Total Eclipse of the Heart

For the past three days, in anticipation of "Twilight Day" at the office, I have fully immersed myself into Twilight culture. This involved: 

One Barnes & Noble Clearance table. I cleared it out of Twilight hats and novelties.

Two Twilight Movies, watched, in chronological order with sister Kiki. You could say marathon, if you like.

Three Hot Topic stores scanned for the perfect merchandise. Yikes.

 The kids are alright...aren't they? 

Four Wikipedia Searches: Renesmee Cullen, Bella Swan, Edward Cullen, Jacob Black. Yes, I could have actually read the books, but I am too busy right now to lose 3 days of my life finishing them...which I have seen occur to many a friend once they've started the series. They barely even stop reading to eat. Or else food no longer interests them, like the vampire characters they read of.

Five yummy snacks: Bella's Bloody Bites (red velvet cupcakes), Jacob's Kibbles and Bits ( Brownies and Chex Muddy Buddies), Cullen Candy (red and black licorice), Bones and Blood (Chips and Salsa) and lots of takeout Indian food...ya, too hard to flip Lamb Curry into witty Twi-hard banter.

It was a fun day. (I'm really selling it in this last picture, aren't I?) But, truth is, I had been, and maybe am still, sitting on the Twilight Saga fence. You know, the occult and all that...not healthy for young minds. LOTS of young minds--its bordering on national obsession. And that type of thing can never be 100% good, but I guess its better than getting your pop culture from Ke$ha. What happened to teenagers reading a little Hemingway or Steinbeck? And so, a cynic I became.

But! Then I learned that Edward made Bella WAIT UNTILL THEY WERE MARRIED to do the deed.

That, in and of itself, should make this required reading for all high school girls. Let them swoon and fall in love with Edward. Let them wish they were each his Bella...and have them each follow suit and abstain in one pure example of generational teenage idolatry actually creating something GOOD.

Sunday Secrets

Inspired by my new favorite blog,

Aarti Paarti.

Psalm 127 - NIV

A song of ascents. Of Solomon.

 ¹ Unless the LORD builds the house, 

       its builders labor in vain. 

       Unless the LORD watches over the city, 

       the watchmen stand guard in vain.

 ² In vain you rise early 

       and stay up late, 

       toiling for food to eat— 

       for he grants sleep to those he loves.

 ³ Sons are a heritage from the LORD, 

       children a reward from him.

 ⁴ Like arrows in the hands of a warrior 

       are sons born in one's youth.

 ⁵ Blessed is the man 

       whose quiver is full of them. 

       They will not be put to shame 

       when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

I was sitting in bed, sans Jeremy, listening to all the fireworks outside, in an empty house with a quivering dog. I was thinking, "Next year, we'll watch fireworks together, and live in the same town together, with jobs we love and money in the bank. Next year we'll both go to the gym, and we'll go to church every Sunday--no, twice, once to his Baptist church and once to St. Mary's--and I'll start a BUNCO group and Stamp again..and we'll get a Dinner Club going...once this and that gets settled and we get to where we are supposed to be, its all going to be so much better..." 

But then Aarti and her blog crossed my path (She's a contestant on Food Network's Next Big Star), and her words really struck me. I will cut and paste:

(from www.aartipaarti.com)

"I’ve always thought that the first, vital step in cultivating your relationship with God, no matter what your religious/spiritual persuasion, is surrender. You have to get perspective, and realise how small and powerless you are, that your life has been guided through peaks and valleys through very little effort of your own, and that you can do even less to affect your future. Surrender involves not only throwing yourself at God’s feet in act of humility and giving over, but it also involves being willing to accept whatever cards God deals you, trusting that He has your back."

So, after reading that, I decided to open the blinds and watch those fireworks. I phoned a friend and we joined her husby's gym, and I remembered to trust the Lord, and love the life that He's given me today.

Relay For Life!

So...I thought my office's dental donation the Shelby County Relay for Life Raffle was perfect. Our basket contained enough goodies to make any dentite salivate...bleaching strips, sonic toothbrushes, toothpaste for all ages and enough floss to encircle the world three times!

But then my friend Holly, a cancer survivor herself and team captain for the "Hollywood Relayers", said this: "Why don't you put in a pamphlet about oral cancer and the importance of screenings at the dentist?"

Well, of course, my horse! What a fantastic idea!

 Donate to the Hollywood Relayers HERE!

See YOU at the Relay for Life on August 7th at the Shelby County Fairgrounds!

Notes From the Beach...

"Hanging out is fun, but it doesn't pay the rent."

"Don't get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life."

"If friends were flowers, I'd pick you."

"A baby is God's opinion that life should go on."

"Just so you know, there's a space only you can fill. Just so you know, I loved you then, I think I always will."

Feet, Fire Ants and Florida

I thought fire ants were an urban legend! I found out the truth while taking Peanut for a early morning potty walk in a grassy, sandy area near our house. Within the span of five seconds, I was attacked by these vermin and victimized by seven bites on each foot! Talk about a rude awakening! A fire ant bite is a slightly more painful version of a mosquito bite, and the stingy, burning pain is slightly more long lasting. I was screaming like a banshee--its incredibly alarming to feel a sudden, burning pain from your feet, and then to look down and notice your feet crawling with ants! 

All drama aside, it really was not a big deal. No anaphylaxis or anything, at least not yet. ;)

Vacation, All I Ever Wanted

The whole family made it to Florida...hijinks ensue. In one palatial beach rental we have two Golden Buckeyes, five Florida Gators (including the baby Gator!), two Versailles Tigers and the newly minted Jeremy and Kara Morris. Yes its officially official: I changed my name! 

We will try our best to get off this patio and onto the beach...

...but its just sooooo relaxing. :) 

Happy Shower, Liz!

Because, you know, I just couldn't get enough of wedding showers over the past year, or because I have a party-planning obsession, or because I needed a new excuse to eat Lindey's lobster bisque, I hosted a little wedding shower for my friend, Elizabeth. Okay, mostly I hosted the shower because I adore Elizabeth. She is upbeat, hard-working, silly, and has been a super friend to me for four years. Please review post from Halloween 2008--she's the toothpaste girl. What a sweetheart, this one; I will be so sad to see her move back to Michigan, but I am tickled for her to start the next chapter in her life. Her wedding to Sam is rapidly approaching, so an Ohio shower for my Michigan friend was just what the doctor ordered. This was what the invitation read:

Elizabeth and Sam are the sweetest pair,

With happy years to come and memories to share,

Let’s spend a great day

In a wonderful way,

Making sure their cupboards aren’t bare 

Lindey's...limericks...lunch...ladies. And a little stampin' thrown in for good measure. 

Congratulations, Elizabeth! Your big day will be here before you know it! 

I am so, so happy for you!