Black Friday Toils

I worked from our company's Gulfport (MS) office the day after Thanksgiving. It was a great way to allow me to spend extra time with family, not take a vacation day, and not commute back to BR with a holiday weekend "wasted."

I thought I was wonderfully clever to have this idea...until I realized I'd be missing the LSU game. I have, as my Daddy informed me after the Saints' Monday Night Football game, "become a little football junkie," and true to form, was a bit sad that I'd have to keep up with the score via texts from friends instead of watching it myself.

About a quarter into the game, my colleague asked if I wanted to watch it on the department TV, which is generally used for newscasts and weather updates (this is the MS Gulf Coast, and the building was pretty messed up in Katrina). Since there were only a few of us in the department -- much less the building -- at this point, I thought it couldn't hurt to bring some transportable work to the table to watch some football. I did, and was transfixed! LSU played a pretty good game (I was worried they'd forgotten how), but alas, Arkansas played better. One sad point better, in fact. The nail-biting final was 31-30.

But as the clock ticked past 5 on the day after a holiday and I continued to sit, laptop in tow, and glance at the TV during big moments, I couldn't help but think two things:
1. This is a pretty sweet deal.
2. My daddy is right. I have become "quite the little football junkie."

What's not to be thankful for?

I am so thankful. Being reminded of the spirit and meaning of Thanksgiving makes this week's "thankful" post harder than ever to narrow down. I did it, though, and this week, am especially thankful for:

1. Friends who will speak the truth to me, over and over. (For instance, Kristen, Erica, Jane and Tiffany's timely reminders about time and timing.)

2. Vay-cay! I go to NYC next week with Liz and Cecil and am SOOOO pumped! :-D

3. Family members whom I count among my best of friends (parents, Nan, Kim, Jeff, Greg, Russ, etc.).

4. Coworkers who get, put up with, like, and even seem to love me. (Grazie, ALong and SCole.)

5. Puppies! I heart my Tractor and I got to pet her and talk to her more than ever this weekend, along with Greg, Alicia and Lauren's puppy, Lacy. Good times. :-)

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving is my all-time favorite holiday.

I'm a big fan of a day that focuses on no-frills, no gifts, little hassle, and no muss and fuss (other than turkey, dressing and cranberry sauce, of course), and who isn't all about giving some thanks? It's a very easy thing to do, because there's entirely too much to be thankful for, even on the worst of days. It's also a great reminder of the brighter side of life, especially on the worst of days.

When my all-time favorite political cartoonist, Marshall Ramsey, sketched an image about my all-time favorite holiday, I obviously had to post it. (Given the economic environment, it's kind of nice to laugh rather than groan about the news.)

Food and economy aside, though, please know I am thankful for many things, including you, my friends and family. Without your love, support and patience, I'm well aware of how frighteningly different my life would look.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Saintsational Night at the Superdome

Tonight the New Orleans Saints played Monday Night Football in N.O. and I was honored to be offered a ticket from friends! It was a record-setting game for N.O., who slammed the Green Bay Packers 51-29.

Records set and interesting game notes:

1. Deuce McAllister scored on a 3-yard run Monday night for his 54th career touchdown. His third-quarter TD gave the Saints a 38-21 lead against the Green Bay Packers and broke Dalton Hilliard's mark, which he tied a week earlier in Kansas City.

2. Saints QB Drew Brees now has 3,574 passing yards through 11 games. Brees passed for 323 yards and four TDs.

A couple of years ago, I met Deuce at a work event for Nissan in Canton, MS. I am not crazy about the above picture of myself with him (and am pretty sure Bethanie will grumble if she sees it, too), but given tonight's win, I had to post it. :-)

Geaux Saints, and thanks to Shanehan, Paula, Dan, Ty, Stacey, Keith and Toya for including me in on the big night!

Blog on blogging.

When I blogged solely on MySpace, pics were, for some reason, difficult to include. So blogging became more of an online journal for me, which I loved -- rather than a show-and-tell situation, which is what I personally enjoy about friends' non-MySpace blogs.

Now, however, I find that on Blogger, I feel very compelled to have a visual with each entry. Obviously, I don't always provide the pic with the entry, but still. I don't think my non-pictoral entries can be that interesting.

I think that's thwarting my creative blogging, though. I mean, I'm all about some writing, and getting my thoughts out there, and sharing my words with the world (which no doubt, the world clearly loves). ;-) But I'm not compelled to share (much like I'm doing right now) unless I have a visual (which I don't right now, and I refuse to find as a companion to this entry).

So, I guess my question is, to visualize or not to visualize? Would readers/subscribers prefer posts with depth (I promise that sometimes I include that) or pretty pictures (which I can TOTALLY appreciate)?

Your honesty is expected! No pressure.

Bad news.

Anyone who knows me well is not shocked to hear how hilariously entertaining I find kids' stories to be. So it might not come as a huge shock to you that this most recent tale from my sister about my nephew totally cracked me up:

Setting: Family (Steve, Kim, Caleb) sitting on the couch, watching TV.

Timing: Random moment.

Caleb: (With a big sigh) "Bad news about one of my jackets, guys."

Kim (to Steve): "What four-year-old says that?!"

Caleb: (Further sighing) "The zipper broke. On the playground. It fell right off of me."

Seriously. I know he's my nephew, but who doesn't think that's funny?!

5-4-3-2-1...

The five things I'm most thankful for from the past week are:

1. God's grace. How thankful I am that His mercies are new every morning, even when my own are much harsher and much less forgiving.

2. FRIENDS. Could I be more grateful for the wonderful friends I've been blessed with? They keep me laughing, hopping, guessing, and on my toes. Yay me!

3. NYC in T minus 11 days!!!!

4. Caleb Levi Wood, who brings an innocent light to my life that would otherwise be much more vacant.

5. Peanut butter. I'm not ashamed. I'm 32, and still love it as much as I did when I was 2. Bring it on! (Crunchy, please.)

Fab Five

Five things I was thankful for last week:
1. Celebrating past, present and future friends.
2. Coats, gloves, scarves and hats! It is COLD.
3. Time to clean and organize.
4. Things to look forward to. (In particular, Rachel & Co. coming to BR and letting me tag along to the Ole Miss game!)
5. Memories of time with my sweet family last weekend.

Blast from the past

Recently, my sister and I had the honor of singing at a dear childhood friend's wedding. Along with the joy of being part of her special day came the opportunity to catch up with old friends we had grown up with. It was definitely a blast from the past, complete with a rehearsal dinner in the Woolmarket Baptist Church gym (Family Life Center), where we girls spent many a skate night and lock-in.

Pictured here are the Johnson girls with the Monroe girls....it's been a long time. :-)

Tiff, Bekah, Jenn, Wendy, Kim, Mel










We also have the WBC girls' reunion photo from the wedding:



Tiff, Wendy, Jalena, April, Melanie, Bekah, Jenn, Kim

Veterans' Day

Veterans' Day has special meaning for me since I know several who have fought (and who continue to fight) for my freedom. This year, it was also magnified by the recent presidential election, which always somehow make me more aware of national holidays (particularly those centered around controversial subjects).

Marshall Ramsey, political cartoonist for The Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, MS, always has a clever and poignant way to express the sentiments of the time, so I'll let his picture be worth my 1,000 words.

Thanks to all who give who they are for my freedom.

God bless you.

Top 5

Five things I've had to be thankful for in the past week are:

1. Spending time with my family, including Kim and Caleb, who gets to be more of a mess every day!

2. Seeing old childhood friends as adults, and laughing the way we did as kids.

3. Fall!

4. That SOMEONE's team is having a winning streak. (Someone = Caleb; team = Alabama)

5. My upcoming trip to NYC with Cicily and Liz! :-D

No Bama!

I figured I had better post this before the Bama/LSU game this weekend, since there's no telling what the outcome will be.

My new-ish BR friend Tiffany (pictured here with me) gave me a "Nobama" shirt for my birthday this year, with the intention of it favoring politics. I wore it to last weekend's game vs. Tulane, and couldn't believe the number of high-fives I got on campus! It was hilarious. Some people thought it wasn't political at all, but sports-centered, and that it said "No Bama."

So in light of our newly chosen president-elect, I mean no disrespect. I just hope we beat Bama. :-)

Also pictured is myself with Tiffany and Sheree...





...and with Angelle after the game (I look very haggard, but at least we won!).

Heads up.

I'll be spending time with my 4-year-old nephew this weekend, which means those of you who talk to me next week may, at any given point, hear an increase in the "Aw man!"s and "Cool"s in my conversations.

I'm just sayin'...

High Five

Five things I've had to be thankful for this week are:

1. The Sunday School and church service I visited last weekend (FBC Baton Rouge - downtown campus). Memories and snippets from both have been helpful reminders this week.

2. Friends who don't sigh in disgust when I'm grouchy (Angela and Shannon), or quickly avert their eyes and walk away when they see me in the mall and I'm weepy (Angelle), or tell me to toughen up and get over something that many may think I should've gotten past long ago (Cicily, Rachel R., and Liz).

3. A good job in an unstable economy.

4. Big, fat, juicy hamburgers.

5. An extra hour to snooze tonight.

Being Sarah Palin

Ever since John McCain selected Sarah Palin as his running mate, I can't go a week (and sometimes a day) without being stopped on the street and told how much she and I resemble.

So this year, I decided to dress as her for Halloween. It was so much fun -- I've been waiting my entire adult life for a costume that incorporates glasses! (I've been told countless times how much I look like Tina Fey, but I never could figure out how to dress as her for Halloween without lugging around an anchor desk.)

Some things that stood out from this experience are:

1. No one asked me who I was! People just came up to me and said, "Hi Sarah." Really fun.

2. "You betcha" can be used as a reply to so many comments.

3. I haven't worn that much makeup or hairspray since Prom 1993.

4. Thanks to this costume, numerous pictures of me with random people are now floating around the BR. So many people wanted photo opps - even those who were anti-Sarah.

The papparazzi can be so demanding.

6. If I do this again, I'm using temporary hair color to become a brunette. This is a little scary, since it will be the first time I've put any sort of color on or in my hair, but it's just about the only thing left to authenticize the costume. Apart from a hockey stick, that is, which would just be too dangerous.

7. Wearing a suit from 1999 (or possibly older!) is fine, as long as one remembers to cut out the tell-tale shoulder pads. Which I didn't do. And which my (younger) friends pointed out with glee. :-)

8. When being Sarah Palin, the perfect send-off for groups who ask to take photos is "See ya at the polls!"

9. It's really hard to find a place at The Chimes with enough light for a proper video shoot. But at least you can hear!



Here is our whole group -- Erica "Cyndi Lauper" Bankston, Tiffany Hess as Tiffany Hess, Brad "Michael Phelps" Blanchard, Sheree "Olympic gymnast" Beverly, Liz "German girl" Keys, Chrissy Davie as Chrissy Davie, and Rebekah "Sarah Palin" Johnson. (IDK where Angelle was when this pic was taken, but she went as Angelle Bertrand.)

My peeps are the best peeps.

Thanks SO much for all the sweet phone calls, texts, e-mails, sweet treats (!), messages, cards, gifts and precious sentiments you filled my 32nd birthday with! It definitely made my birthday more special, and I appreciate that so much.
:-)

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend - TGIF! Thanks again for being the best of the best.

Wrinkle on, wrinkle off.

My last few birthdays must be kicking in all at once, because I just got so excited about Downy's Wrinkle Releaser that I had to blog about it.

I know not everyone is, but I've always been a fan of spray starch (light, at least), because it really does help remove the set in wrinkles when ironing. This week, Angela Long told me about Downy's Wrinkle Releaser. I bought some and am hooked. You're supposed to be able to use it without ironing, but so far, I've just used it instead of spray starch. It works wonders, and without the typical starch build up.

So there you have it. I'm ancient. And yay Downy Wrinkle Releaser!

I almost forgot!

Five things I've had to be thankful for in the past week (10/19-10/25):

1. Getting to go home to the Coast and have dinner with my parents, and getting to pet my dog on my birthday week.

2. Turning another year older! Some aren't fond of birthdays, but I subscribe to the belief that they're wonderful, because with them come wisdom and cake.

3. Getting to go to the LSU/Georgia game ON MY BIRTHDAY! That was really fun, even if LSU did lose.

4. All the fun mail one receives on her bday. :-)

5. Friends and family who listen and give me honest advice when I ask for it...even when said advice might not make my heart happy at the moment, but is best in the long run.

Simply put, I have been blessed.

For a rainy day?

When I was little, we had a microwave (or was it a stove?) fire at our house.

Thankfully, it turned out to be (relatively) minor and didn't damage anything outside of the kitchen, but when it happened, my very frightened mother told us to hurry outside. Thinking I needed to grab my most important belongings, I shoved my rain boots on my feet and clomped to the yard.

I haven't had rain boots since I was a kid, and had forgotten what a fun feeling they bring to my whole demeanor until a recent purchase of rain boots...for adults! (At least they say they are. I guess it's arguable, especially for the not-so-young-at-heart.)


When I put them on at home after I bought them, I became so giddy! And when I wore them to Angelle's gumbo feast last night, I was ecstatic.

So with all the happy being bestowed on my heart and face and feet, I can't help but wonder...why limit these fun accessories to a rainy day? Especially when they're clearly a prized possession.

L-S-Who?

I spent my 32nd birthday watching the LSU Tigers attempt a win over the Georgia Bulldogs. Although my Tigers sadly did not pull through, I had a GREAT time at the game with Shannon! I will post more pics of bday events (and the day) later, but for now, here I am before the game, excited to be there and hoping for a big triumph!