wish list

I have been thinking lately of all of the fun things that I can do to make my humble little abode a bit more cozy. Don't get me wrong--I love my house. But, I am starting to think of little house projects that I hope to be able to do within the next year or so.

1. Hardwood Floors
I wish to put something like this in my dining room, living room, and hallway.

2. Scrape popcorn ceilings

I have grown accustomed to the popcorn, but I would love to get rid of it someday. The popcorn just dates the home.

3. Cover the pink marble fireplace with Faux austin stone. Ah, I have dreamed about this for a long time but can't find anyone who actually knows how to install it!
Here is the only picture of the fireplace now (please ignore my pose and the decorations on the marble)














And here's what I want to cover it with:













So, a girl can dream. I'm not sure how I am going to pay for all of this but it is sure is fun to have a goal to save towards.

bouquets of sharpened pencils

I love when Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks are emailing back and forth in "You've Got Mail" and they start talking about all the things they love about fall. That's where my little title comes from. Being a teacher and being as though autumn is my favorite season, I just love the image that those words create.

Fall is officially here, even though it feels nothing like it outside. Here are some things I especially enjoy about this season:
The Pumpkin (including but not limited to Pumpkin Spice Lattes, Creamy Pumpkin Oatmeal, Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, pumpkin dip, and just plain pumpkin as a side dish...yum) .
Hoodies. Enough Said.
Soup.
Football games.
Awesome running weather.
The FW Turkey Trot.
Knowing that Thanksgiving and the Holidays are right around the corner.
Leaves changing colors
...and I am sure I could think of much, much more.

Now, speaking of "You've Got Mail", I've had a development take place in my life that makes that movie really hit home. No, it's not online dating, but rather, the corporate takeover. My own personal "Shop Around the Corner" aka, The Health and Athletic Center, has been taken over by Lifetime Fitness. I am so sad. I love the HAC because they have a dress code, low rates, and amazing classes. Lifetime is twice the price and they only have two step classes. The family atmosphere at the HAC is what I love and I'm not intmidated by the people who work out there OR by the instructors. So, I guess I will be in the market for a new gym, but nothing really excites me. What a dilemma. Maybe I'll just bust out The FIRM dvd's that I did for years. We'll see.

twenty-nine

Wow. 29 years.

3 days into it and I don't know what to think.

My first thought is that 30 is just around the corner.

Everyone keeps telling me that "30 is the new 25" or something like that.
I am not sure.

To me, I feel like I only have 361 days left to mark off a list of things off a 'list' that I have made in my head for the past 10 years or so.

But, so many of those things are out of my control.

Marriage, kids, etc.

Sometimes it seems like I have been running in a marathon but am barely moving and about to just join the spectators on the sidelines.

Sometimes I think it's not that big of a deal.

It's not a race.

I am not losing.

Maybe I am just running in a different race.

It's not inferior.

God does not love me any less.

Or anymore.

I wish I could cling to that truth at all times.

Comparisons aren't good.

But it's a hard habit to break.

So I am deciding that 29 is going to be great.

Perhaps not the 'great' I've had in my mind for the past decade.

But my 29 is not a Plan B.

Thank you Jesus for 29 years.

And for a family that loves me.

And for friends who accept the real me.

For my house.

My job.

Little sixth grade lives to influence daily.

And for holding me even when I can't feel your arms wrapped around me.

Here's to 29...

will i ever learn???

I am not what you would call an impulsive person. Most decisions I make are fairly well thought out and the result of much deliberation. There have been times, however, where I act on a whim. Most of these times involve my hair. Now, those of you very close to me know the hair drama that has ensued over the past three years (thank you thyroid). But this has nothing to do with that.

Last night, I decided that I would get a haircut Saturday morning...just a trim. I had a coupon and my mom had just gotten her hair cut at this same little place. Her hair looked good so I figured it was worth a shot. I mean, all I really wanted was an inch-and-a-half trim. Just enough to clean up the ends. I've been on this new crusade to grow my hair out to where it's past my shoulders when it's curly. Well, let's just say that that dream will not be coming to fruition anytime in the next two years. Apparently, 1.5 inches translated into 3!!! This means that I cannot even get it into a ponytail. I rely so heavily on the ponytail and now I don't know what to do. At least the stylist was enjoying herself during the cut, dancing and singing to every song that played on Mix 102.9. I particularly liked it when she harmonized to "Cuts Like a Knife" by Bryan Adams.
The sad part is that I have had countless impulse haircuts and they always end up the same way--badly. Maybe it's time to find a stylist and develop a relationship with him or her. Someone I can trust. Someone that knows the innermost workings of my follicles. Someone who knows what's best for my crazy, curly hair.

Oh well. At least all of my split ends are gone. *sigh*

RNC

Ok...
I am watching the Republican National Convention and have laughed out loud several times. Not necessarily because the speakers were funny, but rather because the people at the convention are just comical. They are dancing and jumping up and down, waving things in the air, and whooping and hollering. Oh, and this just in: a lady was just shown being escorted out of the arena by some guys in suits.

I think I like this Sarah Palin. I had never heard of her until Friday, but so far, so good. Is it just me or does she kind of look like Peggy Hill from "King of the Hill"? I'm just sayin'...

One thing I can't stand is the standing ovation. It is so forced and insincere. Sure, a few people may feel moved to stand from time to time, but you can't tell me that EVERY person in a room feels the same exact emotion at the same time. I think that this feeling first developed in one of my many charismatic church experiences. I particularly remember that my church in high school would have a special "anthem" every Sunday. Well, I began noticing that after the first measure was sung, the spirit had apparently moved the whole sanctuary to stand on their feet. I refused and was often the only person seating. Maybe I'm stubborn, or some might even deem me disrespectful. However, I maintain to this day that the standing ovation is a forced display of "emotion". Maybe I'm bitter because I've never received one and probably never will. But I do know that I would never want people to feel obligated to stand to their feet if they didn't really want to.

Yes, this blog was pretty pointless, but I am trying to stay awake and listen to the remainder of Palin's speech.

Until next time...