Thanks to Linda (my coworker) giving me three happy meal toys and my boss giving me this useless but endearing set of highlighters (blue, pink and yellow) from a conference, this is what the back of my computer looks like. I have one of those all in one Dell desktops with, I might add, a fancy new motherboard (I'm a PC ;) ). I think it looks so much better decorated with these happy toys. Who wouldn't give a little chuckle when looking at the "hair" on my highlighters blowing in the wind?
Someone said the statement that I have chosen for my blog title to me yesterday, "I should know, I've written a book." Yes...haven't we all written a book on something? And if not, well we COULD write a book on something. I could write an entire book on people that make statements like this one. Then we could have more jobs because we'd have to open more bookstores. Perhaps people would also learn proper grammar and sentence structure. See, this statement could solve all the worlds problems. Next time someone from the press asks Pres. Obama a question, "I should know, I've written a book," should be his answer. He could even make that statement plural (books, or memoirs).
I could have written a book in the time between now and my last post, but I didn't. Yes, we have had Christian holidays, pagan holidays, American holidays, an inauguration, parties (one in particular where memories are a bit fuzzy ;)), and funerals in between my last post and today. Aaaggh, big deal. Life goes on and more books are written; some good, most bad.
Good morning from the FGCU library 3rd floor! I am up here bright and early to finish a paper and do some data work for a project. This picture is an attempt to capture myself on my iPhone; my brother is definitely better at this.
Anyway, I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday. Mine was a blast. After seeing family for lots of food, Bruce, Will and I drove up to Tallahassee to see the Noles/Gators game, which, to say the least, was extremely disappointing. All I have to say right now is, "Roll tide, Roll!" This is going to sound very uncool (surprise, surprise), but I would love nothing more than to see Tebow tank today. Honestly, if I hear anything rhyming with Tebow right now, I think I might scream. Clearly, I'm not one of those Floridians that cheers for the "other" Florida team when their favorite team is down. Admittedly, I know almost nothing about sports and do not watch faithfully, which is why I get particularly annoyed when I hear about one team or one person for longer, it seems to me, than I've heard about this last presidency. Really; give me a break! On a more positive note, I had lots of friends, fun, food and beer.
I was able to start my blog thanks to my new laptop. I am still pinching myself everytime I use it. Bruce was so great in buying it for me and I'm making sure that I put it to good use. Thanks to mom, I've also joined an online book club. I will be starting the book, I Was Told There'd be Cake, sometime today. I am looking forward to being finished with this semester and doing some reading reading for pleasure. I also bought the book Marley and Me to read before I go see the movie. Bruce was not too excited about this book and movie, seeing as I'd love to have a Marley of my own someday and I'm not afraid to let him know. I could ask for worse, right?
I was having a bad morning at work, and my friend Linda told me that I should have listened to her pastor's message on Sunday. She said she spoke about "commanding your day". Well, I decided to Google it and this "declaration" came up. I try to steer clear of words that seem like they came from the Christianese dictionary and I think declaration gets overused by Christians a lot (just my opinion). So, to me the passage below is a statement or a notice. It is a notice in that, by saying it out loud, I can affirm these statements to myself. I have printed it out and posted it in my bathroom to see if it helps me to be more positive about my life.
I stand to command my morning and declare it is a new day. I take authority over my day in the name of Jesus. Every element of my day shall cooperate with purpose and destiny. Today is the dawning of a new day. My season of frustration and failures is over, and I walk in a season of success and prosperity. Old things have passed away; all things have become new. Today I press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Anything or anyone assigned to undermine, frustrate, hinder or hurt me, I command to be moved out of my sphere of influence in Jesus’ name. I command my day to fully cooperate with your plan and purpose for it. I decree and declare that a new day is dawning for my ministry and job or business, for my finances, for my relationships and for my health. I download success, prosperity, health, wealth, vision, direction, ingenuity, creativity, spirituality, holiness, righteousness, peace and resourcefulness from Your Spirit into my day. By this anointing, every yoke is broken off my life and is destroyed; every burden is lifted. His yoke is easy and His burden is light.
This has really helped me to refocus my thoughts and life on Jesus. It reminds me that, yes, I'm not here for my own purposes; I'm here for His will to come to pass in my life. So this lets me know and lets him know that I am going to cooporate with his plan. Also, it doesn't mean that nothing bad happens to me or that, because I said this passage, I have an advantage over everyone else. No, I gives me peace that my life is not my own and that I have someone on which I can rely. My favorite part of the passage is at the end where it says, "By this anointing, every yoke is broken off my life and is destroyed; every burden is lifted. His yoke is easy and his burden is light." That last sentence is straight from the Bible. It is so comforting to know that I am not alone and that I don't have to do it alone. Sometimes I read this several times throughout the day to remind myself not to worry. What good does worry do anyway?
On a sidenote, today is Saturday and I am going to leave my computer now to get what I like to call a jump start on my day. Here's to being superproductive!
My husband said to me the other day something along the lines of, "You're so pessimistic." And while many may view this as quite a mean comment, I have to say, it's true. I can be very negative. Many people wouldn't know this about me; I don't show my dark side to everyone. But now, with this blog, I'm totally outing myself. Now the whole world will know.
When my husband made the above comment, I had just finished telling him how we would probably never have the time or the funds to go on a vacation this year or even next. I know what you're thinking. "Why isn't he jumping to go on vacation with a person who makes statements like that? I know I would be thrilled!" Yes, it's only in hindsight that I realize how unattractive comments like these are.
In all fairness, I come off as a pessimist when really I'm just being a realist. Even my husband will admit that I have way more common sense than he does (I'm not knocking him; he's also a genius). Sometimes, I think to myself, if only he knew that my pessimistic prediction is going to come true (I know, negative). And let me say, I really am going to try to work on this.
If only I had a pessimistic friend....
And I do...Debbie Downer! Below, as a blog tribute to Debbie, I have placed a clip of one of her performances where she spreads her cheer at a birthday party. Somehow, Debbie makes me feel like I'm not really that pessimistic; even Debbie would be a total killjoy for me. So, here's to Debbie for bringing us back to a sobering reality that yes, the world really is coming to an end; it's bound to happen. ;)
So, I've been super busy with work and school and one other thing. My house is getting repaired! On Monday, Bruce and I got a new A/C unit and now the back walls of our house are getting new siding. Next week is the paint job. Then hopefully we will be finished with major repairs for many years to come. I won't go into how houses can become a pit where all your money dwells. I will just say that I am appreciating finally getting all these things done and not worrying about them anymore. Owning a home is quite an experience, and there truly is nothing like pulling in the garage and knowing that you own it (as long as you pay your mortgage, of course).
There is one thing I've been campaigning to get. A HOT TUB! Apparently, in our current economic state, when people run out of money, they sell their hot tubs. Seriously, there are probably 100 posted on Craigslist in the SWFL area alone. And a lot of them are brand new, maybe 1-2 years old! See, I have a little ongoing problem where I can't relax and I think a hot tub will do the trick. Here's to winning the lottery so I can get a hot tub with mood lighting and an iPod dock! Oooh, I just thought about filming my first rap video in my hot tub (I'll blog on that later).
To close out, just a quick reminder that Thanksgiving is next Thursday. My Thanksgiving starts this Friday with a potluck for our youth group. Unfortunately, in order to attend the youth group potluck, I am missing meeting for drinks with the Graduate Business Association at FGCU followed by Eaglepalooza where there's a mini carnival and Busta Rhymes is going to perform (whoop, whoop). Oh well, everyone has choices and sacrifices, right? Which brings this blog full circle, back to the beginning where I made important repairs on my home instead of frivolously buying a hot tub. The pilgrims also had to make sacrifices to come to America. The indians had to make sacrifices in allowing the pilgrims to come to America and helping them learn how to survive. This Thanksgiving, I want to make sure to remember once again, the sacrifices of those who have gone before me, those who are fighting for my freedom even on a holiday, and, finally, the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus made so that I didn't have to.
I've gotten hooked on Pandora radio (http://www.pandora.com/). Free radio...you should check it out. With Pandora, you pick an artist you like and Pandora will play that artist and artists with similar musical content to see if you like them. Each artist choice makes up a new station. I have at least 10 stations on my Pandora right now. Because the music is free, I am not hesitant at all to select an artist that does not fit my normal, everyday musical selections. For example, I have a Kanye West station (yes, I think I will buy his new album :) and a N.E.R.D. station ("staring in the window!"). It's amazing how quickly my musical horizons have been expanded through this wonderful program. I even have it on my iPhone and can hook up to my car speakers for listening on the road.
Recently, I decided my usual rap stations were filled with a little too much adult content for that day. So I looked up KJ-52, a Christian hip-hop artist. I was immediately loving his stuff and then GRITS came on and I got hooked on them. I say all this only to point out that, upon first glance, most people might think I play classical violin, flute or recorder...at band camp, of course. I am a Gap wearing, monochromatic, bookworm, the closest I get to rap is a Beck album, maybe I'll get her a John Mayer album for her birthday, wearing hot pink is edgy, almost the palest person I know kind of girl. Yes, pale is right. I bought some makeup at the Clinique counter and the lady gave me like 10 free samples of the palest shade of powder they have because she said she could never find anyone pale enought to wear it.
My desk at work is in an open reception area and I listen to my new music for a good portion of the day. Sometimes, I can't help it, I just have to bust out in a chant of my favorite lyric of the day. "Will you eva know, will you eva see, what he's done fa you, what he's done fa me!!!" "I'm on a love lockdown" and "all the ladies in the club say nananana". Okay, I made the last one up. I try to keep my occasional expression of self on the DL. I don't want anyone in the office to think I'm trying to quit my day job. Who am I fooling? If they started a RapStar idol, I'd definitely try out.
I am starting this blog, writing about my life in hopes that the little things can become more meaningful to me. I am always in pursuit of happiness and tend to be unsatisfied, which can be good and bad. I love to sing and play piano, it is a part of who I am. Right now my life is a big mess of busyness, but I'm learning to cope until less busy times.
I was having a bad morning at work, and my friend Linda told me that I should have listened to her pastor's message on Sunday. She said she spoke about "commanding your day". Well, I decided to Google it and this "declaration" came up. I try to steer clear of words that seem like they came from the Christianese dictionary and I think declaration gets overused by Christians a lot (just my opinion). So, to me the passage below is a statement or a notice. It is a notice in that, by saying it out loud, I can affirm these statements to myself. I have printed it out and posted it in my bathroom to see if it helps me to be more positive about my life. 
There is one thing I've been campaigning to get. A HOT TUB! Apparently, in our current economic state, when people run out of money, they sell their hot tubs. Seriously, there are probably 100 posted on Craigslist in the SWFL area alone. And a lot of them are brand new, maybe 1-2 years old! See, I have a little ongoing problem where I can't relax and I think a hot tub will do the trick. Here's to winning the lottery so I can get a hot tub with mood lighting and an iPod dock! Oooh, I just thought about filming my first rap video in my hot tub (I'll blog on that later).
To close out, just a quick reminder that Thanksgiving is next Thursday. My Thanksgiving starts this Friday with a potluck for our youth group. Unfortunately, in order to attend the youth group potluck, I am missing meeting for drinks with the Graduate Business Association at FGCU followed by Eaglepalooza where there's a mini carnival and Busta Rhymes is going to perform (whoop, whoop). Oh well, everyone has choices and sacrifices, right? Which brings this blog full circle, back to the beginning where I made important repairs on my home instead of frivolously buying a hot tub. The pilgrims also had to make sacrifices to come to America. The indians had to make sacrifices in allowing the pilgrims to come to America and helping them learn how to survive. This Thanksgiving, I want to make sure to remember once again, the sacrifices of those who have gone before me, those who are fighting for my freedom even on a holiday, and, finally, the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus made so that I didn't have to.
