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 :)