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.