9/11

Don't forget to remember!

What do you think?

I know I need to get to my trip and my move and my new house, but I felt compelled last night to write a note on facebook to see what my 20-something conservative and liberal friends, spread all over the country, are thinking. I thought it would be interested to get some further imput. I titled it simply "Leaders."
I have been watching all the political hooplah of the past, well, year and a half (waaay too long, if you ask me), but particulary the last several weeks. All the pundants and candidates have been dishing out their best sales pitches. I will say, upfront, I'm pretty moderate generally, but a bit right leaning. I will also say that throughout the primary season I had trouble finding someone to really get excited about. I think that what may help, if anyone in my age group demographic may still be undecided, is to remove yourself from the parties and the candidates specifically, and think more broadly, and ask yourself this: What is important to you in a leader? Think about electing someone on a smaller scale. When electing president of the Home Owners Association, the PTA, your sorority or fraternity board members, what do you look for? Think about what you like about your boss and what you don't like. If nothing else, we will probably see that we all have a lot in common. I urge you to help me compile a list of good leadership qualities. PLEASE don't think of which candidate you like, and then come up with something about them you like. If someone says "I want someone who will change things" or "I want someone who will reach across the aisle" I'll take it down! Those are not general leadership qualities. I have liberal and conservative friends on facebook here, and I'm looking for list of leadership qualities. Com'mon girls, what do you think?

I'll update this post as I collect some feedback.

On the Road Again

My hubby and I are once again in transit. We were out of our townhouse on June 30. Since then, we spent several days with his family, a long 4th of July weekend with my family in Atlanta, and hit the road, heading west, on Monday, July 7th. Since our arrival in Atlanta, we have taken 218 pictures and mini video clips...well, we aren't really sure how many we've taken, but that is how many are in my album for this trip thus far. We won't be to our final destination, Oahu, Hawaii, for another week! Let me tell you, this is one for the books.

We will get our car faster if we ship it from the west coast. Also, if we drive, we get paid per diem and mileage. So, we decided to take the opportunity to get a relatively free vacation. We started out, like I said, in Atlanta, spending the 4th with my parents and grandmother in the cutest, most quintessential all-American small mountain town. Then, headed north to Tennessee for a couple of days, then west. We drove from Memphis to the Grand Canyon in 2 days, stopping for less than 12 hours in Amarillo, but detouring to see the 4 Corners. Tomorrow, we'll continue on to Vegas for the weekend, then to Southern California for the rest of the week, where we'll fly out of Friday.

Now, I have tons of pics and stories to share about this trip, but it really got me thinking tonight about all the great things I've seem. I grew up with a travelling family. We had a pop-up camper, and camped all over, the northeast in particular. But we've also moved a few times, and that too allowed me to see more of the country. Now, I'm married to a military man, and we're on move #6 in the past 3 years. As much as we did see as a child, there were some biggies close by that we didn't take the opportunity to see. I've made a concious choice that I will take advantage of opportunities, like we're doing here. I've never been overseas, either, but this country has so much to offer, and I realized, I've seen a lot!

I've done the northeast, the south, the midwest, and now, the southwest, and heading for the westcoast. Pretty much all that remains is New England and the northwest.

I've camped in the Appalachains and the Rockies, I've napped through the cornfields of Nebraska, and I've hiked the Grand Canyon.

I got engaged at Disney World, utilized an annual pass to Universal Studios, and saw Graceland, "Where Elvis Lives."

I've had a cocktail on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, on 6th Street in Austin, and on Beale Street in Memphis.

I've seen countless places where the history of our country was made: Jamestown, Williamsburg, Philadelphia, Gettysburg, Valley Forge, Savannah, Charleston, Atlanta, Washington DC, and the Alamo.

I've jetskiied in the Tennessee River, skiied in Colorado, and seen a rodeo in Cheyenne.

I've put my feet in the 4 Corners, the Great Lakes, the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the mighty Mississippi (and this time next week, will have added the Pacific to the list.)

I've done just about everything "to do" in New York City...Broadway, Off-Broadway, Empire State Bldg, Statue of Liberty, UN, Soho, Greenwich, Central Park. I've eaten hotdogs from a vender and pizza by the slice.

I've shopped on 5th Avenue and in Buckhead.

I've been to the beach in Ocean City, NJ, the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Myrtle Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Daytona Beach, Ft. Lauderdale Beach, Perdido Key in Alabama, Pensacola Beach, and Padre Island National Sea Shore in Texas.

Give me 1 more week and I will be able to add the Hoover Dam, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Diego, Honolulu, Waikiki, and Pearl Harbor.

Heck, I've lived in Alabama, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, and Texas.

I guess what the point of all this is, is to tell others to take advantage! Take advantage of what's close by. See things, go places. Do the "touristy" stuff in your own neck of the woods. My husband and I lived in San Antonio for 7 months and did things and saw places people who lived there their whole lives never saw. It's just there and they never think about it. My family lived in Philadelphia for 9 years and I didn't go to New York until we moved to North Carolina (although, to their defense, we were probably too young and DID do all the stuff to do in Philly.) Encourage your kids to see things. I'm only 25 and I've been to about 3/4 of the states in this country! Go, this weekend, and do something new!

What matters to get your vote?

I don't care who you vote for, but I love anyone who will make an idiot out of himself!
Enjoy, McCain singing Streisand, courtesy of good ole SNL!

SURPRISE!

This past weekend, my family and I successfully pulled off a long-distance surprise party for my mom's birthday. I'll spare her the number, unless she chooses to disclose. I've never actually heard of a surprise party where the person really had no idea, but she truely was clueless. You can't fake that face!
The room was filled with about 50 of her closest family members, and a few friends from way back, in her hometown in Alabama, including all of her kids, her mom, and both sisters, all of whom secretly travelled at least 5 hours to be there. She didn't even know any of us were in town. The token question was "how did you get here?"
It was a memorable evening, with lots of pictures, good southern food, and hours of "visiting." It's always nice to get together with family, especially when you don't get to see each other very often. I have to admit, I'm very proud of what we accomplished!
The added bonus was that my husband, after we've been married for 2 years, and together for 7, finally got to visit the town I was born in, and meet most of the rest of my family. I only have 1 aunt and uncle to go!
Happy Birthday, mom!

Pray for the Chapmans

If you pay any attention to any news outlet, I'm sure you're heard about the musician, Steven Curtis Chapman, and his family tragedy yesterday. His 5-year-old daughter was hit by a car, driven by her older brother, and killed, in the driveway, with other family members witnessing this horror in the yard.
The family was celebrating the engagement of the oldest daughter, and getting ready for the graduation of another child. This is a large, blended family of 3 biological children, late teen-early 20s age, and 3 younger, adopted Chinese children.
This story really upsets me and I can't begin to imagine what that family is going through. Keep this family in your prayers. I can't think of anyone who would need it more.

Reunion

"Moo, eyeshadow...did I just moo???"

"I was trying to figure out what he was saying, then I realized, he wasn't drunk, he's just German!"

"It stinks in here...it smells like fart...I think it's chicken."

Silly things are said when a group of girlfriends get together. Since I got married (2 years on the 8th, btw), I haven't had very many of my friends around. Pretty much we have hung out with his friends, who became my friends. I have had a couple of brief visits with my friends, but 1 overnighter was about the most of it. All of us have not been in the same place at the same time in 2 years.

Since my hubby and I are back in FL, my college roomies and I decided to get together for a little reunion. The 4 of us (technically 3 of us lived together at a time, but the 4th was a former roomie of my roomies, and lived alone, so she was over a lot) make a geographical T in the state, each living in a different city, with one still in Tallahassee. So, we decided to converge in the middle, in our old college town. One of the girls was in the FSU circus when she was in college, so she picked this weekend so we could be there while it's going on.

We all arrived Friday afternoon, sat around and chatted before heading out to dinner and hitting up our favorite night spot on the strip. Saturday we went to the circus, got some dinner afterward, then went home, on a very rainy day, to curl up in our jammies for a bottle of wine and a Diane Lane-fest. We hit the road Sunday, after lunch.

It was kinda weird. I moved into that apartment alone, getting a random roommate assignment. I had been through a not so great living situation before, and even took a semester off from school. When I left, I didn't really keep in touch with anyone. I moved back to finish my senior year and didn't really know what to expect. The other girls had lived together for a year already. I was fully prepared to spend the weeks locked in my room and the weekends at home or with my boyfriend. The Big Guy was looking out for me. The 3 of us hit it off great. Both girls were bridesmaids at my wedding. We spent a mere 8 months living together, 1 weekend together, a year later, for my wedding, and then 2 years mostly keeping up just online and over the phone. This weekend, it was like there had been no time away from each other at all. Our relationships have not changed...laughing at the same stupid stuff, talking about everything from work to guys, our health and our families. It was great to spend time with my girls. Hopefully it won't take so long for all of us to get together next time!


On an unrelated note, before I left, I lost something, or had it stolen, that is very precious to me. We are working the channels to do what we can to find it, but please pray that it will turn up! It almost ruined my weekend, but luckily, my wonderful hubby and my girls were there for me!