This week I turn 31.
I thought that would feel more intimidating than it does, but instead, I'm really excited. I guess after falling apart (physically) when I hit 30 and getting used to life all patched up for the past 12 months, this year will just be a "plus one" to the current party I'm attending and am now a lot more comfortable with.
So I'm officially in my thirties! Wheeeeeee!
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Thursday, October 18, 2007
newness
Just wanted to post a little update on my time so far in Baton Rouge for those I haven't gotten to talk with much lately. I have been living in temporary housing for the last two months since I moved here, and it's been a surprisingly wonderful experience. I originally thought I'd be in an extended stay hotel, but as it turns out, I'm in this precious (and very nice) corporate apartment that is less than a mile from the office! All the corporate apartments have themes, and mine is the "Mini-Me," named for Austin Powers/70s-style decor. It's not garish at all, but really cute, and accented with oranges and turquoises and greens throughout. The Mini-Me has definitely been a haven during this time of newness! Sadly, though, I have to leave it. :-(
But happily, I found a new place. :-) For those familiar with this area, it's not far from Highland and Bluebonnet, and I think it'll be a great way to save money and still live comfortably for at least a year. I've met a couple of my neighbors and they seem really nice, too. The drive to work will be about 15-20 minutes -- not bad -- and I'll be in a different part of town that will allow me easy access to the mall, among other important priorities. :-)
I'm so happy to report that the reason I'm even here in the first place (my job) is fantastic. I am fulfilled in my work and challenged, and I have gotten to know some very sweet coworkers as well (three of whom are even taking me out to dinner for my birthday -- how nice is that?). My predecessor still works with the bank and has been more than helpful, patiently answering my many questions. She is very organized, which gives me something to strive for as I make the valiant effort to follow in her footsteps. :-)
It's great to be back at Hancock Bank, but in a different department and location. I've enjoyed visiting Gulfport and with Gulfport people (many of my old coworkers from when I left in '99 are still there), and it's been fun to get to know the Louisiana HBers as well. It's still sort of uncanny to put so many names I saw from when HB starting acquiring Louisiana banks in '95 with actual faces and titles over here! Thankfully, the company is the same place I remember from college -- a warm and friendly atmosphere with an emphasis on professionalism. I'm getting to work for the person I consider to be my first mentor in Corporate Communications, and, of course, this girly girl is enjoying dressing up for work again! :-)
I'm still doing public relations, but there is definitely more of an emphasis on community relations in this position. This month, I have been running all over (Louisiana's corner of) creation to do events such as the bank's title sponsorship of Wednesday at the Square in New Orleans, an evening of free music in Lafayette Square (at St. Charles and Poydras). The weather has been so nice and cool for it, so I'm really thankful for that! We also partially sponsored a Wooden Boat Festival last weekend in Madisonville (near Covington and Mandeville) and had the bank's boat, the Doris M, docked for visitors to check out. This week, I have focused more on the Baton Rouge Business Report's BizTech Expo. BRBR is Louisiana's version of the Mississippi Business Journal and hosts this huge expo each year. HB is one of the four title sponsors, so we have a large booth and much participation. When I'm not event-planning, I process all charitable contribution requests, work with a great committee to decide where the larger dollars go, and work on general PR (including yet another United Way campaign this year -- must they follow me everywhere?!). ;-)
HBLA headquarters is in a great location (off the College Drive exit of I-10) with many fun restaurants and shops around, not to mention a Barnes & Noble that bascially sits in the bank's parking lot and a movie theatre I can see from my window. So that helps when it comes to figuring out how to spend the new spare time I've suddenly found myself with. I haven't gotten involved in PRAL (the Public Relations Association of Louisiana) yet -- they are still taking hiatus since SPRF (Southern Public Relations Federation) just had their annual conference. I'm also waiting a little while before I transfer my Junior League membership from Jackson to Baton Rouge...even though I haven't met that many people outside of work here yet, I'm definitely enjoying a breather from meetings and projects, valuable as they are.
Baton Rouge itself is a very fun city to live in, full of culture and art and all the traditional Louisiana traits -- spices, accents and a nice, laid-back atmosphere. Except the traffic! If you've ever heard anything about it, you heard right. Ugh. But otherwise, great city! Oh, and I have to say...in spite of my best efforts, I've become an LSU fan. It totally snuck up on me, but here I am, anxiously awaiting each new game day and chanting the Tigers' fight song with the best of 'em. My coworkers and sister are very proud of me. :-)
The long-distance adjustment with Carl and my friends has been more of a challenge for me than I expected, but it's all working out well. I prayed through this decision long before this job opportunity came, so that always gives reassurance whenever I wonder what the heck I've done by removing myself from the people who know me best. ;-) Thankfully, C seems to like Baton Rouge, too, so that makes exploring the city even more fun. During the week when I'm alone, I can tuck things away I want to show him during his visits.
I haven't yet been here too much during the weekends, and when I have I've either been working a weekend event or too dizzy to do too much -- yes, don't worry, I was diagnosed with inner ear issues last week?!?! -- so I haven't had much of a chance to check out local churches, but I'm looking forward to doing that soon. I would really love to get involved with a ladies' Bible study in the area as a means of spiritual feeding, encouragement and meeting people, but so far I haven't had any leads on that -- at least not from the Internet.
I know this has been long and generic, but I did want to send a thorough update. I'm sorry I haven't been great about keeping in touch, but maybe with all this free time, I can work on that. :-) I do hope you're all well and that you'll keep me posted on yourselves!
With much love,
rebekah :-)
p.s. Geaux Tigers. :-)
-- "Life should be a little nuts. Otherwise, it's just a bunch of random Thursdays strung together." -- Kevin Costner, from Rumor Has It
2 Comments - 0 Kudos
Excellent. So happy to hear things are going so well. ;-)
Posted by Just Music on October 18, 2007 - Thursday 9:29 PM
I'm so happy you've found a great new home.
Posted by Jams on October 18, 2007 - Thursday 10:22 PM
But happily, I found a new place. :-) For those familiar with this area, it's not far from Highland and Bluebonnet, and I think it'll be a great way to save money and still live comfortably for at least a year. I've met a couple of my neighbors and they seem really nice, too. The drive to work will be about 15-20 minutes -- not bad -- and I'll be in a different part of town that will allow me easy access to the mall, among other important priorities. :-)
I'm so happy to report that the reason I'm even here in the first place (my job) is fantastic. I am fulfilled in my work and challenged, and I have gotten to know some very sweet coworkers as well (three of whom are even taking me out to dinner for my birthday -- how nice is that?). My predecessor still works with the bank and has been more than helpful, patiently answering my many questions. She is very organized, which gives me something to strive for as I make the valiant effort to follow in her footsteps. :-)
It's great to be back at Hancock Bank, but in a different department and location. I've enjoyed visiting Gulfport and with Gulfport people (many of my old coworkers from when I left in '99 are still there), and it's been fun to get to know the Louisiana HBers as well. It's still sort of uncanny to put so many names I saw from when HB starting acquiring Louisiana banks in '95 with actual faces and titles over here! Thankfully, the company is the same place I remember from college -- a warm and friendly atmosphere with an emphasis on professionalism. I'm getting to work for the person I consider to be my first mentor in Corporate Communications, and, of course, this girly girl is enjoying dressing up for work again! :-)
I'm still doing public relations, but there is definitely more of an emphasis on community relations in this position. This month, I have been running all over (Louisiana's corner of) creation to do events such as the bank's title sponsorship of Wednesday at the Square in New Orleans, an evening of free music in Lafayette Square (at St. Charles and Poydras). The weather has been so nice and cool for it, so I'm really thankful for that! We also partially sponsored a Wooden Boat Festival last weekend in Madisonville (near Covington and Mandeville) and had the bank's boat, the Doris M, docked for visitors to check out. This week, I have focused more on the Baton Rouge Business Report's BizTech Expo. BRBR is Louisiana's version of the Mississippi Business Journal and hosts this huge expo each year. HB is one of the four title sponsors, so we have a large booth and much participation. When I'm not event-planning, I process all charitable contribution requests, work with a great committee to decide where the larger dollars go, and work on general PR (including yet another United Way campaign this year -- must they follow me everywhere?!). ;-)
HBLA headquarters is in a great location (off the College Drive exit of I-10) with many fun restaurants and shops around, not to mention a Barnes & Noble that bascially sits in the bank's parking lot and a movie theatre I can see from my window. So that helps when it comes to figuring out how to spend the new spare time I've suddenly found myself with. I haven't gotten involved in PRAL (the Public Relations Association of Louisiana) yet -- they are still taking hiatus since SPRF (Southern Public Relations Federation) just had their annual conference. I'm also waiting a little while before I transfer my Junior League membership from Jackson to Baton Rouge...even though I haven't met that many people outside of work here yet, I'm definitely enjoying a breather from meetings and projects, valuable as they are.
Baton Rouge itself is a very fun city to live in, full of culture and art and all the traditional Louisiana traits -- spices, accents and a nice, laid-back atmosphere. Except the traffic! If you've ever heard anything about it, you heard right. Ugh. But otherwise, great city! Oh, and I have to say...in spite of my best efforts, I've become an LSU fan. It totally snuck up on me, but here I am, anxiously awaiting each new game day and chanting the Tigers' fight song with the best of 'em. My coworkers and sister are very proud of me. :-)
The long-distance adjustment with Carl and my friends has been more of a challenge for me than I expected, but it's all working out well. I prayed through this decision long before this job opportunity came, so that always gives reassurance whenever I wonder what the heck I've done by removing myself from the people who know me best. ;-) Thankfully, C seems to like Baton Rouge, too, so that makes exploring the city even more fun. During the week when I'm alone, I can tuck things away I want to show him during his visits.
I haven't yet been here too much during the weekends, and when I have I've either been working a weekend event or too dizzy to do too much -- yes, don't worry, I was diagnosed with inner ear issues last week?!?! -- so I haven't had much of a chance to check out local churches, but I'm looking forward to doing that soon. I would really love to get involved with a ladies' Bible study in the area as a means of spiritual feeding, encouragement and meeting people, but so far I haven't had any leads on that -- at least not from the Internet.
I know this has been long and generic, but I did want to send a thorough update. I'm sorry I haven't been great about keeping in touch, but maybe with all this free time, I can work on that. :-) I do hope you're all well and that you'll keep me posted on yourselves!
With much love,
rebekah :-)
p.s. Geaux Tigers. :-)
-- "Life should be a little nuts. Otherwise, it's just a bunch of random Thursdays strung together." -- Kevin Costner, from Rumor Has It
2 Comments - 0 Kudos
Excellent. So happy to hear things are going so well. ;-)
Posted by Just Music on October 18, 2007 - Thursday 9:29 PM
I'm so happy you've found a great new home.
Posted by Jams on October 18, 2007 - Thursday 10:22 PM
Operation Lysol
When I went home to the coast a few weekends ago, I was counting on quality time with family and a little R&R, but I had no idea I was in for such an adventure....especially at my grandparents' house.
I'm not sure how to frame this bizarre story other than to start from the beginning: My mom and I had gone to visit Nan and Pop Ball, and everyone else was in the study while I was in the kitchen. On my way across the threshold into the sunroom, I saw this strange black worm thingy about the size of my pinky finger poke up from the floor, then poke back down. Thinking I was losing my mind and feeling terrified at the same time, I stood there for a few minutes and stared at the Amazing Disappearing Thing spot before calling for someone to come in there with me. When I told my mother about it while gesturing animatedly at a perfectly clean threshold and floor, I realized how on crack I sounded, but what's a girl to do? I knew I saw something. I figured it was just an earthworm, but wanted to let them know in case it was a baby snake.
Pop Ball sprayed insect repellant on the area, we all stood and stared at it for a few more minutes, then nervously shrugged and went back into the other room. I was admittedly pretty rattled -- not only was I concerned about what the Thing potentially was, but I also felt a little whacked out and kept replaying in my mind what I saw, reminding myself that I really did see something at all.
About 30 minutes later, my mom was going into another room when she cried for us to come there -- the Thing was, in fact, a snake, and was stretched out across that threshold. (Just thinking about this again makes me shudder!)
My grandmother (Nan) rushed into the room with my mother while Pop Ball and I looked for something to kill the snake with. I asked him where a hoe or shovel was (we were near the utility room, which leads outside), and he said, "You're more likely to find a machete in there." I laughed, but when I turned on the light, there was....a machete. Ok.
So we went to find the Thing, but don't worry -- it had slithered into the dining room. My mom and Nan were running to close the doors and Pop Ball and I, machete in hand, furtively looked around when it hit us all simultaneously: the Thing had gotten away. I won't even try to describe the collective shudder that went through the room. Nan and Mother described The Thing as only about a foot long, and smaller in diameter than my pinky finger, but we were still all pretty shaken up...at least I was.
The more I looked around at all the Things' potential hiding places, the more I began to internally freak out. The grout on the tile floor was black (the color of the Thing) and....yep, about the diameter of my pinky. Great. The dining room table had tons of wooden beams underneath it, and to top it all off, the house is generally an open layout. Nan grabbed a can of Lysol and began spraying all the possible areas the Thing could be hiding in: under cabinets, along baseboards, etc.
After looking around for a while, we all decided to take a post and sit and stare at the general dining room/kitchen area. It was at this point that I finally realized a sheer yet shocking (to me) truth: I am a total wimp.
My 81 year-old grandmother was armed with a can of Lysol, my 86 year-old grandfather had a machete, for crying out loud, and my 56 year-old mother had another bottle of cleaner. They were occasionally venturing into the danger zone rooms, while I sat with my feet in my chair, literally quaking in my flip flops, sporadically offering a weak, "PLEASE be careful." I, the epitome of brute force, courage and strength that I am, was holding onto a flashlight for dear life. Whenever anyone needed it, of course, I did my duty and handed it over. In addition, I sent texts to C, my sister and my cousin, who all responded appropriately to their personalities:
Kim: I'm praying!
C: What?! Are you ok?!
Russ: A phone call asking if we were pinned up against a wall by something. When I told him I had been sitting there trying to imagine his reaction to The Thing, he quipped, "Well, I can tell you what I wouldn't be doing, and that's sitting in that house holding nothing but a can of Lysol."
After my job as communicator was complete, I was also gracious enough to offer to go get us something to eat, since I shrieked at the idea of my Nan cooking anything in the kitchen where The Thing was. Pitiful. Thankfully, Nan -- calm and collected as she had been throughout the ordeal -- jumped at the idea to ride with me to Sonic, and as soon as she closed my passenger door, spouted, "Honey, I sure do hope they find that thing and KILL it before we get back. I'm scared to death!"
The big debate throughout the night had been how the Thing had gotten into the house. Pop Ball was convinced it "came in on a plant," while Nan patted my leg with her infamous pointer finger, muttering, "Hon-ey, if anything happens around here, my plants are the first to get the blame."
After we brought back hamburgers for The Rescue Crew and we had eaten, I tried to convince Pop Ball and Nan to come home and spend the night with us (so it wouldn't sneak up on them in their sleep), but Pop Ball only retorted, "Sure, and what are we supposed to do tomorrow? Put a For Sale sign in the yard because of a little snake? That thing is more afraid of us than we are of it."
Sadly enough, we -- or they -- never found The Thing.
A couple of weeks ago, though, when the Terminex man was at their house doing a routine spray, he came in from the yard and asked Nan:
"Mrs. Ball, did you know there's a little snake in your flower bed?"
She said, "Is it about a foot long and yay-wide with a thin little stripe down its back?"
Startled, he replied, "Yes ma'am, that was it..."
She said, "Well, either he or his brother got in here a while back, so I'm glad he's outside now!"
All we can surmise is that the Lysol fumigated him out. Talk about quality time.
2 Comments - 2 Kudos
I love real life stories! You did an excellent job, I feel like I was actually there. :) Hilarious...
Posted by Just Music on October 18, 2007 - Thursday 5:19 PM
I'm not sure how to frame this bizarre story other than to start from the beginning: My mom and I had gone to visit Nan and Pop Ball, and everyone else was in the study while I was in the kitchen. On my way across the threshold into the sunroom, I saw this strange black worm thingy about the size of my pinky finger poke up from the floor, then poke back down. Thinking I was losing my mind and feeling terrified at the same time, I stood there for a few minutes and stared at the Amazing Disappearing Thing spot before calling for someone to come in there with me. When I told my mother about it while gesturing animatedly at a perfectly clean threshold and floor, I realized how on crack I sounded, but what's a girl to do? I knew I saw something. I figured it was just an earthworm, but wanted to let them know in case it was a baby snake.
Pop Ball sprayed insect repellant on the area, we all stood and stared at it for a few more minutes, then nervously shrugged and went back into the other room. I was admittedly pretty rattled -- not only was I concerned about what the Thing potentially was, but I also felt a little whacked out and kept replaying in my mind what I saw, reminding myself that I really did see something at all.
About 30 minutes later, my mom was going into another room when she cried for us to come there -- the Thing was, in fact, a snake, and was stretched out across that threshold. (Just thinking about this again makes me shudder!)
My grandmother (Nan) rushed into the room with my mother while Pop Ball and I looked for something to kill the snake with. I asked him where a hoe or shovel was (we were near the utility room, which leads outside), and he said, "You're more likely to find a machete in there." I laughed, but when I turned on the light, there was....a machete. Ok.
So we went to find the Thing, but don't worry -- it had slithered into the dining room. My mom and Nan were running to close the doors and Pop Ball and I, machete in hand, furtively looked around when it hit us all simultaneously: the Thing had gotten away. I won't even try to describe the collective shudder that went through the room. Nan and Mother described The Thing as only about a foot long, and smaller in diameter than my pinky finger, but we were still all pretty shaken up...at least I was.
The more I looked around at all the Things' potential hiding places, the more I began to internally freak out. The grout on the tile floor was black (the color of the Thing) and....yep, about the diameter of my pinky. Great. The dining room table had tons of wooden beams underneath it, and to top it all off, the house is generally an open layout. Nan grabbed a can of Lysol and began spraying all the possible areas the Thing could be hiding in: under cabinets, along baseboards, etc.
After looking around for a while, we all decided to take a post and sit and stare at the general dining room/kitchen area. It was at this point that I finally realized a sheer yet shocking (to me) truth: I am a total wimp.
My 81 year-old grandmother was armed with a can of Lysol, my 86 year-old grandfather had a machete, for crying out loud, and my 56 year-old mother had another bottle of cleaner. They were occasionally venturing into the danger zone rooms, while I sat with my feet in my chair, literally quaking in my flip flops, sporadically offering a weak, "PLEASE be careful." I, the epitome of brute force, courage and strength that I am, was holding onto a flashlight for dear life. Whenever anyone needed it, of course, I did my duty and handed it over. In addition, I sent texts to C, my sister and my cousin, who all responded appropriately to their personalities:
Kim: I'm praying!
C: What?! Are you ok?!
Russ: A phone call asking if we were pinned up against a wall by something. When I told him I had been sitting there trying to imagine his reaction to The Thing, he quipped, "Well, I can tell you what I wouldn't be doing, and that's sitting in that house holding nothing but a can of Lysol."
After my job as communicator was complete, I was also gracious enough to offer to go get us something to eat, since I shrieked at the idea of my Nan cooking anything in the kitchen where The Thing was. Pitiful. Thankfully, Nan -- calm and collected as she had been throughout the ordeal -- jumped at the idea to ride with me to Sonic, and as soon as she closed my passenger door, spouted, "Honey, I sure do hope they find that thing and KILL it before we get back. I'm scared to death!"
The big debate throughout the night had been how the Thing had gotten into the house. Pop Ball was convinced it "came in on a plant," while Nan patted my leg with her infamous pointer finger, muttering, "Hon-ey, if anything happens around here, my plants are the first to get the blame."
After we brought back hamburgers for The Rescue Crew and we had eaten, I tried to convince Pop Ball and Nan to come home and spend the night with us (so it wouldn't sneak up on them in their sleep), but Pop Ball only retorted, "Sure, and what are we supposed to do tomorrow? Put a For Sale sign in the yard because of a little snake? That thing is more afraid of us than we are of it."
Sadly enough, we -- or they -- never found The Thing.
A couple of weeks ago, though, when the Terminex man was at their house doing a routine spray, he came in from the yard and asked Nan:
"Mrs. Ball, did you know there's a little snake in your flower bed?"
She said, "Is it about a foot long and yay-wide with a thin little stripe down its back?"
Startled, he replied, "Yes ma'am, that was it..."
She said, "Well, either he or his brother got in here a while back, so I'm glad he's outside now!"
All we can surmise is that the Lysol fumigated him out. Talk about quality time.
2 Comments - 2 Kudos
I love real life stories! You did an excellent job, I feel like I was actually there. :) Hilarious...
Posted by Just Music on October 18, 2007 - Thursday 5:19 PM
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
(225)
Now that I've been in the BR for almost two months, I feel a little more qualified to share my top 10 favorite things about the land of the Red Stick:
10. It's only an hour to New Orleans...hour and a half, max, if traffic's bad. Who could ask for anything more?
9. Spices, spices, spices. Mmmmm.
8. The wide variety of restaurants here...I think I could eat out all the time and never hit some of these joints...and they're GOOD.
7. The water. Seriously, I heard it's the second best in the country. (No one knows what the first is...I'm thinking somewhere in Colorado?)
6. There's no lack of fleur de lis-related items in this city, and I do heart the fleur de lis. :-) You can even find them in gas stations here!
5. The heads-up this city gives on street signs. Especially as someone new to the area, it's so nice to see "Highland Rd. Next Signal" before l cause three accidents by slamming on brakes when I have finally reached Highland Avenue.
4. The Cajun/Louisiana way...nice and laid-back, but direct and frank and no-nonsense about everything, especially how to have fun when it's time for it. :-)
3. I know I've already mentioned spices, but Tabasco! It's always been the BEST to me, but C and I recently visited the Tabasco plant at Avery Island (about an hour from here) and it was too much fun!
2. Those tigers. I didn't mean to let it happen, but they truly worked their way into my very heart of hearts. And I love them now. A lot. So GEAUX TIGERS!
And my number one favorite thing about this 225 area code is....
1. The accents. The beautiful, delectable, sounds-so-close-to-the-Back-Bay-of-Biloxi/Bay-St.-Louis accents. Happy sigh. :-) Makes it feel much more like home!
3 Comments - 2 Kudos
Yay, that sounds like so much fun. I am so happy for you! :)
Posted by Just Music on October 17, 2007 - Wednesday 5:11 AM
Woohooo! Welcome to the land I love! Home, sweet home. :)
Posted by Skye on October 18, 2007 - Thursday 3:42 PM
GEAUX KENTUCKY!
Posted by hibbs is what they call me on October 18, 2007 - Thursday 8:04 PM
10. It's only an hour to New Orleans...hour and a half, max, if traffic's bad. Who could ask for anything more?
9. Spices, spices, spices. Mmmmm.
8. The wide variety of restaurants here...I think I could eat out all the time and never hit some of these joints...and they're GOOD.
7. The water. Seriously, I heard it's the second best in the country. (No one knows what the first is...I'm thinking somewhere in Colorado?)
6. There's no lack of fleur de lis-related items in this city, and I do heart the fleur de lis. :-) You can even find them in gas stations here!
5. The heads-up this city gives on street signs. Especially as someone new to the area, it's so nice to see "Highland Rd. Next Signal" before l cause three accidents by slamming on brakes when I have finally reached Highland Avenue.
4. The Cajun/Louisiana way...nice and laid-back, but direct and frank and no-nonsense about everything, especially how to have fun when it's time for it. :-)
3. I know I've already mentioned spices, but Tabasco! It's always been the BEST to me, but C and I recently visited the Tabasco plant at Avery Island (about an hour from here) and it was too much fun!
2. Those tigers. I didn't mean to let it happen, but they truly worked their way into my very heart of hearts. And I love them now. A lot. So GEAUX TIGERS!
And my number one favorite thing about this 225 area code is....
1. The accents. The beautiful, delectable, sounds-so-close-to-the-Back-Bay-of-Biloxi/Bay-St.-Louis accents. Happy sigh. :-) Makes it feel much more like home!
3 Comments - 2 Kudos
Yay, that sounds like so much fun. I am so happy for you! :)
Posted by Just Music on October 17, 2007 - Wednesday 5:11 AM
Woohooo! Welcome to the land I love! Home, sweet home. :)
Posted by Skye on October 18, 2007 - Thursday 3:42 PM
GEAUX KENTUCKY!
Posted by hibbs is what they call me on October 18, 2007 - Thursday 8:04 PM
Thursday, October 11, 2007
king of da nial
This week my nephew, who coined one of my more recent nicknames, "Da Bekah," demonstrated his denial about my move to Baton Rouge. Apparently, his conversation with my sister came out of the clear blue sky the other night and went something like this:
Caleb: Mom, why did Bekah have to go back to Jackson?
Kim: Well, when she went back to Jackson this summer after we saw her, it was because she had to go back to work. But now she doesn't live in Jackson. She's in Baton Rouge. That's in Louisiana.
Caleb: No she isn't.
Kim: Yes she is.
Caleb: No she isn't.
Kim: Yes she is.
After about five minutes of this, Kim realized she was sounding like the 4-year-old in the convo and agreed to disagree with the little man. And a few minutes later, Caleb reached over and quietly reinforced his point while patting her leg:
"Bekah lives in Jackson, Mom."
I have to hand it to our future president (vote Caleb Wood 2038!) -- change can be a little difficult to adjust to, particularly when it happens quickly and when we've been so used to the status quo.
I, however, am fully aware that I am becoming more and more rooted in this ever-creative land chock full of culture and spices, and that I'm having a really good time exploring this new state.
And I have a children's book of Louisiana on order for the little man, which I will send to him with a Caleb's world-specific map of our gulf states so he'll know exactly where Da Bekah went, saying goodbye to da nial...maybe.
1 Comments - 2 Kudos
Kids are hilarious! Kimberly is exactly the same way, it is like her favorite thing to tell me very 'matter-of-factly' what "IS" and "What IS not" So. All that matters to her is what she things "IS"... it can be ranch dressing... but to her... it is most definitely "Ketchup".
Posted by Just Music on October 12, 2007 - Friday 3:31 AM
Caleb: Mom, why did Bekah have to go back to Jackson?
Kim: Well, when she went back to Jackson this summer after we saw her, it was because she had to go back to work. But now she doesn't live in Jackson. She's in Baton Rouge. That's in Louisiana.
Caleb: No she isn't.
Kim: Yes she is.
Caleb: No she isn't.
Kim: Yes she is.
After about five minutes of this, Kim realized she was sounding like the 4-year-old in the convo and agreed to disagree with the little man. And a few minutes later, Caleb reached over and quietly reinforced his point while patting her leg:
"Bekah lives in Jackson, Mom."
I have to hand it to our future president (vote Caleb Wood 2038!) -- change can be a little difficult to adjust to, particularly when it happens quickly and when we've been so used to the status quo.
I, however, am fully aware that I am becoming more and more rooted in this ever-creative land chock full of culture and spices, and that I'm having a really good time exploring this new state.
And I have a children's book of Louisiana on order for the little man, which I will send to him with a Caleb's world-specific map of our gulf states so he'll know exactly where Da Bekah went, saying goodbye to da nial...maybe.
1 Comments - 2 Kudos
Kids are hilarious! Kimberly is exactly the same way, it is like her favorite thing to tell me very 'matter-of-factly' what "IS" and "What IS not" So. All that matters to her is what she things "IS"... it can be ranch dressing... but to her... it is most definitely "Ketchup".
Posted by Just Music on October 12, 2007 - Friday 3:31 AM
Thursday, October 4, 2007
38
My parents have been married for 38 years today, and I think that's just amazing.
I just wrote them a long overdue letter thanking them for their example, and found myself with tears in my eyes as I tried to explain to them that I don't necessarily think anything's wrong with me for not craving married life yet -- I just truly want it to be forever, and I don't want wrong timing to get in the way of that.
There's a lot I complain about (a lot of the time), but I must say, I'm thankful for all those around me who have set such great examples with their lives. From my parents who daily show me that longevity is alive and well, to my sister who is willing to make huge personal sacrifices to make sure her child is raised (and disciplined) well, to cousins who remind me with their sweet personalities that life is about the here and now and what we make of it, to friends who demonstrate graceful acceptance of beginnings and ends and changes (Bethanie, I'm thinking of you specifically here), to a boyfriend who shows me the true meaning of character, loyalty and strong work ethic...I am definitely more blessed than I often let on.
And now I'm crying full force! Ugh. Girldom.
3 Comments - 4 Kudos
WoW! I'm enjoying catching up on your life. I'm glad that things are starting to settle in - and hopefully soon they will begin to feel "familiar" instead of "new." Hang in there! Congrats on the new place and awesome outlook on the new adventure! Oh, and thanks for sharing another "happily ever after" example. A rare thing these days, but I love hearing about them!
Posted by lotts2tel on October 4, 2007 - Thursday 4:54 PM
Aww, that is amazing. I hope to be able to say the same things some day. I am so glad to see life is going so well. :o)
Posted by Just Music on October 4, 2007 - Thursday 5:43 PM
And you have now brought a tear to my eye...kudos to you and to your parents!
Posted by Bethanie on October 4, 2007 - Thursday 7:39 PM
I just wrote them a long overdue letter thanking them for their example, and found myself with tears in my eyes as I tried to explain to them that I don't necessarily think anything's wrong with me for not craving married life yet -- I just truly want it to be forever, and I don't want wrong timing to get in the way of that.
There's a lot I complain about (a lot of the time), but I must say, I'm thankful for all those around me who have set such great examples with their lives. From my parents who daily show me that longevity is alive and well, to my sister who is willing to make huge personal sacrifices to make sure her child is raised (and disciplined) well, to cousins who remind me with their sweet personalities that life is about the here and now and what we make of it, to friends who demonstrate graceful acceptance of beginnings and ends and changes (Bethanie, I'm thinking of you specifically here), to a boyfriend who shows me the true meaning of character, loyalty and strong work ethic...I am definitely more blessed than I often let on.
And now I'm crying full force! Ugh. Girldom.
3 Comments - 4 Kudos
WoW! I'm enjoying catching up on your life. I'm glad that things are starting to settle in - and hopefully soon they will begin to feel "familiar" instead of "new." Hang in there! Congrats on the new place and awesome outlook on the new adventure! Oh, and thanks for sharing another "happily ever after" example. A rare thing these days, but I love hearing about them!
Posted by lotts2tel on October 4, 2007 - Thursday 4:54 PM
Aww, that is amazing. I hope to be able to say the same things some day. I am so glad to see life is going so well. :o)
Posted by Just Music on October 4, 2007 - Thursday 5:43 PM
And you have now brought a tear to my eye...kudos to you and to your parents!
Posted by Bethanie on October 4, 2007 - Thursday 7:39 PM
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