265,320 Minutes

It's been 178 days since my beloved has left me! Alone and in despair I've had a difficult time moving on, though it seems that the world has moved on! The following is just a smattering of important events (good and bad) that have occurred in this beautiful world of ours in just 178 days:

• Senators Barack Obama and John McCain will be the presidential nominees
• China was hit with the 19th largest earthquake (8.0) of all time where over 69,000 people were killed
• The Mavericks have lost in the playoffs...again
• The Baylor Bears played in their first post season NCAA Tournament in a few decades
• Two great political analysts have died in Tim Russert and Tony Snow
• The 4000th death of military personnel has taken place in Iraq
• The polar bear is now an endangered species
• California has banned transfats in restaurants and New York is requiring nutritional information to be posted in all restuarants
• Roger Federer has been defeated in two consecutive Grand Slam Championships by Rafa Nadal
  On a personal note
• I have broken a bone and it has healed (mostly)
• My brother and 4 of his children have all turned a year older
• My parents have begun their final term in HK
  

I could go on and on! But the fact of the matter is my countdown is almost over until my beloved returns! In just 4 days football season officially begins with the Hall of Fame football game! I have to admit the sports geek in me has already been plotting my draft day strategy for our upcoming fantasy football league. In eager anticipation I've been perusing the sports sites to find out what others are planning. Will they go the RB-RB-RB route or RB-WR? What's a girl to do? For now, I'm going to go to bed in anticipation of what a new season will bring!

Enchanted

The other night I was telling my friend Kelly about this guy that I met who I thought was amazing! I told her that I wish I could just skip all the preliminary crap and just get married. She agreed and took her finger, moved it in a clockwise motion, and moved time forward. Then POOF! I found myself married! How exciting! Interesting experience!

Later, I was telling my friend Heather all the details and then asked her how she was doing! She informed me that since I met this guy and married him, I hadn't spent anytime with her! This admission made me feel so bad! I decided that perhaps I was putting my own desires ahead of everyone else! I apologized and told her I wish I could change that, so she took her finger, moved it counterclockwise, and moved time back--and POOF again, I was just plain old single me again!
If you haven't already figured it out (hopefully by sentence 3), this was a dream I had the other night. When I woke up I thought about the dream for a little while and it made me wonder which things in my life I would sacrifice even though I desire it so much! I don't know the answer, but I think it's a really good question to think about for a little while!

One Stroke At A Time

I decided that my bathroom needed an update! I was tired of the white bare walls and decided that it might be fun to paint! I've never painted before and I never thought it would take so long! I only thought to purchase one paintbrush (see image). Jaime and I would alternate holding the paint tray and painting as our arms got tired! Thanks, Jaime for the help! I couldn't have (and wouldn't have) done it without you!



The following post has the before and after pictures!

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Before


After

Let Me Muse

I've always wondered why people use terms of endearment for people that they don't know. I must admit it doesn't bother me quite as much as it does others. But, I have noticed that I think about it less when it's an older woman and think about it a lot when the woman is my age or younger!

The other day I was at one of my favorite restaurants in Lewisville called Tierney's Cafe. I was completely ready to order! I knew exactly what I wanted when the waitress looked at me and said, "what can I get for you, little lady?" "Um...Uh...Um.....oh, yeah, I want the...." Her use of "little lady" caught me so off guard that I couldn't remember why she was talking to me and what I wanted. I looked around at my friends who were with me and I could see they were trying to hide their amusement!

Then yesterday I was watching an episode of America's Got Talent and Sharon Osbourne (who happens to be British---as well as, by the way, my favorite character on SNL's Celebrity Jeopardy) used the term "darling" towards a 9 year old boy. I realized that terms of endearment sound much better with a British accent! I don't think I'd mind being called "darling" by Sharon Osbourne! I actually might like it---secretly.

Breaking Free

I had an experience yesterday that justified cause to stop and celebrate a small turning point!

I was driving around town running errands when something very odd happened to me! I was at a stoplight and I heard a knock on my passenger side window. I turned my head and saw this attractive guy in sunglasses knocking. Strange! A little intrigued, yet slightly afraid, I rolled down the window. He handed me his card and simply said, "in case you know of anyone who might be interested." There was a honk a couple cars back and I looked up and the light had turned green. The man ran back to his car and drove off. As the car drove by I noticed that it had US government license plates. I picked up the card he handed me and it was a recruiter for the US Army. I didn't really know what to think because I'm pretty sure it is not a normal setting for one to give one's card to another!

A few hours later, I couldn't get this rather curious event out of my mind. What would prompt someone to get out of their car in the middle of the street and give someone in another car their card? I decided that I had to call and find out! Now, there have been many situations where I have wanted to call someone or a business for whatever reason, but have chickened out in the end! This time, I had my 2 readers in mind! I knew that they would want to know what happened and I would not disappoint.

So, I prepared to put on my best investigative reporter voice and dialed the number....then hung up and paced my apartment a few times. After hanging up and pacing for about 30 more minutes I finally dialed and it began to ring. At this point, secretly, I'm hoping that since it was 5:30 no one would answer, but much to my unpleasant surprise, I heard the voice on the other end. I asked for the good "staff sergeant" and my hopes that he was not there almost came true as the secretary said, "I'm sorry, he's not here, may I take a message?" "That's okay, I replied, I got his card today and I might just e-mail him instead." Phew! E-mail, I can do! "Oh, wait," I hear on the other end, "he just walked in!" At this point my heart is giving me a full workout! My armpits are sweating and my hands are clammy! I hear him say something on the other end and I began my previously rehearsed dialogue.

It went something like this..."Hi, my name is Marci and I was the girl in the car at the stoplight earlier today (I didn't know how specific to be as, again, not quite sure if that was a normal form of recruitment)." He indicated he remembered, and I went on "well, I've been thinking about what happened, and I had to call. Not because I'm interested in joining the army but rather because I have to know if knocking on one's window, handing out their card during a stoplight is a standard procedure for army recruiters." Whew, I did it! Now I just had to wait for his response. I sensed that he may have been a little taken aback, but his voice disguised any insecurities he may have had as he informed me that "we do what we can to get the information out there." What? You've got to be kidding me! I don't believe for a minute that this is standard procedure! This was not the reply I was thinking I would get--although, I didn't really know what reply I would get! So, I said, "well, Sir, I just have to say that is a potentially threatening situation to be put into." He assured me it was not his intention to scare me and then his next comment was absolutely laughable! He proceeded to ask me if I knew of anyone that might be interested in the army! I told him I did not and wished him a pleasant 4th of July Holiday!

I have to say I was very unsatisfied with the phone call, but I have to take him at his word, I suppose! At this point, I'm sure you're wondering what my small turning point was. It is simple! I made the call! I did it! I put away my fear of potential rejection. For those of you who don't know, I'm terrified of rejection. I'm not just talking in relationships, but any form of negative response. I take it personally! It's one of the reasons I have such a hard time making decisions when friends ask me what I want to do! Secretly, I'm afraid they won't like my idea and I'll get my feelings hurt!

I'm interested to know what you girls think?