WATS

Every Wednesday from April till mid-June, I go to New Orleans for work. Hancock Bank sponsors a concert series in Lafayette Square (it's free, so if you're in the area, come on out!). The concert series is called Wednesday at the Square (lovingly referred to many of us as "WATS") and is put on by the Young Leadership Council in N.O., and is really fantastic.

As Community Relations chick for HB-Louisiana, I'm responsible for managing our part of the event and making sure it goes well. This year, like everyone, we're cutting back and saving money. This means that "managing the event" now includes things like hauling coolers full of leftover drinks back and forth, moving tables, etc. (This might read like a complaint, but please don't get me wrong -- I'm SO thankful to have a job. Just a little sore from it every week!)

Now that the end of the series is in sight, though, I'm finding myself less motivated to get moving and haul the coolers to the car. For instance, right now. ;-) However, I know I'll miss this fun part of my job once it's over. I'm pretty sure I won't miss the fresh bruises I have each Thursday, but seriously? New Orleans once a week? I'm such a whiner!

However, all whining and gratitude aside, I will be holding the 2nd annual Wednesday NOT at the Square the evening of June 24. I'm not sure what will be involved, but I'm pretty sure that these things will NOT be involved:

1. lifting anything heavier than a plate of food;


2. sweating like a pig;


3. dealing with NOPD parking tickets (even though I have a parking pass on my car);


4. driving 1.5 hours each way to my destination;


5. making notes on my phone for what I'll need for the next week.

Who wouldn't love a night like that?! If you're in BR that evening, please plan to join me!

Proud to be an American

Memorial Day isn't the only time I'm proud to be an American, but it's certainly a good reminder. Another incredible reminder is the ever-growing number of people I love who have served our country and fought selflessly for my freedom, just because it's the right thing to do. They have more guts than I ever will, and have achieved more than I can ever hope to in my lifetime.

I'm so thankful for the peeps in my life who have been willing to fight for my freedom, including (but not limited to): my grandfather, Herman Moore, who served in the Army in WWII; my (newer) grandfather, Cliff Ball, who served in the Air Force throughout his career as a Colonel and fought in many battles/wars, many of which I will never know about; my daddy, Kent Johnson, who served in the Army National Guard; my cousin, Jeff Moore, who served in the Marines, fought in two (?) wars, and achieved Captain ranking; my friend, Allen McDaniel, who served in the Army National Guard, fought in two (?) wars, and went on from being oh Captain my Captain to a higher ranking, which made me happy for him, but disappointed that my favorite nickname for him is no longer applicable. ;-)

There are many more people whom I love and cherish who have served our country. Really, there are too many to name. But those are the ones who have probably touched my life on a daily basis more than I ever dreamed anyone would, and I thank them -- and all our past, present and future soldiers -- for being so amazing and for keeping our country free.

I love the Zac Brown Band, and his song "Chicken Fried" is entirely too appropriate for this time of remembrance for me not to bring it up. Here are the lyrics that keep running through my mind:

I thank God for my life

And for the stars and stripes

May freedom forever fly

Let it ring

Salute the ones who died

The ones who give their lives

So we don't have to sacrifice

All the things we love

(Like our chicken fried)

God bless America!

Cup overflowing.

I know it's been a while since I've posted my "grateful" list, but I have had (and continue to have) SO much to be thankful for.

In fact, today, my cup is simply overflowing.

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.

All Will Be Well

One of my favorite songs from the last few years is The Gabe Dixon Band's "All Will Be Well." It's so soothing and inspirational; I sometimes listen to it while I'm getting ready for work. I think I first found it after hearing a clip of it on Grey's Anatomy way back when. Especially right now, the lyrics and tune really speak to me in a way that few secular songs can achieve. I hope you'll enjoy it, too!


The Gabe Dixon Band All Will Be Well - Watch a funny movie here

Thinking shoes?

My 5-year-old nephew registered for kindergarten last week, and during his pre-test, my brother-in-law asked my sister why Caleb's shoes were off. Kim didn't know, so when Caleb came back over to them, they asked him.

He said, "Those shoes were hurting my feet. I couldn't think with them on."

So apparently, while some require a thinking cap on their heads, Caleb requires those non-thinking shoes off his feet. ;-)

I cry something black.

I love wearing makeup.

It improves my face considerably, so I naturally feel a lot more together and presentable when I have it on. But when I cry it off...not so much fun.

I've never been a fan of waterproof mascara. It's too hard to take off! So I never wear it. But I should on some days, especially when it's clear I'll be upset or crying or even a tad weepy.

Instead, I continue to wear -- and cry off all over my face -- the same old mascara. It really makes the whole situation even uglier. And unlike some of my girlfriends (who would be easy to hate if I didn't love them), I am NOT a pretty crier.

Sigh.

Chuck Norris uses skillz to save Croatia bakery.

I heard about this on the radio today, and being an all-time fan of Chuck Norris jokes, HAD to post the details. Thanks to Nicole for the reminder with her post about CN jokes!

A POSH bakery in Split, Croatia, has been broken into almost every week. But not since the shop owners posted a life-sized photo of the toughest man in Hollywood Chuck Norris in the window.

The sign says: “This shop is under the protection of Chuck Norris.”

Now the bakery hasn't had a single burglary for more than a month.

Sales assistant Mirna Kovac said: "To be honest we just started it as a joke but it really has worked. Thieves haven't been anywhere near us for ages. People seem to respect him. "Everyone around here has seen his films and he's quite a popular character, perhaps even among criminals, so they've decided to leave us alone."

She added though: "We have had a few customers come in and ask us whether they can get Chuck's autograph. “They really believe he is sitting in our storeroom out the back ready to pounce on any burglars."

Source: http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GWYA_enUS306US308&q=chuck+norris+bakery

Some Chuck Norris jokes can be found here.

Sadly, my all-time favorite is not listed, but goes a little something like this: Chuck Norris and Superman once arm wrestled. The winner had to wear his underwear on top of his pants for the rest of his life.

There was a little girl...

Nothing takes me back to childhood quite like

seeing the Kool-Aid man.

Also, my favorite poem from back in the day helps:

There was a little girl

Who had a little curl

Right in the middle of her forehead.

And when she was good

She was very, very good

And when she was bad

She was horrid.

Photos:

Top: Kool-Aid Man;

2nd: Uncle Mike, RJ, Russ - playing at my parents' house;

3rd: RJ, Rachel, Kim - at Center Hill Baptist Church in North Mississippi, where our grandfather, Herman Russell Moore, pastored before going to Woolmarket Baptist Church in Biloxi

Safe steals.

I'm catching up on friends' blogs for the first time in ages, and have decided to steal a few.

First on my list: an update on the Biloxi Lighthouse restoration by Jackson, MS PR colleague Shawn.

Biloxi
lighthouse repairs to begin
Photo via Flickr/Michael Fontaine
Hopefully, the Biloxi Lighthouse
will be ready for touring again by next spring. Restoration work is set to begin
in May and is slated to be finished by the end of the year. Hurricane Katrina
washed out part of the brick interior and completely destroyed the electrical
system.
Built in 1848 as a "working lighthouse," the 61-foot cast-iron
tower has long been a draw for tourists and locals alike (partly because of the
spectacular view from the top).
Along with restoring the lighthouse itself,
there are plans to build a new visitor's center on the north side of U.S. 90
directly across from the tower.

(Can we say YAY!!!?!?! I love that lighthouse.)

Next up, an inspirational quote from the blog of BR acquaintance (and outstanding community activist) Jamie:

Explore.
Dream. Discover.
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by
the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the
bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Explore. Dream. Discover. - Mark Twain

Ab. So. Lutely. I totally needed this one. Every day.

And thirdly, a "Mama Wins" post from my sister's sweet college friend Presley, and my own friend by good fortune:

A fellow blogger, Tales From The Crib, has been giving herself the award "Mama Wins" occasionally. In her own words she describes this award as " to honor the little things we as moms do that get little, if any, recognition. these are the kinds of things that i find myself doing (occasionally) that make me say to myself, 'i should get an award for this.'" Every time she awards this she has chosen something specific i.e.
carrying on adult conversations while little children running around the house
crazily, relaxed the "little-or-no sugar" rules to truly enjoy the Easter
holiday, bravely forge ahead with their motherly duties no matter what kind of
health problems they are dealing with. (I took/paraphrased those from examples
from her previous "Mama Wins" blog posts - you can click on her name above to go
to her blog). This morning when I read her "Mama Wins" post it resonated with
me. She gave herself the award for "today's award goes to you mamas out there
who let your kids wear what they want to wear, when they want to wear it, even
if you believe it brings shame to you and your name". As I have written about on
occasion, this is something I tend to struggle with. It just so happens that
yesterday, I overcame this issue for one outing :) Mondays are very busy for us.
After a morning of errands and taking Bankston Hays to Mommy and Me we pick up
Ann Elise from Preschool and take her to gymnastics. She has to change into her
leotard in the van. Once we are back home she runs up to her room and picks out
something from her "play clothes". Today, that selection consisted of an old
"princess on a horse" T-shirt with several red dirt stains, a non-matching pair
of coral colored knit shorts, neon striped Hello Kitty socks, and pink tennis
shoes with rainbow colored glitter. Awesome!! The great thing about this? I not
only let her out of the house, I let her go to the Library. Yes! Once Wes got
home from school, the four of us loaded up and went to the Library - Wes in his
uniform, Bankston Hays in a sweet appliqued shortall, and my very own Punky
Brewster! I only wish I had taken a picture. It would have made a great addition
to this post!

I so love this. The encouragement to step outside of my own norm -- and have fun while doing so -- is never unheeded by this redhead.

Thanks to ALL my blogging friends for their fun posts, and for keeping me updated on things when I need them, and how I need them.

I must say....catching up has never been so much fun. ;-)

Hit and run.

This weekend, I was the victim of a hit and run accident.

Friday night, I was celebrating the end of a very long month and a half of work by going to an outdoor concert downtown with some friends, then grabbing a po-boy with a few of the girls. We hung out for several hours, catching up on all the things we'd missed out on for the last 6 weeks, and I was actually starting to feel relaxed and pretty good about life.

As I was driving home, I noticed a guy driving erractically behind me on Perkins Road. I turned onto Myrtledale and was on that street for only a few feet when he slammed into the back of my car. I don't think he ever stopped -- just kept going. I was totally in shock. It happened so fast that I didn't get his license plate at all, but he was in a small-ish car (I'm thinking Honda) and was wearing a baseball cap.

My car is not undriveable by any means, and I am not hurt. The rear driver's door and trunk cannot be opened (because I'm afraid I won't be able to close them), but the damage could have been much worse -- to people and to the car.

I am very thankful that it wasn't as bad as it could have been. But I was totally shaken up, and for about 12 hours after it happened, couldn't stop wondering why weird always finds me. (Those of you who know me well realize that unfortunately, I am NOT exaggerating.)

I have an appointment with my insurance company tomorrow morning, and will have a rental car for the next 7 days (or however long it takes to fix my car).

When you look at the pictures I post here, you'll probably think I'm freaking out for nothing. I do think, though, that the main part of this was the shock factor of being randomly rammed by someone whose car had to have a fair amount of damage itself, since his car was small-ish.

It was just weird.