A little more fun.

Last Friday we ate dinner at our friends’ house. After a delicious dinner and a too-short visit with Amy and Jeremy, I bundled Annalyn up and we climbed into the car. As I put the car into reverse, I looked down the dark street and saw headlights. I stopped, waiting to see if the car was moving. It wasn’t. So I backed out of our friends’ driveway.

And into a truck.

Did I mention the street was dark? That made it hard to see the small black truck parked across the street, even though it was RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET.

It took me a second or so before I realized what that CRUNCH was. But once I did, I immediately did two things. One, I slammed on the brakes and two, I covered up my initial reaction by saying repeatedly, “Darn it! Darn it! Darn it!”

Seriously. At our house, we spell out words like “dumb” and “jerk,” and I have gotten on to my father-in-law and brother-in-law more than once about their language. And yet, what flew out of my mouth when I smashed into a camouflaged truck last Friday night?

You guessed it. Not "darn it."

Anyway, I backed right into that darned truck. So I pulled back into my friends’ driveway, jumped out and hollered up to their front door, “I just backed into a car!”

Sometimes it’s helpful to point out the obvious.

My friend came out, which was good, because I was pretty much just standing beside my car, unsure of what to do next. I know, it seems so obvious. Everyone knows what to do in case of an accident, right? But I was a little stunned for that minute. Okay?

While I was gathering my senses – or SOMETHING – my friend said, “Do you want me to take Annalyn inside?”

I said, sure, and she didn’t argue, either. Not surprising, since she’d thrown a royal fit about leaving in the first place.

My friend, Amy, took Annalyn back inside the house while Jeremy walked around both cars with his flashlight and camera. It turns out the truck belonged to someone visiting their neighbor, and long story short (HA!), I ended up having to leave a note.

So, about 20 minutes later than I intended, I put Annalyn back in her car seat and hit the road. Carefully. I hit the road and just a road. I promise.

And as I did? Annalyn recounted our whole adventure, over and over: “Mommy hit car. Darn it! Bonk car. Fix car? Who fix car? Back inside. Go back Amy’s house. For a little more fun.”

Yep, that’s exactly it, kiddo. We just hadn’t had quite enough fun.

Have you ever been in a car accident?

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We are [still] the world.

“We Are the World” was recorded 25 years ago today, and I've heard that it will be re-recorded this year to benefit Haiti.

A few interesting tidbits about “We Are the World,” courtesy of Wikipedia, of course:

• It was the fastest-selling American pop single in history, as well as the first-ever single to be certified multi-platinum.
• The song earned three Grammy Awards, an American Music Award and a People’s Choice Award.
• And most impressive, as of 2009, it had sold more than 20 million units and raised more than $63 million for humanitarian aid in Africa and the U.S.

[Subscribers, if you can’t see this in your reader, click here for the video.]

It can be argued that the song is completely cheesy and only put a bandage over the gaping wounds of our world. It can be said that the lyrics are pandering and the melody is simple. But today, some of those lyrics are still poignant:

• There comes a time when we hear a certain call when the world must come together as one. 
• There are people dying, and its time to lend a hand to life.
• We can’t go on pretending day by day that someone, somewhere will soon make a change.
• We are all a part of God’s great big family.
• Let us realize that a change can only come when we stand together as one.
• We are the world, we are the children. We are the ones who make a brighter day, so let’s start giving.

Do you remember when this song came out? I don't, really. Obviously I've heard it a million times in the past 25 years (give or take a few thousand), but I don't remember the impact its debut had. And now, with celebrities pulling together on a fairly regular basis, from Farm AID to 9/11 concerts to last week's Haiti benefit, it's almost something I've come to expect. What do you think about celebrities working together on special compassion or aid projects?

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We all have pain; we all have sorrow.

A positive outlook does not run in my family.

Depression, on the other hand, does. The bad, serious kind. The kind that comes with substance abuse and suicide and therapy and medication.

The genes and chemistry that cause that sort of thing? The ones several members of my family have? Those are the same genes I've got. And while I don't battle the kind of depression many people I love do, sometimes I get a glimpse into that struggle.

And when that happens, I can’t always keep it under control. It’s kind of like holding a beach ball underwater. Once it starts slipping out of your grip, you know it’s just a matter of time before that piece of slick plastic explodes through the water and lands just out of reach on the side of the pool.

That’s what happened last week.

I’m better now. It took a few days, sure. And about an entire box of Kleenex, my husband’s patience and several Advil. (See: therapy and medication.) But I’m back.

I won’t say “back to normal,” because, really? Yeah.

And now that I’m back, listening to the Flight of the Conchords sing/talk French nonsense and looking forward to an extra-large bowl of Golden Grahams and my NCIS fix, I want to say thank you.

When you read my post last week, it may not have made sense. I know it was a little vague. And coupled with a random music question. All of that may not seem risky to you, or vulnerable. But for me? It was a big risk.

I wasn’t sure what you all would say. Or if anyone would say anything at all. Nothing like baring your soul, even if vaguely, just to hear crickets.

[By the way, I saw someone make a whistling noise last week that sounded like crickets. I wish I could do that. I can’t remember who did it. Was it you? Please tell me. And then teach me how to do it.]

Anyway, thank you all for your encouraging comments and e-mails and chocolate (that one was Smitty) and dinner and hugs. Thank you.

This one’s for you:



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A Valentine's Day Date Night

One of my goals for the year is to have a monthly date with Mark. January’s almost over, and we’re not off to a good start. But next month is February, and we’d really be in trouble if we couldn’t even figure out a way to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

[Yes, cynics, I know it’s a fabricated holiday that only benefits card makers and chocolate bakers. But I’m a girl, and I like it. Got it?]

It should come as no surprise that Hollywood is offering up several options for a movie date night. (Including one called “Date Night,” strangely enough.) But after being so disappointed at the lack of movie options for my birthday, I’m still excited to have so many to choose from! Here are my (yes, predictable) favorites so far:

• Date Night
• Dear John
• Leap Year
• Valentine’s Day
• When in Rome

What about you? Do you have plans to see a movie anytime soon? Do any of these look good to you?

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But what did Peter Piper DO after picking those peppers?

I thought about naming this post, “I made up a recipe and it was actually good.” But that didn’t seem very uplifting. I also considered calling it, “But isn’t garlic good for you?” Then I remembered the vampire craze that just will not die down (kind of like a vampire, I guess), and I decided against that, too.

It's too bad I can't get someone to write titles for me. Short, pithy anything just isn't my style.

Anyway.  

It all started last week when Annalyn and I went to the grocery store. Not the Super Walmart, where we get most our groceries, but the smaller and more expensive grocery store that’s conveniently on our way home. The one with the reasonable parking lot and the cute mini shopping carts that I could use if only I ever ventured to the grocery store sans kiddo.

As we walked through the produce section, I decided to take a minute and point out the varied brightly colored fruits and vegetables to Annalyn.

And then we saw them: big, beautiful, spot-free red peppers. I had to have them. Two of them, to be exact. Two enormous red peppers that put the puny one already residing my fridge to veggie shame.

I didn’t immediately think, “Oh, I’d better find a way to use these peppers!” After all, we both like peppers of any shape and color in fajitas and quesadillas, and Annalyn loves raw peppers to snack on.

But then, a few days later, I found a partial box of bowtie pasta in the pantry. And the wheels started turning.

I decided I would make a chicken pasta dish with red peppers. I just needed a recipe.

Easier said than done! I searched all over the vast cookbook known as The Internet. And I could not find what I wanted.

Not exactly what I wanted, that is. I found recipes for chicken dishes, recipes for all sorts of carbonara (with spaghetti or linguine), recipes for cold pasta salads and recipes for fancy, 28-ingredient triumphs. But I did not find a simple recipe for a chicken, red pepper and bowtie pasta dish.

So I made my own recipe. I didn’t completely disregard the many wrong recipes I found, though. I kept their quantities in mind when I threw together crafted my own dish. And, if I say so myself, it turned out pretty well!

Mary’s Garlic Chicken Pasta with Red Peppers
2 large chicken breasts, grilled and thinly sliced
1 box bowtie (farfalle, if you’re fancy) pasta
1 large red pepper, sliced
½ pound bacon, cut into inch-sized pieces
3 garlic cloves, diced
½ large white onion, diced
1 jar alfredo sauce
Shredded parmesan cheese

[Side note: You may have caught on when you saw the word “bacon,” but I’ll tell you right now: This meal is not diet-friendly. Or Weight Watchers-approved. I’m pretty sure I could make a healthier version, but on this first round, I definitely did not.]

Boil the pasta (feel free to do it in the microwave like I did, if all your large pots happen to be dirty). Rinse and drain.

Fry the bacon on low to medium heat, stirring often. When the bacon is cooked through, put it in a bowl and set aside. Drain most – but, I’m sorry, not all – the drippings.

Add the onion and garlic to the drippings and sauté. It will smell ridiculous. As in, good. Once the onion and garlic are translucent, add the peppers and chicken.

You may have to add some chicken stock (or, water, if you’re like me and have never bought something so fancy as “chicken stock”) if it’s cooked down, otherwise everything will burn. And then it will smell ridiculous. As in, bad.

Combine chicken and vegetable mixture, pasta and sauce. Add the bacon.

Now, at this point, I put it all in the refrigerator and Mark took it out to re-warm about 13 hours later. I think this helped smush all the flavors together, and yes, that’s my technical term. Before serving, top with shredded parmesan. Enjoy with a nice Caesar salad and cheesy garlic bread.

Have you made any recipes that “actually” turned out well?

This post will be linked to Mouthwatering Monday, Tasty Tuesday, Tuesdays at the Table and Tempt My Tummy Tuesday.

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A Woman Inspired ticket winner

Thanks to everyone who entered to win a ticket to A Woman Inspired's online conference about organization and creativity. Random.org picked #1, which was Hillary @ The Other Mama!

If you'd still like to check out this online conference, tickets are very reasonable. You can register here!

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Random Readings, 1.23.10

You all, I am FRIED. My bad mood just got worse and worse today. My morning started with Annalyn waking up an hour early, then moved quickly into news that a client had blasted me for a small mistake that I’d already apologized for and offered to fix by emailing my bosses about it. And then I ended the evening by backing into a truck when leaving my friends’ house after what had been an otherwise lovely visit.

So. These links are about as random as can be, and I don’t even think I can offer you much explanation. Please just know I’ve been collecting them all week, and for various reasons, I think you need to know about each and every item. Enjoy.

• Shelly began a series about intentional parenting, and I can’t wait to read her insights. She’s a wise lady who is raising teenaged girls, and since I know I’ll be there sooner than I think, I am trying to soak up as much of her knowledge as I can!
• Have I mentioned I love Chuck, the TV show? Yeah, just a few million times. Well, it turns out that the actor who plays Chuck is a Christian. I love that.
• Matthew Paul Turner, an author, blogger and husband of a fellow (in)courage writer, spent the last week in Uganda with World Vision. Read about his journey in Uganda Week.
• Shaun Groves is amazing. The work he does – and the passion with which he does it – for Compassion blows me away. And he’s doing it again, bigger than ever. Stay tuned for more info about the benefit he’s planning for Haiti.
• What do you do when you see homeless people? I always feel weird and end up doing . . . nothing. Jenn has a great solution and detailed instructions: Keep care packages for homeless people in your car, including items like toothbrushes, hand warmers, water bottle and more.
• Did you read the Babysitters Club books back in the day? Apparently, they’ve been out of print for a while, but they’re coming back and there’s a prequel. I might have to read that!
• If you’re a blogger and you’re not reading Savvy Blogging, check it out now. These ladies are offering up honest, realistic and so very relevant advice, and everyone who wants to improve their blog should be reading every word. I know I am. 
• And I'm over at (in)courage today, talking about a time (not the only time, believe you me) I got in trouble for rolling my eyes. You don't want to miss this one.
  

That’s all folks. Have a good weekend!

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You don't know how it feels.

I don't think it's a coincidence that today I heard both "You Don't Know How It Feels" by Tom Petty and "But It's Alright" by JJ Jackson (which opens with the line, "You don't know how I feel.").

Because honestly? I don't think anyone knows how I feel right now. My poor mom tried to talk to me tonight and struck out every time she opened her mouth. Because there's not a right answer. There's not a quick fix.

It won't help to tell me to be grateful for my many blessings. It won't help to encourage me to share my feelings honestly. And please, for the love of all pity parties, don't recite Bible verses that I have memorized, too.

Because you don't know how I feel. You don't know how it feels to be me.

(Although I realize you might be picking up on the fact that right now, I'm feeling a tad grumpy.)

I was disappointed today. Big time. I pursued an opportunity, and it didn't work out. I'm not even that upset about the specific opportunity; I'd already figured out that it wasn't the best thing for me. I'm just thoroughly discouraged about my entire life.

That's not really better, is it?

My mom even said, "This isn't the life I wanted for you either."

Ah! She wasn't being mean or critical; she was just acknowledging some of how I feel. I think. I don't even really know how I feel.

I do know that I have a good life. I know God is in control. I know the people of Haiti have it way worse, and I should shut up. I know. But knowing isn't helping. Nothing is helping right now.

By the time this posts, I'll probably feel better. Or maybe not. Maybe it will take a road trip and day of family chaos fun to cheer me up. Maybe the sun will show its face after a thousand years, and that will help.

You know - the sun will come out tomorrow, so don't worry, little Annie? Yeah, maybe that will do the trick.

I don't know. You don't know. And that's where I'm at today.

I think I'll go listen to some more Tom Petty and consider one of life's great questions: Why does this straight-laced, goody-two-shoes girl love druggie music so much?

What kind of music do you listen to when you're feeling discouraged?

(I really wanted to say "feeling bummed out...man..." right there. Mainly because I think I'm funny. Please, don't tell me otherwise. Or at least wait until the sun comes out.)

P.S. I'm linking up to Sarah's carnival at Real Life Blog.

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More of the important stuff

One thing this blog is good for is keeping me from doing the dishes after dinner keeping track of what I’ve done over time. Thanks to the excellent record-keeping I’ve done here, I can tell you that last year, I watched 40 movies (including seven holiday movies ranging from saccharine to Splenda).

I’ve thought about it, and I decided that I don’t feel bad about it. I haven’t counted, but I’m sure I read more books than that. And after all, I’m pretty sure somebody out there is relying on my movie reviews. (No? What? Oh, sorry, I can’t hear you, lalala!)

Now that we’re well into 2010 and have settled somewhat comfortably into the year, no longer limping from our brand-new-gotta-do-it-this-time workouts and coming to a tentative agreement that we’ll call it twenty-ten, I’m going to do a little recap of my 2009 viewing accomplishments.

Not the regular movies, because we’ve already gone over that. And not the holiday movies, because I’m serious: I’m talking Lifetime and Hallmark movies here. No need to rehash that. Nope. Today I’m going to tell you about the old movies and TV shows I finally got around to watching.

The ones that everyone else and their little brother who was too young to watch them have seen.

First, the movies:

Matrix: I watched this one over Labor Day with college friends. And I have to say, I still have not gotten over the fact that I hadn’t watched it before. I really liked it! It was weird and complicated, but thankfully, our friends have seen it a million few times, so they knew how to answer all my questions.

Flashdance: One night when nothing else was on TV, this was. I’m glad I finally saw it, but I can’t say I loved it. I liked it – and the soundtrack, of course – a lot, but Dirty Dancing, Step Up and Save the Last Dance are in no danger of being knocked off the top of my dancing movies list. (Don’t you have a list like that?)

Say Anything: I read an article about 2009 being the 20th anniversary of Say Anything, and I thought about how ridiculous it is that I haven’t watched it. And after I rented it, I have to say: I still think that. How did I miss this movie? It kind of reminded me of my own high school romance, if you can call it that. And I had a brilliant post written about how Mark was just as sweet as Lloyd Dobler, all ready to share with you. Except – it was only written in my head, and it just never made it to paper/screen.

And now, the TV:

Freaks & Geeks: I know I already talked about this one, and I wish I wasn’t too lazy to link to those posts. But regardless of my linking lethargy, I loved this show. Big, huge, redundant thanks to Triple and Chelley for giving me the entire season on DVD. I anticipate another full viewing this summer.

Veronica Mars, season one: Next to my beloved Gilmore Girls, Veronica Mars is one of my all-time shows. But I actually didn’t start watching until the second season. Watching season one (in one fell swoop over a weekend. Yes, I was quite productive, thank you.) just made me love the prematurely canceled show more. I never really understand where Logan was coming from, what happened to Lily or why we cared about Duncan. And now? Now, I get it.

Arrested Development: I’ve made a big mistake. I’m kidding! The only mistake I made was not watching this show sooner. After watching all three seasons (thanks to Hulu and my local library), I can see why fans are still lamenting this show’s treatment by Fox. Dry, dark and sarcastic – this smart show was hilarious!

Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, season one: I read a lot about TV. [Insert mock gasp of surprise here.] And all my favorite critics name Buffy as one of the best shows of the 90s, the century, the whole forever of television history. So over the holidays, when nothing was on except Rudolph and Nick Lachey, I thought I’d see if it was available on Hulu. And it was – for only three more days. I’m sure you know what I did next. Yep, I watched the whole first season (minus a couple episodes in the middle – a girl has to sleep, you know!) in three days. I liked it. But I don’t need to watch the other six seasons. I mean, six seasons! That’s a big commitment for vampires. And, like the last three Twilight books, I just don’t care that much.

Better Off Ted: Ohhh, this is a good one. And a sad one. Because it’s actually still on, at least for a couple more weeks. But from what I hear, ABC is burning off the remaining episodes of season two, and then the show will be kaput. It’s too bad. A dry, dark comedy about the absurdities of the workplace is just my sort of thing. (Obviously, I have a thing for dry and dark. Hm.) I’ve been watching on Hulu, but you might see it pop up over the next few weeks on ABC.

And now to move on: if you’ve been wondering about my spring TV watching schedule, well, you might be weird. But I’ll tell you about it anyway. I have several shows I’m watching live, but I’ve discovered the convenience of watching several others online. And a handful I’ll tape and watch over the weekend with Mark. Here’s the rundown:

• Watching live: Chuck, Life Unexpected, Castle, NCIS, The Good Wife, Glee (when it comes back on), and Bones (taped, but still watching it that night).
• Watching online: How I Met Your Mother, Modern Family, Community, The Office and 30 Rock.
• Watching over the weekend: Chuck (yes, again), White Collar, Psych and Burn Notice.
• Show I want to watch but have no idea when: Parenthood.
• Show I'm watching on DVD: Firefly.
  
• Casualties of having a life and trying not to let it be ruled by TV, despite this ridiculous post: Big Bang Theory and Grey’s Anatomy. And possibly American Idol.
  

{Insert sad face here.}I never said it was going to be easy, people. It’s about sacrifice, you know.

So – have you watched any TV shows on DVD? What are you watching this spring?

This post will be linked to Things I Love Thursday. Because, obviously.

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Giveaway: A Woman Inspired Conference

• My laundry has multiplied, migrated and is taking over my bedroom floor. That’s the door I shut when anyone comes over to visit.
• Last night I had to boil pasta in the microwave because all my big pots were dirty, and I couldn’t put dinner off for the hour it would take to get them clean.
• I have a big Rubbermaid box full of photos, some in plastic bags, some in envelopes and some just stacked precariously. None of them organized into any sort of system.
• Two days ago, I finally mailed my last Christmas card.

Have you been there? Has your life ever looked – or does it look now – like a big, fat mess? Do you wonder why you just can’t get it together?

Maybe I’m the only one. But I suspect a few of you might know exactly what I’m talking about. And in that case, A Woman Inspired’s next online conference is for you. And me. For us, really.

A Woman Inspired – Nurturing Creativity & Efficient Living will take place January 25-29, featuring speakers such as Laura of OrgJunkie, Sandy Coughlin of Reluctant Entertainer, Meredith of Like Merchant Ships, Jennifer Schmidt of Beauty and Bedlam, Tanna Clark of Organizing Solutions and Erin Chase of $5 Dinners.com.

Without leaving the comfort of your home (or, you know, paying for a flight and hotel), you will learn how to:

• develop your God-given talents and gifts
• push past creative blocks
• further your education in the area of your choice (at no cost)
• be more productive
• be more focused
• let your light shine!

Each day, you can log in and listen to amazing speakers share the lessons they’ve learned about organizing your complicated life and harnessing your natural creativity. Each day features four sessions, and each session is an hour long. You can tune in for all the speakers or pick the ones that best suit you. And all you need is your computer. No cocktail dress or skinny jeans required.

If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, I’ve got some good news for you. I’m giving away a free ticket!

All you need to do for a chance to win is leave a comment, telling us one way this conference could help you. Random.org will choose a winner on Friday, and I'll notify the winner by Saturday. For more information about A Woman Inspired, visit the conference website.

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Tea party time

Last Sunday, we skipped church. And we stayed in our pajamas all day long. I could say that I regret it, especially in case my choir director reads this. But you know what? After three weeks of Christmas chaos, we needed a day to just BE.

We spent the entire day playing tea party and kitchen with Annalyn. It took hours for the plastic steak to turn into a hamburger that turned into a jelly sandwich, but we were up for the challenge. And that steak/hamburger/sandwich needed lots more sauce, and we practiced stacking up beans and corn and chicken legs.

It was important. And I'm glad we didn't miss it. Even for church. For more small, important moments, visit Chatting at the Sky for Tuesdays Unwrapped.

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I just can't get enough.

When I was in high school, I had six really close girlfriends. Looking back, it's too bad we didn't have a name, like the Pink Ladies or something. But we weren't a club or a clique; we were just a group of friends.

Since graduation, we've only been together - all of us - a few times. But about once a year, a few of us usually manage to make a date and stick to it. (We make more plans than that, but somehow those plans don't always work out.) It never fails that we laugh until our eyes water and our heads hurt, and we leave the night promising to do it more often.

I hope we stick to our promise this time.

On Saturday night four of us met for a drink. Then Smitty hit us with what would turn out to be great news: one of her co-workers is in an 80s cover band, and they were playing at a bar downtown. She wanted to know if we thought it would be fun to go see their show.

I'd like to say we all jumped on the idea immediately. Because we're wild and crazy and fun and spontaneous like that. That's what I'd like to say.

But honestly, we had to debate the many pros and cons pretty thoroughly before deciding that three of us would venture downtown to the Young & Pretty District, where parking isn't free and sensible shoes are scarce.

[For the record, I was actually the one in our group wearing cute shoes this time. I'm not saying you need to mark that on any calendar, but I probably should.]

After more debate - take our purses in or not, wear our coats or not, try the cider beer or not, get a table or sit at the bar - we finally settled in (at the bar) just in time for the show.

And oh, what a show it was!

We laughed so very hard! I seriously had a headache the next morning - not from the half a cider beer I choked down because Smitty was kind enough to buy it, but because I laughed that hard!

The band was good. And they played fun songs - Bon Jovi, Paula Abdul, Rick Springfield, whoever sings Play That Funky Music. But their costumes? And the dancing? And the people watching? And the engaged guy who had the nerve to ask Mindy to dance? And the lead singer who thought I would be a good sport when he grabbed my scarf and tried to make me dance?

Oh, my. It was a good time. I've laughed recently, I have. But not that hard and not that long. I seriously laughed for almost two hours straight. Smitty laughed so hard (at me and the lead singer/scarf incident) that she fell off her chair!

Old (longevity, not age, of course) friends are so fun: those women who know the real me and love me anyway, the girls who grew up beside me in our small town, the people who can always make me laugh.

Who are the people who can always make you laugh?

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Haiti: Everyone Can Do Something

Updated to say: Thank you so much to everyone who donated! Thanks to your participation, Giving Up on Perfect donated $15.00 this weekend. (I rounded up from $9.25 - numbers aren't my thing, remember?!)

I had a great post scheduled for today (Friday). See, it's National Delurking Week, so earlier this week, several bloggers asked their readers to step out from behind the computer screen and make a comment already. Just to say "hi." Just to say "I'm here."

I'm going to wait on that because I was asked (along with lots of other folks) to write about the work Compassion is doing in Haiti. So, come back next week for a fun, clever post. But please stay today for an important one.

Here's the thing: I just can't wrap my mind around what has happened in Haiti. My heart can't fathom the pain that thousands are facing. Even after seeing the pictures, I can't fathom the destruction and damage. I don't know how to process any of it.

What I do know is that Compassion International has reacted immediately to this crisis. They were on the front lines of Haiti's severe poverty before the earthquake, and they will serve in Haiti long after many of us have forgotten this tragedy.

I also know that according to CNN, the FBI is warning of several Haiti charity scams that have popped up in the wake of this earthquake. They are suggesting that donations only be made to organizations monitored and rated by CharityNavigator.org and The American Institute of Philanthropy. Both organizations have given Compassion International their highest approval ranking. Compassion International is the only non-profit in its category to receive eight consecutive years of four-star rating from CharityNavigator.org.

So, with all that in mind, I believe it's safe to say that if you can help Haiti financially, your money will be well spent at Compassion.

Here's how to give: Text "disaster" to 90999 to donate $10, or donate online. Just $35 can help provide a relief pack filled with enough food and water to sustain a family for one week.

I've seen a couple bloggers pledge to donate a certain amount of money per comment they get on their post about Haiti. That's certainly one way to celebrate Delurking Week!

Earlier today, I donated to Compassion, And while I can't pledge to donate hundreds more, I will donate a quarter for every comment to this post.

I know it's not a lot. Maybe you can't give a lot either. But together, I believe God will use our gifts (and our prayers!) to make a difference. So, please, leave a comment and tell me how you've decided to help Haiti.

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How to get ready for Blissdom (part two)

Yesterday we talked about several ways to prepare for Blissdom. This annual women’s blogging conference shouldn’t be intimidating, but as I know from last year, it can be just that if you’re not prepared.

Don’t worry! I’m here to save you from your unprepared self. After all, I don’t want any of you to arrive in Nashville all nervous and excited, only to end up so overwhelmed and scared that you retreat to your hotel room, spending prime networking time on IM with your real-life blogging friend at home.

Not that I know anyone who did such a thing.

The first five tips for preparing for Blissdom were register (duh!), print business cards, get connected through social networks, find out who’s going and make a friend. Because I’m sure you followed my instructions immediately after reading them and are now signed up, printed, connected and hooked up with at least one new conference buddy, it’s time for five more tips.

1. Do your homework. This little idea of mine to offer tips for attending Blissdom? Turns out it’s not the most original thing on the planet. Not that I’m copying anyone, but the fact is, we’ve all fretted a little bit (or a lot bit) before a big event like this. And that means most of know that any and all advice, insight, suggestions and tips are more than welcome. So, Google it up, girls. (Or, if you like to earn money for your research, Swagbucks it up.) I’m including the posts I know about, but believe me, there are more. If you’ve already found them, please leave a link in the comments!
   
   
   • What Should You Wear to Blissdom – This is the post that introduced me to Jenny last year, and I found it immensely helpful when shopping/packing.  
   • Blisstastic – To get ready for Blissdom, OhAmanda is featuring several top bloggers in a weekly feature. So far, we’ve gotten tips from the amazing ladies at Musings of a Housewife and Boston Mamas.
   •  Advice for Making the Most of Blissdom – And speaking of Jo-Lynne, she wrote a great piece on her own blog about getting the most out of Blissdom.
   • Conferences Put the “Social” in Social Media – It’s true. Going to a conference can transform these squishy, can’t-quite-see-your-face online relationships into solid, hug-your-neck-and-miss-you-when-I-go-home friendships. Sarah at Real Life Blog writes about the social benefit to social media meetings.
   • 8 Things You Should Know Before Blissdom: Great tips from Darcy at Life with My Three Boybarians, including how to win friends and influence people with a power strip. Seriously.
   • Dos and Don’ts for Surviving Blissdom – Edie keeps it simple and includes advice that includes not letting your inner seventh-grader take over.
     
     
2. Map out your strategy. So you registered, booked your ticket and reserved your hotel room. All set, right? Not quite. When I arrived at Blissdom last year, I was surprised to learn I had to choose between two tracks. This year I’ll have even more choices, but I’m going in prepared. You should, too. Choose the classes you want to attend with the agenda, and keep your eyes and ears open for events going on during the weekend.
   
   
3. Shop (and pack) early. I’m not here to tell you what to buy or pack. I’m just here to tell you to start early. Do your research and find out what the seasoned bloggers suggest you bring. You may not be as list-y as me, but I highly suggest making a packing list. And remember, if you must buy something, keep the receipt. One luxury of planning and shopping early is the ability to change your mind. More than once.
   
   
4. Prettify yourself. Don’t get me wrong; Blissdom is not the prom. (Also known, at my house, as the day my mom gave me hooker eyes decided I should experiment with eyeliner. Yes, it was traumatic, thank you for asking.) But while your fellow bloggers won’t be impressed by your painful pointy shoes and expensive trendy haircut, you will feel better if you put your best (comfortable) foot forward. I don’t know exactly what that means for you, but for me, it means Crest Whitestrips, Jergens Natural Glow and a Great Clips trim (with a coupon, even!).
   
   
5. Sleep. Last but not least: get yourself some shut-eye. Do not under any circumstance stay up late the night before you head to Nashville. After all, you don’t want to be spaced out and droopy at the cocktail party, do you? No. Go to bed and get your eight hours so you can be your most clever and charming self. (At least on the first day. I won’t even pretend like you’re not going to bed early during the conference. Not when my roommates and I are already giggling about our weekend-long slumber party!)

What are your tips for getting the most out of a conference?

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Helping Haiti

Before we jump in to conference talk, I want to share some information I’ve found over the last day or so about relief efforts in Haiti. Here are several ways to help the thousands devastated by Tuesday’s earthquake:

• Global Orphan Project – I know these folks personally, and I know the huge heart they have for Haiti. Every penny donated goes directly to relief efforts; nothing goes toward administrative costs.
• Samaritan’s Purse – Just hours after the earthquake hit, this organization had a relief team on its way. 
• Compassion International – A gift of $35 will help one family receive emergency supplies of food and clean water for about one week.
• World Vision – Your gift will help distribute life-saving relief supplies, including food, clean water, blankets and tents.

Updated to add: Leslie Ruth over at Diary of a Southern Drama Queen has four more ways to help Haiti. Two of them involve only leaving comments on blogs.

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How to get ready for Blissdom (part one)

I must have been out of my mind. Last year, without knowing a single soul who was going or really why I had a blog in the first place, I registered for Blissdom.

Blissdom is “the premiere conference for women who find and express their bliss by publishing online.” It’s put on by online magazine Blissfully Domestic and One2One Network, a women’s word-of-mouth marketing network. And it’s held each February in Nashville.

And that little paragraph up there? That’s about all I knew as I got on a plane and headed south almost one year ago.

Since that weekend in February – and because of it, really – I have made several amazing friends and had a couple incredible opportunities. All thanks to blogging and the insane, what-was-I-thinking decision to attend Blissdom.

This year, I’m excited to return to the conference that helped me see blogging as more than a random way to pass the time after putting my daughter to bed. This year’s event promises to be bigger and better with a larger attendance and a fancy-schmancy hotel. And ohmygoodness, have you heard? Harry Connick, Jr., will be there!

[Insert pounding heart and, let’s be honest, crazy eyes here.]

But more importantly than even Harry and the chance to stay at the Grand Ole Opry hotel? (Well, slightly more important than Harry…) The one-two knockout punch of information-packed seminars and the chance to hang out with my blogging friends and meet more amazing women who don’t look at me strangely when I say things like, “Wait! Can you do that again? I want to take a picture for my blog.”

As someone who went to last year’s conference completely unprepared and proceeded to get completely overwhelmed, I’m here to offer you some advice. Here are the first five ways to get ready for Blissdom:

1. Register. Now, this might seem obvious, but I’d be willing to be my sturdy yet cute Lands End tote bag from last year’s conference that somebody reading this post has been thinking about going for a while but has not had the nerve to register yet. Stop thinking about it and do it! Only 500 tickets will be sold, and I suspect most of those are already spoken for. So, first order of business: Go straight to the registration page and get yourself a ticket!
   
   
2. Order business cards. Perhaps this, too, is obvious to some of you. Last year, it was not so clear to me. So learn from my mistake. Though most of Blissdom will feel like a girls’ weekend retreat, it’s really a business meeting. And you’d never go to a business meeting without some way of helping people remember you! This doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. A basic design or even a template will do, and plenty of printers offer economical options. I printed mine at FedEx Kinko’s, but I’ve also heard lots of people talk about Vistaprint and MOO.
   
   
3. Get connected. Join the Blissdom Facebook group and follow @Blissdom and the Blissdom hashtag (#blissdom) on Twitter. This will give you access to all the fun chatter about the upcoming conference, including tips and insights from people who have attended before. (For example, if I’d done this last year, I would have known to bring business cards.) Following the conversation on Facebook and Twitter will also tell you who’s going this year. And that leads me to #4 . . .
   
   
4. Find out who’s going to Blissdom. I’m not saying you should stalk your fellow conference attendees. But I am saying you should find out who’s going, read their blogs and follow them on Twitter. You could even, if you’re as crazy organized as me some people, make a list of people you want to meet throughout the weekend. The place to start for a list of attendees would be the Facebook group, but another place would be The Nester’s link-up and Lisa Boyd's link-up at Simply His.
   
   
5. Make a friend. If you’ve been blogging for any time at all – or even just lurking around the blogosphere – I would bet you’ve got a bloggy friend or two. However, if they’re not attending, you still have time to make new friends who are. When you find someone you like, whether through the Twitter stream, the Facebook group or a link-up of people attending, start commenting on their posts. Or send a quick e-mail. Who doesn’t like hearing, “I love your blog and look forward to meeting you.”?? Follow that up with a quick, “I see you’re going to Blissdom. So am I! Maybe we can see each other there!” and you might just have yourself a new friend.

I’m serious on that last point, you all. When I was frantically trying to figure out WHAT ON EARTH I WAS DOING shortly before last year’s conference, I stumbled onto Jenny Rapson’s blog, Mommin’ It Up. I left her a comment, she replied with an e-mail, and instantly I felt like I wasn’t quite so alone on this conference adventure. She, of course, was super nice when I met her in person last year, and while we didn’t hang out, it was just nice to see a familiar face and to be greeted with a smile.

All right, that’s the first five tips I have for you. As my ninth grade history teacher would say each day as we fled his classroom, “Read, study and comprehend.” And then come back tomorrow for the last five ways to prepare for Blissdom.

Are you going to Blissdom? If not, have you gone to other conferences in the past year?

This post is linked to Works for Me Wednesday.

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Can we get a translator over here?

The other day my manager was talking about how her 4-year-old daughter only has a couple words that she mispronounces, and she's sad to see those cute, funny words disappear.

As she said it, I thought to myself, "Well, I won't ever know what that's like, because Annalyn's vocabulary skills are so advanced that she really doesn't mispronounce most things. That girl can enunciate!"

I even believed what I was thinking.

Then I started listening for mispronunciations. I'm sure you're not as surprised as I am that I noticed a few. Okay, a lot.

And they are Super Cute. Here are a few, used in sentences for your ease of understanding:

• Lie-vray - "Where do we get Elmo videos, Annalyn?" "The lie-vray! Pincess moovie! Pink pincess movie!" (We're temporarily over Elmo these days.)
  
• PQ - "Where did Annalyn go?" "PQ!!" "Oh, peekaboo! There you are!"
  
• broccoli - "Bockolee and panties! Mommy's tummy! Hahaha!"
  
• gunnel bar - "Do you want cheerios for breakfast?" "No! Want gunnel bahr!" (In other words, she wants Mommy's Fiber One granola bar. The kind with chocolate chips. The ones Mommy rations and considers the perfect snack. Those.)
  
• hamma - "Mommy want a hamma?" "A what?" "Hamma!" "Um, okay?" (It turns out she was saying "hamburger" and referring to the fake plastic steaks that came with her fake food set.)
  
• fah-pah- "Daddy watch fah-pah." Lots and lots of fah-pah. Good thing the Superbowl is almost here. You know, so we can move on to baseball. Or, um, base-bah?
  
• eemo - "Send eemo. Send eemo to Kyle." Annalyn calls my manager Kyle (which is not her name, but it's close). And one morning I had to send her an e-mail from home. Ever since, Annalyn likes to pretend that she's sending "Kyle" e-mails from her computer.
• pooter - I almost forgot. "Computer" is actually "pooter."
  
• CDO - "Watch CDO, Mommy! See baby! Watch CDO!" No, no, she's not referring to a strange and confusing Phil Collins song. She's confusing the many forms of media we have in our house - CD plus DVD plus video plus uploaded video of herself on Youtube (what she was actually referring to) equals "CDO."
• Slinky bankie - "No! Don't want slinky bankie in here!" Annalyn has a really soft pink blanket. And she has an unexplained love/hate relationship with it. Some nights, she can't go to sleep without it. Other nights, she can't go to sleep if it's anywhere in sight. Most nights it's folded up in the closet.
  

I have to admit, I'm glad she has all these cute little words. I've told her several times - although, clearly, not enough - to stop growing up and to Stay Little!

This post of ten words I realized (learned) Annalyn mispronounces in her super cute way will be linked to OhAmanda's Top Ten Tuesday and Musings of a Housewife's What I Learned This Week.

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Jumping in

Image by ashleigh290

Most the time you can tell it's January at the gym because the place is packed. But at 6 a.m. in the deep end of the pool, I'm pretty sure I'm seeing life as usual.

And by usual, I mean the high school girls swim team practicing on one end, several old ladies in suits with skirts on the other end, and various coaches, lifeguards and random chubby men in Speedos in between.

Yes, that's right. I'm taking water aerobics.

Taking a class - especially with a friend - is actually the best way for me to get exercise in consistently. The commitment of paying for something in advance combined with the accountability of knowing someone else will be tortured showing up with me is exercise gold for me.

While I'd love to take some sort of boot camp or kickboxing class, I know better. All the commitment and accountability in the world isn't going to keep me coming back to something that makes me want to die causes major pain. (See: The 30-Day Shred.) And so, low-impact, old-lady water aerobics it is.

Thankfully, my friend Brittany is game for the early morning class that works with my schedule. If she wasn't, I'd probably still be sleeping until the sun was at least thinking about coming up on Monday and Wednesday mornings.

Last week was our first class, and it wasn't the best timing. Like most areas of the country, we have had crazy cold temperatures and large amounts of snow over the past couple of weeks. But we soldiered on.

And the class was fun! Those old ladies were barely fazed by the same workout that completely kicked my butt. But that's okay. I think a workout that I feel but can manage is just what I needed. Even if I am schooled by grandmas.

Have you ever done water aerobics? What exercise are you doing these days?

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TV to the Rescue: How NBC & USA Saved January

A foot of snow.
Sub-zero temps.
Maxed-out credit cards.
Tight pants, courtesy of multiple holiday feasts.
Resolutions to tackle and goals to reach toward.

January gives us plenty of reasons to hate it, doesn’t it?

Then it has to go and do something nice, kind of like sending flowers or taking us out to dinner. But better.

Starting tomorrow, it’s bringing back some of my favorite TV shows, and what better way to deal with this crazy weather than slip into some comfy lounge pants, grab some (sugar-free) hot chocolate and flip on the tube?

You might be referring to tomorrow as “Sunday,” but around my house – at least for this week – we’re calling it “Chuck Day.”

Chuck is the coolest show about nerds you’ll ever watch. Or the nerdiest show about spies you’ll ever watch. Either way, if you watch it, you won’t regret it.

With spy intrigue, unrequited romance, intelligent banter and hilarious characters around every corner, Chuck offers a little bit of something for everyone. And for those of us who enjoy the suspenseful, the funny, the clever and the lovey-dovey, well, this is the ultimate combo.

Here’s the basic premise, as described by IMDB: When a twenty-something computer geek inadvertently downloads critical government secrets into his brain, his former college friend turned CIA recruits him as a secret agent, all while keeping him out of evil hands.

Don’t worry if you are new to Chuck. After last season’s game-changing finale, Season Three is the perfect time to start. But you can also check out Chuck 101: The Basics on Give Me My Remote. It includes video clips that will catch you right up – and get you totally psyched for Season Three!

Chuck’s third season starts with a two-hour premiere at 8 p.m. CST on Sunday, January 10, with a third episode at the show’s regular time at 7 p.m. CST on Monday, January 11.

The fun doesn’t stop there, though. The USA Network has made it their business to showcase quirky characters, and my three favorites are coming back this month.

Next Tuesday (January 19) at 9 p.m. CST marks the return of White Collar, the new kid on the USA block. It’s a crime of the week show about an infamous white collar criminal who’s been released from prison in exchange for helping the FBI solve white collar crimes. The two main guys are the typical bickering odd couple, but with a few more layers than normal as they tentatively develop trust despite their differences. (You know, one being a criminal and the other being a law man and all. Those differences.)

The show is clever and funny, and it stars the not-bad-on-the-eyes-at-all Matthew Bomer. Bomer is formerly of Chuck, but he’s not the star with the most interesting resume. Playing the wife of the stuffy FBI agent is Kelly Kapowski herself.

And speaking of bickering odd couples, Psych is back on Wednesday, January 27 at 9 p.m. CST. As I’ve discussed before, watching Shawn and Gus pretend to be psychic while still solving real crimes is one of my favorite ways to pass an hour on Sunday night (I tape – yes, tape – the show so I can watch it with Mark over the weekend.).

If you’re not familiar with Psych but enjoy buddy shows, cop shows or ridiculous pop culture references, you need to put this one on your calendar. Or your DVR. Or wherever you put shows to watch. To promote this upcoming season, the cast sings a little ditty called Private Eyes. And it’s even funnier than Ebony & Ivory from a couple years ago.

For more Psych singalongs, I recommend Oh Sheila and Wishing Well. Also, Superfreak and Jessie’s Girl. You’re welcome.

To cap off what I’m calling the USA Trifecta, Mark’s favorite show, Burn Notice is back on Thursday, January 21 at 9 p.m. CST. Everything I need to know about being a spy, I learned from Michael Weston and Burn Notice. See, TV can be educational, too.

So, that’s what I’m looking forward to – at least in TV terms – this month. How about you? Do you watch these shows? Are any of your favorites coming back to help you make it through the winter months?

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My 2010 New Year's Resolutions

Image by katehra

It’s that time of year again, isn’t it? In the past week, I’ve read post after post about New Year’s resolutions. So of course I’m going to join the party.

Would you be surprised to know that I have a two-page typed document with my goals listed out with various strategies and tactics for achieving each one? Right. No. I know.

Don’t worry. I know your eyes are still bleeding from yesterday’s crazy long post. So I’ll keep this short and sweet. Here are my goals for 2010:

1. Read the Bible all the way through. I’ve never done this, so I finally did what I’ve said I should for the past couple of years: I bought a One Year Bible. Granted, it’s now the 8th and I’ve just gotten started. But I have gotten started.
2. Obtain and maintain a healthy weight. I started a water aerobics class on Monday, and I’m still a member of Weight Watchers. This is the year I will get healthy.
3. Improve our finances: live within a budget, save more and pay off some debt. I’ve already increased the amount automatically deposited to savings each month, and I’ve allocated extra paychecks to pay for car maintenance, gifts and vacation. Now it’s a matter of sticking to my revised monthly budget and figuring out how to pay for birthdays and Christmas.
4. Go on monthly dates with Mark. I’ve got most months mapped out. I’ve already bought concert tickets for April, and we’re hoping to take a trip to Chicago in May. Most months will be smaller affairs, though, like a movie or a trip to Target. You know how I love both of those outings!
5. Roll with the punches in our life with a toddler. In other words, potty training, moving to a big girl bed, working on our bedtime routine and possibly starting piano lessons. Yikes, that’s a lot of big stuff!

I’d also like to take a photography class, increase my blog traffic by providing better content and community, start a cooking club with my girlfriends, read some good books, stay fairly caught up on my scrapbooking and get a new job. But I’m not putting those on the main list. Short and sweet, remember?

Now, what about you? Have you blogged about your New Year’s resolutions and/or 2010 goals? I’d love to read it, so link up below!

If you aren’t going to blog about it, I hope you’ll still share your goals in the comments!



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Looking back on the memory of . . . 2009

Last week, Shelly at Life on the Wild Side posted a great recap on her blog. I knew right away that I wanted to do the same thing, but it’s taken me several days to get around to it. Now that I’ve finally answered the questions about my life in 2009, I know why.

The darned thing is way too long!

Even after skipping a few questions, this post has gone on and on and . . . well, you know. It’s possible that when it comes to bloggers, I am of the WORDY variety. Oh, who am I kidding? Of COURSE I’m wordy. It’s just who I am.

All through 2009 and now into 2010, I am a woman of MANY WORDS. So here it is, my post FULL OF WORDS about my life in 2009. Did you do a recap of 2009?

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
I swam with a dolphin in Orlando while on vacation with Mark. Yes, it was as magical as I imagined. Yes, I almost gagged when I got saltwater in my mouth.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I kept some of last year’s resolutions, including scrapbook more regularly, start a Bible study and start recycling. I did not lose weight. So, yes, I’ll have to have resolutions this year.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Of course. My friend Mandy had a baby girl right after moving back to Kansas City. And my sweet friend Elizabeth had a darling baby girl who I’ve yet to meet and it’s killing me! In addition, cousins and co-workers and everyone in between have had babies this year, and I’m not about to try naming them all, because I’ll undoubtedly forget someone.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Of course. I can’t remember a year in my life when someone didn’t. (I guess that’s just the nature of life. Or the circle of life. Or hakuna matata.)

Anyway . . . in November, my family lost a dear friend, Mr. Crowley. He was my parents’ boss at one point and my brother and my principal at others, but he became so much more. He was my mom’s mentor in some ways, encouraging her to grow from a school secretary to teacher to principal. He was our friend, letting us swim in his pool during the summers, because we couldn’t afford a membership to the local pool, singing with my mom and me in the church choir, and generally being a great guy. Though I had not seen him in many years, I know he will be missed by many, and I’m thankful for his influence on my life.

5. What countries did you visit?
None. Although I did have every intention of going to Jamaica, which I believe requires a passport. It turns out my second choice, Florida, does not require any such thing, despite the fact that I heard more foreign languages spoken during my three days in Orlando than I had in the three years before.

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
A job and/or a ministry that I can be passionate about and use my gifts in. And, apparently, an end to the rule about not ending a sentence with a preposition.

Also, a CHI hair straightener would be nice.

7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I don’t actually remember the specific dates, but I remember the days well: The night that Smitty got Annalyn to walk while pushing her doll stroller and the day she took her first step while playing with Triple and Mad Dog’s daughter. It was July-ish and August-ish.

What can I say? I’m not a numbers person.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
This is a hard question. I don’t want to sound too pitiful, but I’m not sure I achieved anything great in 2009. I guess I’d have to say attending Blissdom. I didn’t know a single soul who would be there, and yet I got on a plane anyway. And even though I was completely self-conscious and nervous and freaked out, I ended up making some great friends and connections. All by myself!

9. What was your biggest failure?
My biggest failure of 2009 was letting another year go by without adopting healthy eating and exercise habits. While I dream of the day I lose weight, it’s not all about the numbers on a scale. It’s about being healthy enough to be a good role model for my daughter, to enjoy regular activities like I’m designed to without huffing and puffing and sweating like a horse, and to be able to safely consider having another baby.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nope, nothing major, thank God! Mark twisted his ankle badly at work, but considering he drives a semi, I’m thankful for small injuries, too!

11. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Mark for being the best dad our little girl could ask for. Annalyn for being sweet, smart and sassy – and darned cute, if I do say so myself. My brother and sister-in-law for giving me tickets to see Wicked. My parents for spending every Thursday night at my house so I can go to choir practice. Smitty for going back to school, earning her master’s degree and getting a job teaching at an alternative school.

12. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My friend who left his wife and two kids to continue an affair with his wife’s best friend. I can’t talk any more about this, but it both shocked me and depressed me.

13. Where did most of your money go?
Debt. And food. And no, I don’t want to talk about this, either.

14. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I was super excited to be asked to write for (in)courage. I still haven’t figured out why on earth I would be included in the amazing group of women creating a home for the hearts of women. But whatever the reason, whatever God’s plan in this, I am grateful. And still really, really, really excited.

15. What song will always remind you of 2009?
*Sigh* Anything by Lady Gaga or Black-eyed Peas, probably.

And Mighty to Save, because we sang it to death at Easter. I know, I know. Easter is supposed to be about life and rebirth and, yes, resurrection. But, I’m so sorry to everyone who loves that song, but for me, there will be no resurrection of that one.

16. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer?
Let me start by saying I am not a fan of this question. Let me finish by not answering it.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Praying. Loving. Learning.

18. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Complaining. Gossiping. Eating.

19. How did you spend Christmas?
I’ll actually give you the short version this time: with family. (But if you missed the long version, see yesterday’s post!) 

20. Did you fall in love in 2009?
I really liked Shelly’s answer, but I won’t copy her. At least, not completely. I had moments where I fell in love with my husband again. I had many moments where I fell in love with my daughter. I fell in love with Glee and Wicked, with my church’s choir, and with God’s creativity, compassion and wisdom.

21. What was your favorite TV program?
How long do you have? Kidding. I’ll actually be discussing this topic in full in a later post. The short version (yes, I am capable, it turns out) is Chuck. I love Chuck.

22. What was the best book you read?
In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson

23. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Just one? Really? I can’t. But I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed the music of both Glee and Wicked, I loved getting to know Brandi Carlisle, Adele, (more of ) Lady Antebellum, Straight No Chaser and Kris Allen. (And just in case my brother is reading, yes, I know Adam Lambert was more talented, but I can only take him in small doses. And I like Kris Allen. Okay? There it is.)

24. What did you want and get?
An mp3 player. Now to upload all my music . . .

25. What did you want and not get?
A new job. Anyone else with me in that boat?


26. What was your favorite film of this year?
I loved Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist, State of Play, Duplicity, The Proposal and The Blind Side.

27. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I went to work, ate lunch with Mark and Annalyn, then went to dinner with Smitty. I was 31.

28. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Appreciating what I have more.

29. Who did you miss?
Katie who lives across the country. Michelle and Sally who live in Iowa. The girls I did Bible study with a few years ago. The couples we used to spend all our free time with. Zac and Mandy who I still don’t see often enough, even though they moved back to town. My Granny. My two friends from college who don’t speak to me anymore. My former co-workers who shared so much of my life and always made me laugh. My brother-in-law's ex-fiance. Jason and Christelle who moved across town but might as well as moved across the country.

30. Who was the best new person you met?
How can I begin to list all the new people I’ve met this year? I attended two big blogging conferences and met sooo many amazing women. Plus there’s the folks I’ve met online but not in person. So here’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to cheat in so many ways on this question. I’m going to say that the best people I met in 2008 were Josh and Brittany. I love them and love that we’re friends. The end.

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