5 Things I'm Thankful for Today.

1. Fall weather. 60-degree temps? In the deep south? Yes, siree. Bring it on.
2. Crock pots. The scents wafting throughout the house, the prep and being able to do other things while meals are cooking, the multiple servings of meals when the slow cooker has finished slow cooking...it's all good. Literally.
3. Hope. 'Cause you know, it's a pretty huge motivator and the best non-narcotic ever. Ever. Also, it can keep you going through the next week, which is amazingly nice.
4. Football season. You know, my teams don't have to win, but it's really nice when they do. Well, when some of them do. Specifically the Saints and LSU. I'd love for Southern Miss to do well, but...maybe next year. :-)
5. A grandmother who recovers well enough from her stroke to come home. And parents who are willing to change their lives to help her. That was long, but I think necessary.

The Two-Minute Warning.

Along with most of America, I've been watching a lot of football these past few months. 

(And, along with most of my region and family and friends, I was highly excited about LSU's Cotton Bowl win last night and sadly disappointed about the Saints' wild card playoff loss today.)

But I digress.

As football season quickly dwindles away for 2010-2011, I've become more and more aware of "the two-minute warning." I can't count the number of times I've heard that statement in football and wished that more facets of this game of life contained a heads-up for what's about to happen: prime time to make pertinent decisions, a glimpse that the end is in sight, or just the chance to wind down from the past (often very emotional) game that's occurred.



That two-minute warning.

Man, the times I could've used that. I'm guessing I'm not alone in this, and that we all would appreciate a little advance notice -- before the slam of a door, the opening of a window, the end of a game, the opportunity to make a crucial play.

I guess the bottom line is that we don't get a two-minute warning in life, but we do get a heads-up. Vibes, gut feelings, prompting by the Holy Spirit -- I've heard them referred to by many names and in many forms.

In the Communications/PR field, it's common to create plans for crisis situations. It's also recommended. And while it's highly unlikely (and a little freaky-sounding) to do the same for every possible personal crisis, I am learning more and more that it is really incredibly wise to be prepared. That way, when the two-minute warning (slash nudge slash gut feeling slash sixth sense) comes around, we're not caught so off-guard. We can start taking deep breaths, looking to the future instead of beginning what can turn into an endless dwelling on what's about to happen.

This might sound jaded, but I'm going to start thinking a little more about being prepared for that two-minute warning before it comes.

Knowing the future is near, being optimistic about it, putting myself in gear for good times ahead, and wrapping up my current game/status/situation. That can't be too bad, right?

Let's hope not. Because this year, for this redhead, focus is the name of the game.

Watch out, ADHD thoughts and tendencies! You're about to get a run for your money!

This is the two-minute warning!


 

Bye Week.

This past weekend was LSU's bye week.

I wasn't thinking in terms of that when I made the decision to chill for the weekend, but as it turned out, I took a bye week of my own.

I stayed home. I rested. A lot. It was bliss.

Let's just hope I'm geared up for the Crimson Tide-like challenges that are already hitting me this week! And Geaux Tigers. :-)

Five Things I'm Thankful For.

Five things I've been thankful for this week -- and even this day, in particular -- are:

1. The fact that I'm not where I was last year at this time, and that an entire year (albeit a bit too dramatic for my taste) has passed. Whew!

2. The beautiful, precious, kindhearted, loving friends and family who surround my world, and who are right where I need them to be when I need them to be there.

3. How many times can I say it? FALL! Love the cool weather!

4. The fact that I'm not the one who slid the ring on the finger of the obnoxious guy we sat in front of at tonight's LSU game. Lord have mercy on that poor woman. Seriously.

5. The future, and that we can look forward to it, without being bound to our pasts. Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!

This time of year.

This week, I'm going to see Better than Ezra in concert for the first time ever! This is shocking for many of my BR peeps, since Ezra got their start in Baton Rouge, went to LSU, and played at Ole Miss a good bit, but it will be a fun first for me.

I've been re-familiarizing myself with many of my faves, including "Good," "Desperately Wanting," and the great fall classic, "This Time of Year," which I've posted the video and lyrics of here:



"This Time of Year" by Better Than Ezra

Well there's a feelin' in the air
Just like a friday afternoon
Yeah you can go there if you want
Though it fades too soon

So go on, let it be
If there's a feelin' coming over me
Seems like it's always understood
this time of year

Well I know there's a reason to change
Well I know there's a time for us
Think about the good times
and you live with all the bad
You can feel it in the air
Feelin' right this time of year

Well there's a football in the air
Across the leaf-blown field
Yeah, and there's your first car on the road
And the girl you steal

So go on, if you fell
If there's a feelin' that there's somethin' else
Seems like it's always understood
this time of year

Well I know theres a reason to change (this time of year)
Yeah I know theres a time for us (this time of year)
Think about the good times but you live with all the bad (this time of year)
You can feel it in the air
Feelin' right this time of year

Well theres a feelin' in the air
Just like a friday afternoon
Yeah you can go there if you want
Though it fades too soon

So go on, let it be
If there's a feelin' comin' over me
Seems like it's always understood
this time of year

Well I know theres a reason to change (this time of year)
Yeah I know there's a time for us (this time of year)
Ya think about the good times,
and you live with all the bad (this time of year)

You can feel it in the air
Feel it in the air
Yeah I can feel it in the air
Well I can feel it in the air

Yeah you can feel it in the air
Feelin' right this time of year

Game Day!

It's college football game day across the nations, and I'm headed to Death Valley to watch the Tigers stomp Vanderbilt. (At least I'm hoping that will be the outcome!)

Southern Miss has a home game today, too... I'm hoping to make at least one of those this season.

So Geaux TIGERS! And Southern Miss, To The Top!

Rah! :-D

Full Heart.

Five things I've been thankful for this week are:

1. Having a job. That pays me. Especially in this economy, but period.

2. Getting to see my family last weekend. My heart is ridonculously full from my time with my parents, grandparents, sister, brother-in-law, and nephew -- not to mention the million other relatives I received hugs and happiness from, plus a few friends, too.

3. Where I'm from. I don't care where we rank on national scores for every last thing ever; I'm so proud to be a Mississippi girl. (Ok, I DO care, but I'm just sayin'. That doesn't diminish my pride at all.) Where I'm from is amazing, colorful, full of life, and the absolute heart and soul of kindness. Without home, I obviously would and could not be me. Going back there is just like taking a long, hot shower after a month of sponge baths.

4. My puppy, and how sweet she is, and what she means to my family. I could -- and surely will -- write a whole blog on precious Tractor, but for now, I'll just say that especially for an outside, stray, mutt-of-origin, squirrel-chasing, happened upon our family little runt, that Tractor sure has made the Johnsons' lives sweeter, more protected, and more loved all these years.

5. LSU FOOTBALL. Welcome back, my friend. Sure has been lonely here without ya.

Geaux....

Finally, it's that time again!!!!!

GEAUX TIGERS!