The Important Things in Life...

Have you all seen this? It really makes you sit back and think about what's important in your life.

Take this quiz:

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

Bill Gates, the Sultan of Brunei????

2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.

nope, can't do it...

3. Name the last three winners of the American Idol.

David Cook, Jordin Sparks, and Taylor Hicks (not sure what this means about me that this was the easiest category to fill out)

4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.

John Nash, Jimmy Carter, Dalai Lama, Mother Theresa, Winston Churchill, T.S. Eliot, Marie Curie, Albert Einstein, and that's all I have...(and I'm not sure these are right, but they are my guesses)

5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor actress.

I can't do this question at all. I like watching movies, but I don't tend to like the same types of movies as the "Academy", so I never watch the Academy Awards.

6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.

Baseball isn't my thing, and since the Cincinnati Reds haven' done well since 1990, I have no clue!

How did you do?The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.Here's another quiz.

I want to share with you these special people in my life. Rather than just give a short name, I want to tell you why each of these people are special. I am going to answer two of the questions today and save the other 4 for Tuesday and Wednesday.

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.

- Mrs. Perkins: my first grade teacher who taught me that school could be fun and it wasn't scary. I still have a little Raggedy Ann book she gave me on the last day of school that year (let's just say the book is over 30 years old). Thanks Mrs. Perkins!

- Miss Losey: my fifth grade teacher who taught me what a smart student I was. I was a very average student until I came across Miss Losey. It turned out I was a really good speller and would win the class spelling bee every Friday, until she brought a smarty pants 4th grader in to give me a run! Thanks Miss Losey!

- Mr. Clark: he wasn't even one of my teachers. I had Mrs. Ho (yes, that was her name) for Chemistry, but found myself bored by her class. I was bored not because I was bored by the topic, but bored because she wasn't teaching me fast enough. Who would have thunk? Mr. Clark taught the other Chemistry classes and began to tutor me after school. He is the reason that I majored in science in college. Thanks Mr. Clark!

- Dr. Williams: one of my favorite teachers ever! Dr. Williams was my music teacher from the time I was three weeks old (my first piano lesson), to making sure I knew what the story line was before our elementary school trips to the foreign operas (everyone else hated this, but I loved it), to helping me choose a band instrument, making me learn other band instruments because his French Horn section was graduating, teaching orchestra, marching band, jazz band, music composition, etc. As an added perk, he also happens to be my dad :). Thanks Dad!

- Dr. and Mrs. Rambo: This was a husband and wife duo of Biology professors at my college. I can honestly say that they have changed my life. Mrs. Rambo taught my General Biology classes as a freshmen, and then Dr. Rambo taught my Animal Behavior, Ornithology (study of birds) and Ecology, and was also my sponsor for my senior thesis. When my husband and I were getting married, we tried really hard to get all of our family together on a weekend where Dr. Rambo could officiate, but it just didn't work. I am friends with both of them on Facebook, and just last week went running outside with my camera (in my nightgown) to chase down a bird I hadn't seen before. Thanks Dr. and Mrs. Rambo!

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.

- Pegi/Maggie: Her name alone is a fun story for another day. Pegi/Maggie helped me through a horrible divorce while she was going through one herself. She has the best laugh ever and could make a rock smile. Thanks Pegi/Maggie!

- Trinette: I don't know how I could possible have lived 30 years of my life not knowing you. She has been such a great sounding board for me and only she knows what she's talked me in and out of doing :)! Plus, my son may be only 8 today, but we may be in-laws someday! Thanks Trinette!

- Allison: I wasn't a fan of you the day mom and dad brought you home. I wasn't a fan of yours while you were going through puberty. I wasn't a fan of yours while I was getting married. But somehow, in the midst of all of that, you became my best friend. Thanks Allison!

Thank you again to some of the most important people in my life. Some of you know how I feel and others have no clue. Hopefully, now you do!

Tata - K!

It's an Emergency!

My dearest sister,

This formally and kindly requests that you please bring me your baby at your earliest convenience. I missed her smiling face while you were on vacation (I guess I missed you too for that matter).

It's not fair at all that she learned to crawl (err, bear crawl I suppose) while on vacation. It's not fair at all that she got to meet (and talk to) the beautiful baby in the mirror. It's not fair at all that she got to swim everyday without Kiki's help! I've missed all of that!

Please bring me your baby immediately!

Tata - K!

PS - I'm really not kidding! Seriousy!

I Committed....

I had a bit of a stomach bug this weekend (that actually might have been food poisoning, now that I think of it). Either way, I started feeling yucky on Friday night (shortly after Chinese food for dinner) and was on the floor of the bathroom for the next 2 days. And you're welcome for sharing that :)!

As you're laying on the bathroom floor for 48 hours, it gives you time to sit and think. For some reason I kept thinking of what I might think of as my "Most Embarassing Moment EVER". Now, up until the time that this happened a few years ago, I would consider my most embarassing moment to be the time my wrap-around skirt fell off while I was jumping rope in the second grade. I was standing there in my pretty blue and white flowered underwear staring at the love of my life, Brad Mayberry (at least he was the love of my life in the second grade). I'm still pretty scarred from this incident. It brings chills just thinking about it. It stuck with me up until a little bit before Easter three years ago.

I had started going to a new church the year before, but hadn't got to involved in the "extracurricular" activities yet. I was asked to play in the Orchestra (hidden talent #2) for the Easter Contata. I was really excited to be asked and to meet the other musicians. The best part of all, was that my sister was going to play as well.

Fast forward a few weeks to Good Friday. We were having a "full on" dress rehearsal. It's completely dark in all areas of the building and they've asked us not to use the main restrooms since they were just cleaned and we were expecting extra folks at the services for the next 2 days. Well, I had to "go", so me and my sister set off in search of a restroom. We asked for directions and we were sent off down a really dark hall.

I went into the first door I saw and my first instinct was that these bathrooms looked a whole lot different than the ones right outside the sanctuary. There was a shower stall to my right, and only one bathroom stall. To the left there were some faucets and a few urinals. I noticed a man at the urinal and completely FREAKED OUT. Instead of turning around, apologizing, and running out like a normal person, I committed. Yep - I walked into the bathroom stall like I had every right to be there. Of course, I had stage fright at this point and couldn't "go". Either way, I waited the man out and kept busy until he left.

After I heard the door close, I washed my hands really quick and got the heck out of dodge. As I opened the door, my sister was standing there waiting for me...talking to the man that had been in the bathroom. It turns out that this "man", was actually our pastor's son who was home from college for the weekend. He was telling my sister about a crazy woman that was in the men's room. When she asked me if it was me, I had no answer. All I could say was that I had "committed", and by the time I realized what was going on I thought the best course of action would be to hide in the stall.

Either way, it's three years later and I suppose I was thinking of this because we are working on our Easter contata for 2009. I've come to love all of my fellow musician friends and enjoy our weekly practices. I still have a hard time though looking the guitar player in the eye.

Poor Ryan...I hope I haven't scarred him for life.

So, now that I've shared mine, I'd love to hear about your most embarassing moment. Feel free to put it in the comments section or blog about it. Either way, make sure you tell me so I can go look!

Tata - K!

To My Sweet Boy...

My sweet boy,

It's been now exactly 8 years since you came into my world. From the minute I laid eyes on you, I fell madly in love. I like to tell people that you came out of the womb smiling and laughing...and I really wasn't kidding. You don't know this, but to this day when you look at me with your sweet eyes, I just melt. It's so hard to tell you that you can't have that third popsicle in a row or that you really DO need to take a shower even though there's not visible dirt.

You're in the second grade this year and are the tallest boy in your class. I'm so proud of what a good reader and how much you love math. I am so excited that you have such a special teacher this year. You have such a bond with Mr. F and I only hope your 3rd grade teacher understands what he/she's getting themselves into with you. I love that you can sing the entire Notre Dame fight song, and you touch the wall as you leave your classroom. Mr. F has made quite a mark on you.

I ask God to keep His loving hand on you. I pray that you continue your walk in Him.

Happy Birthday my sweet boy! Only 8 years more and we'll be talking about driving :)

I love you more than you'll ever know.

Love, mom

Life is Funny!

I have a pretty stressful day job...you know the one I get paid for? It definitely keeps me on my toes. As a matter of fact, we're going through quite possibly the worst several weeks we've ever had since I've been with the company. And - it's not going to be over until the end of March. But, I'm not counting or anything....

One of the things I LOVE to do (along with the rest of us) is to read blogs, especially funny ones. After all, laughter is the best medicine. During all of this stressful stuff, I've been thinking a lot lately about the Life is Funny posting on weightwhat. She sent out a challenge last week to share whatever in life you think is funny. I can't even tell you how much I needed to mull this thought around in my head for the last week or so. This has been my saving grace lately and has kept me thinking positive and happy during a pretty crazy time. Now, to be clear, she also has threatened not to call me by my new name unless I put up a blog post :).

So, here it goes. I wanted to share my favorite funny blogs with y'all. These aren't in any special order, but I have to admit, these are my "go-to" blogs when I need a pick me up :)! Give them a read :)

1. My dear cousin married the sweetest girl from Texas. They now have a beautiful family of 5 children (that I like to think look like my side of the family). I really don't like having part of my family so far away, but it was to our advantage a few weeks ago. My 8 year old son had a project from school, where he had to make a Flat Stanley (from the child's book) and send Stanley on a trip. We decided to send Stanley to Texas to meet our dear cousins in Texas. Lana and family took Stanley EVERYWHERE with them. The best part of all, she even blogged about him. You need to read my gorgeous, funny, and super-talented cousin Lana's blog - ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com.

2. One of the things I love to do in my spare time is to make elaborate cakes. I don't necessarily love to bake per se, it's the decorating that does it for me. I suppose I look at a blank cake as an artist would look at a blank canvas....endless possibilities. I love looking at cakes other people did to learn new techniques and get new ideas. I was looking for inspiration one day, and came across a true GEM of a blog. You need to drop in on cakewrecks! If you happen to be a science fiction fan, you will simply fall in love with her!

3. I have been reading Suburban Turmoil for several years now. This woman can seriously tell a story and I find something that I relate to in almost everyone she tells. She told a story yesterday that nearly brought me to tears. She and her husband were apparently going through a rough patch. There was no longer any physical contact; they were constantly bickering. So they made an appt with someone who could save their marriage. He told them exactly what they needed to know. They both had strep throat. I was at work while reading this, and it quickly became clear that I was up to no good:). Tonight she has a beautiful tribute to her 2 year old son...so sweet!

4. Have you ever read a blog where you feel like the writer could be your friend from a former life? When I came across weightwhat, I was blown away. Wendy can seriously tell a story and keep you on the edge of the seat the whole time. She has the quirkiest sense of humor, and I simply love it! My favorite posts are the ones where I'm pretty sure she hasn't planned out. She has this funny talent of being able to sit down at the computer and spew some of the funniest random meanderings you will ever run across.

Wendy - Thank you for pushing me to get this out of my head :)!

I will leave you with my favorite joke. You may or may not think it's funny, but to this day I will laugh just thinking about it :).

You ready?

What do the Star Trek Enterprise and toilet paper have in common?

You ready again?

Seriously?

I'm warning you?

They both circle Uranus in search of Kling-on's!

And that's all folks!

Tata - K!

Tide Loads of Hope - Please Help

Quick Post!!! Please consider purchasing a T-shirt for the Tide Loads of Hope charity before 9:00 pm EST tonight (March 11). ALL proceeds from tonight's project will go to help disaster victims. This is a fabulous cause and the shirts are awesome. Go to tide1.com to purchase a red, yellow, green or blue shirt. One shirt for $20 + shipping or free shipping for 2 or more shirts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgPWDC12jIs

Tata - K!

An Update

I think Hell just froze over...Not only am I posting twice in one week; I'm posting twice in one night! A few weeks ago, I posted an open letter to someone that I had a pretty bad falling out with. I was asking for her forgiveness. I've always tried to do the right thing, but there was a not so great time in my life, where I was pretty selfish. Needless to say, I really hurt someone I cared about.

The great news is that I found her, and we had a really great talk. We used to have so much fun together, and I think we both missed it. We both agreed that neither of us had handled things great, but I suppose we are both older and wiser now and have learned a lot.

There has been a void in my life since we last spoke and I'm so happy she has forgiven me. God has a powerful way of working things out...when they are supposed to be worked out.

That's all for now. I just wanted to share my great news!

Tata - K!

No Staplers Were Hurt in the Making of this...

First off, sorry I haven't had time to post lately (work - the one where I get paid - has been a complete nightmare). I started this blog just to give myself a creative outlet. It turns out, that there are real people who read this! How fun is that? I always hated creative writing in school, but I love to tell a good story!

In my last post, I alluded to a practical joke that I pulled on one of my co-workers. I thought I would share how the whole thing unfolded. To set the stage, we sit in rows of cubes (kind of like the ones on Dilbert or Office Space). My coworker "H" has one of those red Swingline staplers (like Milton from Office Space.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvGwr5wj8A8

"H" made the mistake of going on vacation and leaving her stapler behind. Just so I would be the sole bearer of "H's" wrath on her return, I roped my IT guy in on the project. So we stole the stapler and left a note in return. Here's a picture of the ransom letter (done in powerpoint of course, because we are a bunch of corporate paper-pushers):

Upon "H" returning to the office, she left a lengthy note something along the lines of "You people are ruining my productivity...my life....therefore the lives of my husband and children...". It was pretty guilt-ridden and made us feel a little bad. So we decided to send her our demands. We sent a lovely little letter requesting "1 case of Berry flavored Enviga and a 6 pack of Diet Pepsi Max" along with this picture:

She probably should have figured it out at this point given the specificity of the ransom request. But, she decided to get legal representation instead. Granted, the legal representation was actually 2 other people from our office (that is not a law firm) and they wrote up a 2 page memo on how "H" does not "corroborate with terrorists" and something about treason....yada yada yada....and that she would not be meeting our demands.

IT guy and I really weren't planning on actually making her meet the demands because we had something else in mind. At this point, we decided to get 2 more coworkers in on the deal (IT guy #2 and "B"), because it was beginning to become all encompassing (and we didn't want to be the sole receivers of the wrath of "H"). I dug through my son's toybox until I found them! They were going to come to the rescue of the stapler! IT guy #2 set all of this up the night before. The next morning when "H" walked in, this is what greeted her:

We also wrote a news article for the "World Events Daily". The article is below. It's a little hard to read, but "B" (coworker/culprit #4) did an absolutely fabulous job with it. Sadly, 3 little green army men were lost in this daring rescue attempt :(.

There you have it. "H" has yet to retaliate, but IT guy #1, IT guy #2, and "B" are ready if she decides. That's it for now. I promise to not wait too long between posts next time!!

Tata - K!