the figures they have thrown out there.  A seat at the game, if there were any left for the average Joe Blow to purchase, would run you a minimum of THOUSANDS of dollars.  One room at a Motel 8, 1/4 mile down the road from the Cowboys Stadium, for the night of the Super Bowl is going for the completely reasonable <sarcasm> price of $699.00.  Oh, and this concert that the artist formerly known as Price (fah-reak) is putting on prior to the game, if you want a table of 6, it'll run you about $25,000.  I understand this is the Super Bowl, but c'mon people.   That is CRAZY.

The city of Arlington is constructing multiple new buildings and parking lots (yes, pouring concrete) for the big event and to host different companies and ESPN groups.  The restaurants around the area are creating enclosed plastic, climate-controlled tents for their diners, which will include celebrities and athletes.  Why, you ask?  Oh, just so they can control the temperature for their used-to-be outdoor areas since the North Texas area could be 70 degrees and sunny or 25 degrees and snowing at that particular time of the year.  These people must have all been boy scouts because they are prepared for anything.

There was one little money-making venture that I missed out on, basically because I am too chicken to try it.  Many people are renting out their apartments and homes to people coming into town for the game.  Rich I would be, unless said renters destroyed my place and I had to spend all the money I made off of them to repair the damages.  So, I'll err on the side of caution this time and pass on the business venture.

Needless to say, as much fun as I think it would be to see all of the goings-on in downtown Fort Worth that weekend, I'll be avoiding that area like the plague since the traffic will be even more horrific than it is on a normal weekend.

Good thing I live 30 minutes away from the stadium!  While all the crazies dump their spending money into the DFW economy, I'll be sitting in my quiet home watching all the commercials!

My Tribute to an Extraordinary Man...

I was recently reminded that the little things that I am so fond of often-times add up to much larger things.

On January 19, 2011, I lost one of the most important men in my life - my grandfather.  I've thought for many days about what I would write in this post.  I'm still not quite sure what will end up in this text, but I know whatever it is, it will be fitting.  However, it will never do justice to this amazing man's life.  Mere words cannot express the influence he has had on me and the person that I hope to become.  In fact, I'm sure that I have not even realized the full extent of his impact on me.

I keep trying to pinpoint one profound life lesson that he left with me, but I know there isn't just one.  So many little things took on such larger meanings simply because I associated them with him.  I am bored to death by golf, but I would play a golf computer game with him for hours.  I never had a desire to play an instrument before, but loved playing the keyboard with him.  I could never do crossword puzzles by myself, but I sat in Denny's with him for hours completing them.  He made all of those mediocre interests extraordinary in my mind.

When we knew he was fatally ill, my mom and I drove across the country to see him one last time.  It's funny, really, that you always have these ideas of what you would say to someone that is dying if you had just one more chance to talk to them.  But when you actually get that chance, and you are standing in front of them, knowing that you'll never get the chance to see them again, all those thoughts escape you.  I could have told him how much he means to me, or how much I would miss him, or how I made all of the decisions I have in my entire life based on if he would be proud of me and the person I was becoming.  Instead, we talked about Butler basketball, my cousin's dream car, and vanilla ice cream.  I think that was okay though.  In those last visits with him, we didn't focus on the finality of why I drove 24 hours one way to sit next to him in a nursing home, feeding him O'Doull's non-alcoholic beer, which he loved by the way.  In fact, after the first drink I gave him, he said, "That's the best drink I've ever had....my first O'Doull's fed to me by my granddaughter."  Instead, we focused on the little things - the things that I will cherish the most from my time spent with him.  I did definitely get one thing right, though - I told him how much I love him.

After seeing my grandpa for the last time, kissing his forehead while he slept peacefully, and telling him one more time how much I love him, I said goodbye to him for the last time.  Even though he was sleeping soundly, I think he knew I was there and that we were leaving.  I was a bit uneasy about that.  Although I was glad that my last look at him was one of peace and serenity, part of me really wanted to talk to him just one more time, just to make sure he was okay.  On the long drive home, somewhere in the middle of Texas, I got my sign - I saw my first shooting star, ever, in 24 years of life.  While I'm not one to make strange connections with signs, I knew that was meant for me to see, to tell me he was okay.  Later that day, just as we returned safely home, we got the call that he had passed away.

I'm not sure that it has completely sunk in that he is gone, but I am reminded of and by little things.  I found myself reaching for the phone today to call him, but realized a few seconds later that he wouldn't be on the other end of the line anymore.  He isn't here physically anymore, but he will always be with me.  In every golf game.  In every note of keyboard music.  In every crossword puzzle.  In every decision I make.  In my heart and mind forever.

I love you, Grandpa. I miss you more every single day.  Rest in peace.