christmas apathy

well, wasn't this just a christmas for the books? i was a bit of a scrooge. well, more apathetic really. below, my christmas apathy in parts:

we didn't put up a tree. my mother bought me a fake tree when i was in an apartment in college. it served me faithfully through college and 4 years of marriage. but when we moved, i was tired of packing and really couldn't fit another thing into my car. so i left our faithful tree in the hall closet with intentions of buying a new one here. glad we didn't, because we had no room for one anywhere.

we didn't put up a wreath. when we moved to small town, mom got us a cute wreath hanger and a fall wreath. i'm not much for decorating, and the pretty christmas wreaths are insanely expensive, but last year i did finally get a cute pinecone wreath for christmas. pretty sure it's sitting in our storage unit right now, along with other life items.

we didn't put up a garland. because we've never put up a garland.

we didn't put up ornaments. no tree, remember? not even a tiny one. kind of sad, because we have some cute ornaments, and when we got married, my m-i-l gave me a whole box of ornaments that belonged to the lawyer as he grew up. awwww. however, a little christmas did sneak through via my mother. (are you picking up on that theme?)

the lone ranger

we didn't put up lights. even though my house is covered in christmas lights that no longer work, if they ever did. but i promise you we're not about to climb up and down ladders unstringing them. the only thing we could have decorated is the washing machine out front that lowe's didn't haul away. i think it would have been kind of awesome. it's a good thing we do not live on street front property, because i'm pretty sure our neighbors would have sued us or something.

we didn't put out the nativity. i'm actually a little sad about this one, because it's really pretty and i actually took it out of storage a few months ago. plus, it's the whole reason we even celebrate christmas. but it's just been hanging out in the boxes by my bathroom door/rack with the dog food.

we didn't get to see my mom and sisters on christmas day. for the first time in my entire life. it sucked, and i cried. twice.

the only upside to this whole christmas-decoration-avoidance? i don't have to put up a. single. thing. booyah! now, off to run (more on that later) followed by light dusting/vacuuming and more bulldog nation. happy new year!

This is why you need a list.

A list of things forgotten on our annual turkey day trip to hot springs.

-the lawyer's playbook (retrieved after we turned around for it)
-becca's purse, which includes most notably her id, cash money and lip gloss, and which we did not retrieve on our first false start
-tents left in storage instead of at our house for our friend to set up our tailgate
-the lawyer's left sneaker
-the lawyer's jacket
-the lawyer's humor

If you will note, I did not forget anything. And speaking of losing your humor...

The lawyer is generally even-keeled and a good sport about most things. So when he's in a bad mood, I usually a) get tickled, b) try not to "poke the bear," or c) both a) and b). Last night, the bear was in a bad mood. As we passed through the last town before the MS delta, he indicated he was hungry. After turning up his nose at the generous offerings of fast food, he settled on Taco Bell. Becca discovered her missing purse after we had our hearts set on some cheesy fiesta potatoes. We walked in to inform the lawyer. However, I couldn't even stay to enjoy his reaction because of another patron, who had made the unfortunate decision to accent his dylan-from-90210 brown haircut with orange racing-stripe highlights. I could not handle it - I had to leave before I laughed in his face. We finished our wait in the car. And then, the lawyer came back to the car with this gem of a story.

Ben: I'd like a steak burrito.

Taco Bell employee of the month: We don't have steak burritoes.

Ben: (looking up at the menu) Well, what do you have?

TBEOM: Steak Supreme Burrito.

Ben: Well, what makes it "supreme?"

TBEOM: Sour cream.

Ben: Then I'd like a steak supreme burrito without sour cream.

At this time, I'd like to issue a warning to all minimum-wage and middle-management personnel between here and there: Please don't poke the bear.

trick or teat

i dressed up as hello kitty for halloween. i was the cutest ever. an $8 headband and some face paint - yellow nose, black whiskers - also makes it one of the cheapest ever.

the office crew

after work, i went by my in-laws just to chat and show off my ridiculously cute alter-ego. i came home 2 hours later with a homemade chicken pot pie. i kind of love being back in hometown.

the lawyer and i recently purchased a small drop-leaf table and chairs. for the first time in over 4 years of marriage, we have a place besides the couch to eat dinner. so, naturally, i force us to eat dinner there as much as i can. unless we're having cheese puffs and/or ice cream for dinner, because then we have dinner on the couch.

i heated up the pot pie and set it in the middle of our table. i set out plates and silverware and poured 2 glasses of wine. since dinner was so fabulous, we didn't talk much during it. but towards the end of the meal, i noticed something.

sidebar - i am anal-retentive, bossy and stubborn.

the lawyer was holding his fork completely wrong. remember how beast held his fork in disney's beauty and the best and tried to slobber down the soup (or whatever) as it fell from his awkwardly-held utensil?

http://media.photobucket.com/image/beauty%20and%20the%20beast/LLSamSam/Gif%20Folder/tumblr_lhi829fY6f1qcetvf.gif?o=17

well, the lawyer wasn't that bad, but he was holding his silverware in the same awkward, scowl-inducing manner.

the lawyer: (oblivious)

kissey: what are you doing?

the lawyer: (still oblivious) what?

kissey: you're holding your fork wrong.

the lawyer: what? (eyes slant)

kissey: (scowling) you're holding your fork wrong. hold it like this. (demonstrates)

the lawyer: it's good. i'm hungry. leave me alone. plus, it's really hard to take you seriously with all that cat makeup on your face.

touche.

dinner plates

this is a 2-part post.

part 1: my dinner menu for the week. if you know me, or have worked with me, or have read any number of blog posts i've written, you know i like lists. my new coworkers love to inspect what i've jotted down or make fun of my non-sensical post-it notes, but i believe it only adds to my inexplicable charm. i like to write. it. down., then cross. it. off. it is a self-satisfying little thing i do. sometimes it causes me anxiety. but in those cases, i simply ignore the list. the real satisfaction comes from seeing activities numbered and printed on a random sheet of paper, and serves as a reminder of my potential. hence, there are many, many half-crossed lists around my house. apparently, i am not living up to my potential.

but tonight, there is a current, running list: our menu. i love a meal plan and accompanying grocery list, although i'm nowhere near as good as thisgirl. girlfriend is rockin' it! but back to me.

(list)

(uploaded from my new blogger app. smartphones are so NEAT.)

i try. i really do. and i have managed to really adhere to my dinner menu so far, so i'll recount it for you here. potential-measuring, if you will.

sunday - toasted gnocchi with pesto, tomatos & goat cheese. simple and yummy

monday - praise-the-braise chicken with feta & tomato. i love a crockpot. i improvised here with canned tomatoes with juice instead of broth and goat cheese.

tuesday - grilled lemon steelhead trout that looks suspiciously like salmon, with rice & brown sugar green beans.

wednesday - tricked-out pepperoni tombstone pizza. usually, it's leftovers, but i ate them for lunch today.

thursday - turkey turnovers. again with the subbing of goatcheese. mainly because i didn't feel like spending $15 on cheese, which is a major accomplishment for me.

friday - this says shrimp pesto pasta, but i'm betting on leftovers OR orange balsamic chicken thighs with spinach.

saturday - out of town. someone feed the lawyer, please.

sunday - this is usually pizza night, but i'm going with shrimp pesto pasta.

monday - leftovers, again usually reserved for wednesday nights.

tuesday - tuna steaks with rice and green beans (2 staples i keep stocked).

wednesday - black bean tortillas with prosciutto, goat cheese, corn and tomatoes.

thursday - pizza.

and that's as far as i've gotten. but i'm impressed with myself.

part 2: tonight's dinner conversation.

me: (mostly yapping about convos with friends while the lawyer gobbles up dinner)

the lawyer: (mostly gobbling while pretending to look interested in things he doesn't care about)

me: did you like it?

the lawyer: mmm, yes baby. really good. (exits table and opens deep freezer.)

me: are you getting ice cream?

the lawyer: yes.

me: what kind?

the lawyer: moose tracks.

me: can i have your wine?

this exchange is a total flip-flop of what normally happens.

back again

since my last post, i've had several meltdowns (all house-related), suffered several mind-numbing msu losses, missed my niece's 2nd birthday, gotten riled up countless times about prop 26 in MS, and acquired a short-lived tenant in the form of a lizard. he scurried in one friday afternoon, and was found last thursday evening in my sink. gross.

life has not been kind to my blogging schedule. i vow to do better. first on my list is my opinion on prop 26 this nov. 8.

for now, it's back to the daily grind.

roxy's revenge

it was a terrible tuesday.

it was so bad i haven't been able to even find energy to blog about it until thursday.

you see that photo? that was my tub filling up with water.

it's also my first mobile upload. insert smartphone pride here.

monday night, i decided the roxy needed a bath. she is not fond of them, but tolerates them well enough so she isn't a total pain. she's actually pretty accepting of this activity, or at least resigned to her occasional fate, which really just makes her all the more pitiful. and oh my gosh, those eyes. she will just look at me like i've betrayed her and shaken her faith in the natural order of things. but i'm tough and i get over it.

it was late in the evening, maybe 8:30, when we got done. the lawyer had promised to wash dishes. i was finishing up in the bathroom, and he was stacking pots and spoons, when i turned the water off in the tub. or tried.

see, our tub faucet had just been replaced. after that replacement, you couldn't actually stop turning the knob and have the water shut off. it would keep turning. so you kind of had to time the knob-turning to get it to the smallest leakage point, which was right before "full blast" again. i had gotten really good at it.

well.

i turned the knob. the water did not turn off. it didn't even switch to "leak." it just kept going.

so, water was pouring into my tub. the water level was rising. roxy's making a break for the living room rug to have a good shake. i kept turning. nothing.

i began to lose my cool.

i mean, it's bedtime, and the water won't turn off, and the water level is not going down. so i hollered for ben, a little shellshocked. he tinkered with it, but with no success. in fact, i was sure at that moment he had made it infinitely worse, but that's because i was becoming hysterical. next, i called our landlord. at 9 pm, because that's when landlords are able to take care of plumbing problems, you know. long story short, ben had to trek down our driveway in the dark to shut off the water main. then he had to come back and go back with a pair of pliers, because he needed those to actually turn the water off.

at this point, i was wailing. seriously. i was dramatic about it in every sense of the word, because this water business had ruined my evening plans of dish-washing and potty-flushing, and life would never be the same and we would never be ok again. so we went to bed without brushing our teeth, making the coffee, washing the dishes or flushing the toilet. and i'm telling you, after we shut the water off, all i wanted to do was pee and flush with abandon. funny how you don't think about stuff like that until you can't do it. to make matters worse, even after the lawyer turned off the water main, the tub was still dripping juuuuuuuust a bit. my tub actually mocked me. and i'm pretty sure i saw roxy smirking.

but we had a plan. we'd wake up super early, and ben would go turn the water back on so we could shower and make coffee and flush (i keep going back to that one...). we'd just let the tub run, i'd shower in ben's shower upstairs, and our world would be semi-righted until the plumber could arrive.

epic. fail.

i did not sleep well due to my anxiety and woke up several times in the night. so of course, i was awakened at 5 am with the requisite thunder, lightning and pouring rain. ben wasn't wild about getting dressed and trekking down the driveway to put pliers to a metal pipe while it was lightning and monsooning. life 8000, langs -2.

early morning. major storm. no water for coffee, showering, teeth-brushing, flushing. nothing. so i packed a bag and headed to the clinic, where i washed my face, brushed my teeth and washed off my armpits with a washcloth. i spent the entire day dirty and tired and really just pissed about it all.

thankfully, that afternoon the sun shone on us. the water lines got fixed up, we got a new faucet and now water only runs when i allow it. life is beautiful again.

oh, yeah, my washing machine quit draining too. i still have 4 inches of standing water in there.

home sweet home.

coming soon

a blog about my terrible tuesday. just you wait.

picture post

because i like you, i've posted pictures.

lots of pictures.

whoooooosh

that's the sound of my life moments these past 2 months, just breezing by while i've barely had time to breathe. i went to vegas one weekend, i went to new orleans and jackson for weddings, with a side trip to golden, MS, to see 2 very special friends, all while squatting in a friend's house (alone) and working, and then i moved back to the new home and the lawyer (new blog nickname) and started a new job.

it was a busy july.

then my sister got married. and then my mom came and stayed with us for 8 days. that really upped it a "busy summer" in general.

so, my blog has sat unattended in the internet from pre-vegas to labor day weekend. but the dust is starting to settle here, so hopefully my blog will return to its regular posting routine. and that dust settling business? i mean that literally. this house is all wood and dust is everywhere. but that's a separate story.

i plan to upload camera photos from the past 2 months tonight, so pictures are forthcoming, if blogger cooperates. meanwhile, i intend to finish today's tasks of roxy bathing, elliptical training, ceiling cleaning (see above) and picture hanging before dinner.

and so, i bid you adieu, dear faithful readers (or those i have left), and shall return on the morrow with picture posts and new-life-chapter stories.

viva las vegas

it's true. i get to "viva" las vegas tomorrow! baby sister's bachelorette party commences in 24 hours and counting.

the law student (who is opening his own practice and once again will need a new blog name), ever so caring, has given me some thoughts and instructions for my trip, based on his extensive vegas experiences.

1. don't get sold into sex trafficking.
2. don't ride in a cab with a stranger.
3. don't ride in a cab alone.
4. at all costs, make sure you're on that plane sunday. i don't care about anyone else.
(me: not even my sisters?)
4. a) ok, make sure your sisters are too, but that's it.

anna to me: if you don't have more than 3 drinks, i will roofie you.
ben to anna: if you ruin my marriage, i'll ruin yours.

i'm really excited, and a little nervous. 15 southern belles taking vegas by storm has comedy of errors written all over it.

secret single behavior, post #2

last night's dinner:

2 small bowls of tuna tomato pasta
2 salads with avocado (1/2 per salad), blue cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers, prosciutto and balsamic vinegar
4 strawberries with cream cheese fruit dip
5 sips of sierra nevada summerfest. i am ashamed i let so much beer remain unconsumed.
4-6 mindless handfuls of goldfish, to round things out.

well, it's better than sunday night's dinner.

pantry problems

so, new house means new storage challenges. i have a huge, open pantry that needs some serious organization-style tlc. anyone out there have any good storage tips?

whew

packing is NO fun. i never want to buy anything ever again, because eventually i will have to pack it.

we just unloaded our house in small town into our new house in hometown. and it was a chore. cheers to friends and family who made it happen. i spent most of my packing energy sighing at unpacked plates and utensils and then finding something else to do or just following the law student around the house as he and robz toted large pieces of furniture out to the uhaul. it's amazing how much shiz we actually have. it's like it mushroomed at the mere mention of packing tape.

our new house is super cute, even if one room doesn't have ceiling lights. it's cozy and private and i may have to get creative, but i believe it'll be a blast. the rox is less enthusiastic, as the house is totally hardwood (phobia #1) and the stairs are slats that you can see through (brand-new phobia #2). which means - less dog hair on the bed!

my mother-in-law is better than your mother-in-law, because she cleaned our house all day friday and saturday, and is coming over again today. seriously. just another reason why i'm so glad i married that boy. his parents are awesome.

pictures to come, although i'm a little creeped out to post pictures of where we live. i may not. you may just have to come visit.

so, for now, i'm still working in small town. i'll hopefully get to visit the boy and the rox on between the week and the weekend, as i'll be on several adventures for the next 3 saturdays. i'm living at my friend's house here, although it may be to my disadvantage. i have high hopes for working out and working lots of overtime, but chew on this. last night's dinner: 1 reese's, 2 snickers, 8 pringles, 6 crackers & cheese, fruit gummies & a coke. this is not good.

drowning in monotony

that title is not really true, but it feels that way. while i am on hold for MDES, thought i'd catch y'all up and explain my lackluster blogging in list form, because it makes me happy.

1. it's hot. and humid. it's mississippi.
2. i'm getting bogged down with life. work, working out, keeping up with life and the uncertainty that lays before us consume most of my time.
3. we started watching weeds. it's eating my life. i actually went on hiatus last week - it got that bad. plus, i'm a little upset with nancy at the moment, and felt i needed a break to regroup.
4. did i mention uncertainty? job uncertainty is not a good feeling. but it's allowing me to choose God over fear and stress every day, even though i must willingly turn my mind from the "what ifs" that abound hourly.
5. my summer schedule is jam-packed. i'll just give a quick rundown, in order of this weekend to august 13. hometown (shower for sister), hometown (party for sister), two free weekends, vegas (bach party for sister), nola (wedding), jackson (wedding), one free weekend and then sister's wedding here in smalltown. too bad we have to be out of our current home before august 1. yes, that is six events in the next nine weeks. in between that, we must move and find employment. did i mention my mother moved too? life is changing, and fast. i can barely keep up.

i hope i don't get pregnant anytime soon either. wouldn't that be awesome? then i'd be unemployed, homeless and knocked up at the end of the summer.

go mama, go mama

my cute mama's gonna be on the tv today!
the design firm she works for filmed an episode of hometown renovation on hgtv
and it airs today at 4 pm, CST.

you should all watch/set your dvrs to record. pretty sure she's their next breakout star.

local newspaper article

billy b.

facebook site

bella interiors
(mom's on the bottom left)

check it out!

wednesday wussy, scam edition

i applied for a bookkeeper/accountant position monday. this is the response i received tuesday.

Dear Applicant,

We wish to inform you that the advertised position is not available anymore so we have decided to offer you the position that is currently available and below is the job details for your review.

"We have a mystery shopping assignment in your area and we would like you to participate"Secret Shopper® is accepting applications for qualified individuals to become mystery shoppers. I hereby inform you that there is a chance for you to work with us. We are a company that conduct surveys and evaluate other companies. You get hired to go to other peoples companies and act like customers in order to know how the staffs are handling their services in relation to their customers.

This is an excellent opportunity to work with us and still keep your present job. Once we have a contract to do, you would be directed to the company or outlet which you are to survey and evaluate. You will be given the funds you need to do the job (either purchase things or require services), after which you would write a comment on the staffs activities and give a detailed record of your experience.

Example of details you would forward to us are:
1) How long it took you to get services.
2) Smartness of the attendant
3)Customer service professionalism
4)Sometimes you might be required to upset the attendant, to see how they react to client or customers.

Anyone is qualified to take up this position from any location in the United states and Canada, because Its a very easy job that is not expecting too much of such experience. You don't need to travel and You don't have to pay any fee to get started. You will be paid $250.00 for each company you surveys and evaluate and will be paid the bonus of $3,000.00 monthly. If you are interested in this job offer, Kindly email the below email address at: gmail address immediately for more information so as to start immediately.

REQUESTED INFORMATION:
FIRST NAME:
LAST NAME:
MAILING ADDRESS (P.O. BOX NOT ACCEPTED)
CITY :
STATE :
ZIP CODE :
CELL PHONE # :
HOME PHONE # :
SEX :
D.O.B
MARITAL STATUS
CURRENT OCCUPATION :
E-MAIL :
WORKING AVAILABILITY:
Days/Hours Available
Monday ...open availability _______ to ______?
Tuesday ______ to .______?
Wednesday _______ to ______?
Thursday _______ to ______?
Friday _______to ______?
Saturday _______ to ______?
Sunday .....open availability_____ to _____?
Hours Available _______ To ______?
Best time to call ______ to ______

Awaiting your response soon ....
Sincerely,
BM
Mystery Shopping Consultancy.

really?

feelin' kinda funky

not in a good way, though. i'm stressed. there, i said it. so often i really try to be upbeat, optimistic, even if only to buck up my other half, who is also stressed. but i'm tired and kind of feel like just wallowing (anxiously, of course) in the stress.

stress affects everyone differently. the law student tends to neglect sleep and act like a zombie during the waking hours. incidentally, he's really been freaking me out lately with his excitement over the zombie apocalypse. there are reasons i don't watch scary movies - zombies are one of them.

as for me, i handle stress much differently. i want to do nothing but sleep all the time. i make half-hearted lists that are doomed to never be crossed off. i eat junk food and neglect exercise. therefore, i tend to feel crappy, fat, and groggy in addition to the stress, which only complicates things further.

it is a real effort for me to overcome stress, to do things that need to get done or make me feel better, because i just plain don't want to do anything. let's talk about yesterday, because it's a prime example of how stress makes me self-sabotage. i went home early yesterday from work. i felt stressed (you guessed right!) and really tired, plus i needed to look for jobs and wanted to take some time to do some stuff around the house. secretly i just wanted to read and nap, but i made a list: menu, grocery list, clean bathrooms, read Bible & pray, put up clothes, work out, walk roxy, call contact, job applications, vacuum, put up dishes, blog (look at me, crossing things off my list), fold clothes. know what i did? i walked roxy, made a grocery list and applied to three jobs. i had two hours off work and that's what i did, which means i have to do all the rest of that stuff today.

and the absolute worst consequence? i have not had any coffee today because we are out of coffee filters and i have not gone to get any. i feel like a zombie.

cliffhanger post conclusion, wednesday wussy edition

remember that thursday when i told you about that really neat thing that God did for us? i wish i had different words to type, because right now i am thoroughly confused. i thought a wednesday wussy post would be appropriate.

mystery revealed: that post was about jobs - my current one, and a prospective one. see? not baby lang.

i found out that tuesday my position here needed to change to part-time, especially since they already know we are planning to move. we were not expecting that, and really can't afford it. that's when i sent out the mass text to friends, asking for prayer and praising God for His, plan, because i knew He had one. i sent out a few emails that night, and by 3 pm the next day, i had an interview scheduled with a large firm back home, with a bonus offer to help my husband land a job. i just knew that was God, telling us we were in the palm of His hand.

i had a great interview this past weekend. i was promised a job. "we are going to make you an offer on monday" were the words i heard. naturally, i was very excited and just amazed how smoothly and seamlessly God had orchestrated all the details. i mean, think about it: my job here was going to drastically change, the next day i had an interview, the timing gave me plenty of time to take care of my old job, and after the interview i was promised a job offer with most likely way better money, a sense of security and quite possibly an employed law student. i was eagerly awaiting that email, and feeling very satisfied with myself* for stepping out in faith and that God had answered our prayers beyond our expectations.

*insert heaping helping of humility here.

i didn't get that email monday, but i got it yesterday. they did not extend the offer. they have decided to keep it internal and not create the position. i was absolutely shocked, and very upset. not only did this disrupt the plans we had been making and the plan we thought God had designed for us, but it also seriously altered today's blog post. i am supposed to be blogging about how i have a new job that God provided!

epic fail.

so, friends and readers, that is the big update, and it is not at all what i thought was going to happen. and i am finding out just how hard faith is sometimes. i was so sure God was working things out the first time, and really thought i knew what He was doing. i know just as i trusted God then, and knew He was not surprised, i know i have to trust His will and plan today, even thought i am hurt and confused. i know He is not surprised, and He will carry us.

rox in box, aka friday post numero dos

ever try to do something good and have it turn out really wrong? me too. this wednesday. let me tell you how i managed to cause the maiming of my dog.

the law student and i had been bickering a bit this week, just generally getting on each other's nerves. or so i thought - he had no idea. men. so wednesday afternoon, i thought spending time together on a walk on our favorite trails would give us a good relationship re-charge. and it did, after he quit complaining about how he didn't want to go walking with me.

it is important to note that here in small town, i feel relatively safe leaving my keys in my car if i don't want to keep up with them. this only happens at the park and trails, mainly because i managed to lose a key in the grass once and here to the adage "trust in God but lock your car." you can see where this post is going.

we walked about 5 miles total, in a uncharacteristically chilly may evening. we arrive back at the car, only to find the doors locked, with the keys & phone (per usual) locked inside. it was getting darker, colder, and we were woefully underdressed. ben's comment: "i told you i didn't want to go walking with you." after waiting for someone to come off the trails, i found a kind bearded child (aka frat boy) with a bike and a pt cruiser (just seems like a funny combo to me) who let me use his phone to contact our landlord, who came to pick us up, take us home and unlock our house. we finally made it home around 9 pm, and i began making dinner. we rarely eat before 8 pm as it is, so it was pretty late even for us. wife of the year, right here.

i noticed roxy was acting strangely - walking in circles, sitting down & immediately standing up, laying down & tossing & turning, tucking her tail between her legs while staring up at me and just generally acting uncomfortable. we discovered some inflammation in her tail, but since it was so late at night, there was nothing we could do. poor roxy was so pitiful and obviously in pain and just couldn't get comfortable. so we put her in her box in our room and hoped for the best through the night. i just hated it for her.

yesterday she felt better, but still not good. i called the vet (whom we had just seen on monday and given $100) about it, and the law student brought her in. official diagnosis: dead tail. it's kind of like a sprain, or can happen after prolonged exercise or extreme temperature exposure. since we live in the south, roxy doesn't swim and is kind of a couch potato, we are pretty sure she injured in on our ride home in an unfamiliar car.

so, for the next 3 days, she has been prescribed complete rest and no excitement, otherwise she could lose the use of her tail. this means she must be confined to her roxbox and given pain medication (doggy aleve or something) twice a day. thank goodness it makes her sleepy. on monday we can let her out of the box, but no exercise for 2 more weeks. she is pretty pissed that her life sucks right now. she likes to sleep in her box, but prefers to spend daytime hours lounging on the couch or her pillow palace* on the floor. poor roxyface.

rox + box = frowny face.



*this reference is for brooke and rebecca. i miss being a kid.

friday post numero uno

i'd like to share this site with you:

http://blog.al.com/wire/2011/05/tuscaloosa_tornado_experience.html

if you live in the south, you know that last week we were ripped up by deathly tornadoes from huge seemingly never-ending storm systems. whole towns are gone. small town managed to dodge about 8 of them last wednesday - i still don't know how. smaller communities on the edges of town were less fortunate.

the tornado in the above story came right through the middle of tuscaloosa. but even with all the death, devastation and destruction, there are still stories of hope and miracles. Jesus was with us in these storms, and this post is a reminder of His love when we need it most.

how great is our God

"...I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

it's true. i witnessed it yesterday.

i will share the entire story here later, but for now i give you:
the edited-for-dramatic-and-timing-purposes version.

(deep breath)

as many of my readers know, we are planning to move back home this summer. the law student is thrilled to bits and pieces. i have been considerably less so. not that i don't love our hometown, but i was hoping for something bigger, with more people and culture and art and music and space and hills...you get the idea. but, my reasons are all emotional. the law student's are irritatingly practical, and apparently God, in His infinite wisdom, wants us there. how do you effectively argue with the Creator while throwing a fit like a 3-year-old? that's been my struggle.

well, we hit a hiccup on tuesday. i got some very unexpected news that impacts us considerably.
and no, it's not baby lang, for those (all) of you who are wondering.

i knew God knew what was up. He was not surprised. He has guided us back home so far, and i knew He was going to provide, even in this. so i sent a text to family and friends, asking for prayer over the situation and praise for His plan. i received so many responses - they mean so much! needless to say, the law student didn't handle this news very well, so tuesday night was kind of blah, and i went to bed a little upset, but not shaken.

y'all.

God answered that prayer. YESTERDAY. in less than 24 hours. and with a bonus to boot. my face almost fell off. i could never have imagined something this perfect, and i know it's because we stepped out in faith. how could i have ever doubted His plan to move us home?

i can't wait to share the ENTIRE story with you - just give me a week or so.

squeal!

lyrics

we sang the song below at church on palm sunday.
i probably hadn't been to church in 2 - 3 weeks, and had just broken lent the night before (one of two times). a woman from pakistan, a graduate student here, spoke about her family's persecution from their own government over their christianity, and another woman they knew who was in prison for allegedly speaking out against islam. this woman has contracted chicken pox, likely due from fasting during lent.
in prison.
that hit me like a ton of bricks, and still does. these people are suffering for the Lord - what have i done or had to endure for Him?

hope you enjoy the lyrics.

How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
And make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the man upon the cross
My sin upon His shoulder
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Why should I gain from His reward
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

*disclaimer - please know this post is not bashing islam or muslims. i am simply relaying a story from a woman i heard at church.

and another one...

takes the plunge!

meet the newest nearlyweds, my jules and her zachary
been waiting on this one, folks. they were goners as soon as they met.
wishing you all the love and happiness in your marriage you both can stand.

p.s. move closer?

i feel a wussy wednesday coming on...

wednesday wussy, budget edition. please take the following post with a hunk of cheese, 'cause it's a whiner.

i do not like being on a budget. i do not like not being able to spend money without thinking about its very real impact on other areas of my life. oh, to be single again, and in a time not of economic recession, and saving all my dollahz for fun and frolic while living off daddy's charge accounts. all i'd have to do is not eat much for a while and save up and then purchase away, guilt-free, and worry about it later. the only reason i even got a job in college was for dating purposes. plane tickets to see the law student cost money, and i'm pretty sure the parents would not have footed that bill.

enter marriage (or heck, even just adulthood). budgeting is hard. it's hard for two people living on one paycheck, even with some familial assistance. it's hard to cancel travel plans because of rising gas prices, or choose to cook at home instead of going out for dinner. it's hard when you're having a wardrobe crisis and you can't really afford to revamp it, only mix pieces differently. thankfully, my weight has not drastically changed since college, or i'd really be in the hole! of course, even if i didn't have a budget, i probably still would be a bad shopper and just as indecisive to boot. but that's a separate problem.

but a budget is necessary. my paycheck only contains x amount of money, and we have to make it work, and we have to do it together. fighting about money is not an option in our marriage - we flat-out refuse to do it. we reached this decision before marriage, thankfully, and not after an issue arose. our personal budget is pretty simple. i bring home a paycheck (yes, ben adds whatever he makes too), the law student faithfully designs our budget, and i trust his judgment. even though i work for a CPA, i could not make or stick to a budget on my own. i can barely work my calculator, and have never balanced my checkbook! this way, we control our finances instead of them controlling us and plan for expenses ahead of time. we work to balance wants and needs, the fun things and the necessary ones, so that we're not crying at the end of every month and/or up to our ears in credit card debt. budgeting is a great discipline and though uncomfortable at times, it is good for us and keeps us making smart choices in how we use our money.

unfortunately, insurance, groceries and bills take precedence over fancy nights out, wardrobe updates and gifts. and that's about where i am right now. sigh.


in other news: i'm working out in the mornings (i'm as surprised as you are), the law student is semi-employed and in an office of his own, entertainment icon elizabeth taylor has died, and i found out roseanne barr lives on a nut farm.

wedding post overload

who knew 2011 was wedding season spectacular?
below are some sweet friends who will be wedded these next few months.
wishing nothing but the best for you and yours! love you all

mandi & heath, edited per request

chris & michele

sister & mister

melanie & chris

kristi & nick

elizabeth & danny

i'm so excited to celebrate with y'all!

of course, the law student told me today a church believe the exact rapture date to be may 21, 2011, so all this may be moot. but i prefer to celebrate.
(and privately freak out - y'all know the rapture scares me).

finally

my sister's got a mister!


dear connor, thank you for making baby sister happier than a tornado in a trailer park. you've got your hands full now!

dear anna, aren't you glad you no longer feel the need to slam down your beer bottle in frustration over someone else's engagement news, again?

wishing you both all the happiness and love you can stand.

oscar style

although i check msn's wonderwall multiple times a day, i don't really get in an uproar about awards shows and such. but i did watch the oscars. mostly. i fell asleep before the most important awards - best actor, best actress and best picture - but i got to see all the pretty dresses. below are my favorites, in no real order.

i personally prefer a little more skin showing around the chest, but i love the color and the sparkle. it just works for amy.

so, i may be a little biased because mila's my celebrity doppleganger, but this is my favorite look from the night. hands down.

a bit kooky, but really great, and on par with cate's signature style.

great color, great shape, and classy. well done, dame helen.

oooh, fluffy and sparkly! this dress makes us suspend belief that halle is not possibly a crazy mama bear.

scarlet on the worst dressed list? um, no way, no how. i want this dress.

total wow factor. jennifer hudson totally rocks this. flaunt it!

can't leave off natalie. she's just too cute, and the color is great.

points of interest:

1. who knew anne hathaway could sing?
2. her song to hugh jackman (swoon) was awkward.
3. how did true grit win nothing?
4. apparently, i missed out when i didn't see the social network.
5. reese witherspoon is still the cutest.
6. christian bale - lose beard, learn wife's name.

hair control

my hair is kind of "kaboom" today, so it inspired this post.

i have curly hair. ok, wavy. i didn't know this until i was out of high school. but after i found out, all that frizz on rainy/humid days made so much more sense.

curly hair is kind of awesome. i don't even have to have a blow-and-go style - a little product on towel-dried hair and i'm good to go! you'd think this would save time in the getting ready department, and you'd be right, but i'm still always late. life has its mysteries.

i usually now only blow dry my hair once or twice a week - going out and maybe church, rarely for work - and almost never in the summer.
mississippi = humid = frizz anyway.

i do have to use product, though. no product makes my hair look like a limp mop. to so today, i thought i'd share my curly hair products with you, for no other reasons than a) today my hair is curly and b) boredom.

item #1, and my all-time fave

tigi bed head control freak serum, nectar of the hair gods

i really enjoy tigi products in general, but this is the one i'd take with me on a island with a one-item limit. it defines and plumps my waves while keeping my hair soft, not crunchy. plus, its sparkly! note: this product can be used to straighten hair, but it doesn't work that well for me.

item #2, the new girl

tigi catwalk curls rock! amplifier, the extra oomph

i use this creme after i use the control freak. this adds a little more control, a little more definition and a little more hold to my waves, which can lag after a long day, and never weighs them down.

every girl's hair is different, and so are our hair styling regimens/product combinations. what kind of products do you use?

bible lesson

so, our church here in small town is pretty cool. our pastor is young, the church is growing now that we have a building, we have small groups instead of sunday school, and everything is really relaxed. it's one of our favorite things about this town. and for 2011, our pastor, pat, has a new project to sort of "transform" our church experience - from consumption to participation.

right now, our "pulpit" is in the middle of the room, with chairs on all sides. the law student, who used to be an actor (didn't i tell you that?) says this is theatre in the round. i just nod and pretend to know what he's talking about. one or two sundays we had no music, and then the following sunday everyone brought instruments, if they played, and our church all played together.

pat is also trying to get us to talk in church - really. we get emails about the sermon topic and are encouraged to pray about it and then, we are asked to share in church. here's last week's email:

Please take some time to read these verses and pray about what they mean.
See you Sunday at 10:30AM or 6PM.

Luke 6:39-49
39 Then Jesus gave the following illustration: “Can one blind person lead another? Won’t they both fall into a ditch? 40Students are not greater than their teacher. But the student who is fully trained will become like the teacher. 41 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? 42 How can you think of saying, ‘Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.

The Tree and Its Fruit

43 “A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 44 A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. 45 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.

Building on a Solid Foundation

46 “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? 47 I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. 48 It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. 49 But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.”

if you know me, you know i procrastinate. i live life 10 minutes late. naturally, i looked this stuff up on xenos.org right before morning service. i took notes. i was prepared, albeit quickly. but when we were asked to share, i didn't. i waited, with everyone else, in the silent tension. no one spoke. just left pastor pat hangin'. and i felt bad about it. i should have spoken up. so many times we wait for someone else to pave the way, to put themselves out there and make others comfortable, when that someone could be or should be us. so, since i didn't share sunday, i thought i'd share here.

according to the website i looked at, these verses illustrate 3 common spiritual pitfalls. the first is gullibility (blindness) - not having enough experience or even caution to know who or what you are following. knowledge is key here. Jesus answers this this parable with the parable about the tree and the fruit. it's so simple - good cannot produce bad, but only good, and bad cannot produce good, only bad - but so true. if we study the word and learn God's nature and fruit, it will be a lot harder for us to be deceived.

the second pitfall is hypocrisy (the speck and the plank). this is probably the church's biggest drawback - members who claim to follow but act like the world. it's hard. we're human, and we fail, and we wound. this verse isn't really talking about not judging - obviously, per the scripture, we are able to and should correct other believers, but we cannot be their savior. there is only One. furthermore, we need to be examining our hearts and our actions as well. refusing God's correction means we believe we know better, which always gets us into trouble.

the third pitfall is passivity (the houses). the first builder listens to how to build his house and acts accordingly. it changes his actions and changes his life. the second builder hears, but doesn't listen and doesn't change. he is not active in his knowledge because his faith is not increased, and his house is washed away.

i really love these verses and the way Jesus speaks. they are simple, easy-to-understand images of everyday life mixed with a little hyperbole that speak truth to our souls when we look just a little deeper. to me, these verses all show a heart that hears the word and refuses to be changed by it. the gospel is radical and powerful and should transform our lives! these verses show what happens to us when we do not allow our hearts to be changed: we will be misled, we will wound and bear false witness, we will not grow in our faith, and we will be destroyed. to say i was convicted was an understatement.

i don't want to miss the blessing. so this week, i pray we bear good fruit, and that it will show.

damn cookies

my girl scout cookies are missing.
actually, they have already been sold and eaten.
let me tell you about it.

i thought i was on the ball this year by actually ordering cookies, instead of just envying those that did and wishing they would turn their head so i could steal a sleeve or two, and wondering when the hell they actually went on sale, because i never know until after the fact.

advertising serves a purpose, girl scouts.

so, this year, i managed at theverylastsecond to get an order in for me and two other girls. i was very proud of myself, secure in my smugness and had a general feeling of being in charge. i could already taste the thin mints as i pulled them out of the freezer. that's the best way to eat thin mints, you know.

but no good deed goes unpunished.

i found out yesterday that my precious thin mints and shortbreads (i refuse to call them trefoils) would not be arriving today, as they should have. why? because the girl scout's overzealous father had taken her entire order, about 600 boxes, to sell at the local kroger. all of her cookies had to be reordered. sounds like a husband-sort-of-thing to do, doesn't it?

dammit.

below, see my beloved cookies.

shortbreads

thin mints
(image courtesy of site below)

10 reasons thin mint cookies are clearly the best girl scout cookies

to quote an oreo (another fine cookie) commercial that i saw last night:

"don't cry, milk. i miss them too."

happy valentine's day?

seen in dallas:

yes, really. it's a real store that i really saw.
i googled the image and found it here.

my question: aren't they all "to-go?" how else would they be sold?


in other news, happy valentine's day to the law student.

if there's anything that you want,
if there's anything i can do,
just call on me
and i'll send it along with love from me to you.
-john & paul

sigh

talk about the winter blaaaaaaaaaaaahs. i mean, snow is cool and all, but i am so unequipped to deal with it.

so is the state of mississippi and its resident citizens with drivers' licenses. it took me 30 minutes to drive 7 miles. i passed one wreck immediately leaving our office today, then passed two cars that had recently landed in the ditch on the road in front of our little complex. after that, i decided to ditch my plans for the gym.

immediately after spotting them (and slowing down to about 15 mph), i fishtailed in the white stuff. and while terror gripped me initially and then passed - i was, after all, going 15 mph and it seemed a bit absurd to be scared of slowly rolling off the road into the ditch - i would have been way more embarrassed to be incapacitated 50 yards before turning into the neighborhood.

plus, i really only like it when i'm skiing and there is supposed to be snow. which means, not in mississippi. but it does seem like a good omen for our planned ski trip next year. who wants to go??

so, instead of the gym and instead of payroll, the law student and i spent the afternoon watching 6 feet under in our pajamas. great show. crazy family. then it was leftover crawfish etouffee and msu bulldog basketball.

and if it's gonna snow, i wish we'd get snowed in so work wouldn't be a possibility tomorrow. i could get used to pjs and beer and leftovers and watching everything hbo has ever produced.

'cause you just never know what your husband is gonna gchat you...

♫

the law student sent me this in my gchat the other day.
it's the cutest thing ever.
it was aired during the super bowl, but it was a bit edited.
this version is better.

enjoy!

i hate pantyhose

i'm wearing pantyhose today. it's cold outside and i'm wearing a dress (shout-out to high school self: they're not scary and you look good in them!), so pantyhose are a must. but i hate pantyhose.

there is nothing that can make you feel fat, even on on a skinny day, like a pair of pantyhose. i've got my undies hiked up baywatch-style, the hose are pulled up underneath my rib cage (trust me, it's a long way) to eliminate bumps and generally streamline, but i still feel like i'm wearing sausage casing. i'm fairly certain a man invented them.

sigh. (can't sigh too deep...)

happy birthday, anna banana!

it's the baby princess's birthday. 24. time to stop counting and start lying!

birthday girl

isn't she pretty? she looks like reese witherspoon a la june carter cash.

right now she's stuck in dallas in a cold weather-sponsored state shut-down. apparently texas responds to snow much like mississippi does.

so, in honor of her day...a birthday post.

she was the biggest baby of the bunch, and had toooooons of fat rolls, but no hair. til she was 2.

her name was supposed to be marshall stephen if she was a boy, and elizabeth anne ("annie") if she was a girl. however, my grandmother insisted on calling her "elizabeth," so our mom changed her name. after she was born. true story.

she's prissy, and sassy, and loves to laugh. where rebecca and i are like midnight and high noon, anna and i are more early afternoon and late afternoon.

she's determined and smart, and sets a high personal standard for herself, her friends and her precious students.

and, her closet.

she's a fashion maven/addict, and loves all things expensive and stylish. i did not get this gene. she really must be with me whenever i make more than one clothing purchase. where i'll hem and haw, she's decisive and confident. and she's always put together to the nines. nines, i tell you!

two of anna's favorite things: couture purses and henry man

obviously, a post about anna would be incomplete without mention of henry, anna's other other half. he really is the cutest little thing, and, as you can see, always well-dressed.
when anna is at school, he likes to play dress-up. also, he refuses to potty outside when it's cold. kind of like anna. diva much?

anna's other favorite

conner is pretty much the only person who can tell anna "no," mean it, and she listens (how do you do it?!). he's really tall, so she can wear her highest heels no matter what. he also may or may not be the instigator of her bulldog betrayal. but she's been forgiven, since he actually did play football at ole miss, and how can you not cheer for your boyfriend?

so, happy birthday baby sister. you're worth every penny. i wish i lived in dallas so i could play with you all the time. i know you wanted to be an aunt for your birthday, but how about a visit from your oldest sister instead? love you so much!

oh, baby

i know what you're thinking. and you're wrong. heehee.

yesterday was my deadline day for year-end reports, w2s, and all ugly things tax-related. so, after about 4 hours of sleep and 9 hours of stressful work day, the law student and i had dinner. my highly dramatized drinking-binge consisted of one beer, sipped slowly. to more completely round out my meal and my day, i needed ice cream, so we drove over to the gas station that has a little freezer full of bluebell pints.

i spent what is possibly too long picking out flavors and ended up in line behind 3 young frat boys, all who can grow more facial hair than my 30-year-old husband, who were all buying cigarettes. as the last one was carded, the clerk asked for his birthday.

"twelve eleven ninety-one."

what?

i asked the cashier to be sure i heard him correctly. i had.

i still think of myself as college-age. insert denial here. hearing that kid's birthday, coupled with the 3 gray hairs i had yanked out earlier that morning, was just another rude reminder that i am, in fact, NOT, no matter how young i look or feel.

thanks, life.

p.s. to the scruffy dude with glasses and mismatched clothes who didn't hold the door open for me? you're rude and your clothes are ugly and you need to shave.

segue

so, see previous post below. i told you all that to tell you this on this less-than-bitter-cold and beautiful sunny friday morning.

i may not have a fancy phone, i may tear my dryer sheets in two, i may wear my "running shoes" into the ground and i may buy my coffee at the dollar general, but i. love. my. xm. radio. i'm pretty ADD/control freak about the radio while in the car, which is one of the many reasons why i drive everywhere. the law student indulges/wisely doesn't fight me on this.
little things make marriage work.

things i love about xm radio:

i can listen to elvis anytime i want. as a true southerner, i believe homage is due, and i can get my fix of the king 24/7. it's totally awesome. i now have an irresistible urge to visit graceland. soon.

i know the names and artists of more songs every day.

no more nickelback! i stay away from the top 20-type channels. the rock, grunge and alternatives stations show more sense and wisely ignore them.

i don't know which is more money: elvis, or no nickleback. toss-up.

and your point is...

*disclaimer: basically, this post is a shout-out to several of my favorite blogs with themes, and how mine is not.

so, i read a post here (awesome design blog that i stalk/drool over/envy/wish to emulate despite my lack of inherited design skillz) about how to grow your blog, increase traffic, and such. she has a lot of great ideas about it. as i read, i realized: my blog has no real discernible point.

i'm ok with this. my blog serves no other purpose than to publicly contain my random typings about life, marriage and pet peeves, and entertain myself and a few other readers that happen to share my hit-or-miss humor about the neuroses and experiences that shape my life. i don't need a goal or an objective. i'm not trying to sell you anything or increase my fame, although seeing new followers makes me really really happy (big. hint). i am lost on html code to make my blog super-cute and i do not have time to upload tons of pictures that i don't have tons of time to take. i honestly just have no desire to narrow my blog-vision and drive a point home. also, i like to use as many post labels as possible. you may have noticed.

sorry. remember, i've told you i have commitment issues when it comes to making inane decisions, like buying new running shoes and such. ok, i don't actually run. but whatevsies.

i would love to have a sweet and aesthetically pleasing blog like emily and tim, and write cute letters to the hubs, or to anyone, but i don't. it takes time, effort and consistency. i, personally, am an all-star amateur procrastinator, and some days i just don't feel like writing sweet notes to the law student. but i'm trying to get better about that.

or, if i had an amazing life mission like the oatsvalls, the mayernicks, sarah or katie, i would be more than happy to advocate for it. and i obviously don't have children (nfp success! yes! happy dance.), so a mommy-blog is out of the question. all i have is the roxy, and blogging obsessively about my crooked-ear pound puppy might actually drive people away.

so, for now, i am content with sharing my thoughts and adventures as a law wife, as i see fit. maybe one day i'll shape up and give you a more pointed perspective. or maybe not.