Merry Christmas!

Luke 2:11-14
11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Anytime I hear or read this verse, I hear it in Linus' voice from the Charlie Brown Christmas Special... no joke. :) love that Linus... I'm a big fan...
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

{{{{{{{{{ frosty }}}}}}}}}}

"Half of the world is composed of people who have something to say and can't; the other half consists of people who have nothing to say and keep on saying it." Robert Frost

Hmm... i think that's a great quote. So i've been having a mental block lately... not able to post much... sorry Steph! I have a feeling that the block will pass soon. Shoot, i might even start writing some poetry up on here or something! ha!
So the last couple of weeks have been pretty good- been keeping busy with all the Christmas stuff- shopping, partying, etc. I've received some great gifts already and it's not even Christmas yet! We did that "Secret Santa" thing at work and my Secret Santa (who was Jamie) was really good to me and got me James Blunt's "Back to Bedlam" album and lots of other great stuff! More about James Blunt: http://shopping.msn.com/prices/shp/?itemId=1738404,ptnrId=26,ptnrData=0
I've also received lots of Starbucks love thanks to winning a door prize at the work Christmas party & thanks to another gift from my Secret Santa. Can't go wrong with Starbucks people! Just in case you still haven't had the opportunity to do your shopping for me... S T A R B U C K S. :)

I'm listening to the Vince Guaraldi Trio(Charlie Brown Christmas) and i love it. you've got to love jazz. Christmas is just around the corner... and we're having a little snow in T town today! hmm... i hear a peppermint mocha calling my name.

avodah(Ah´-voe-dah) (thanks for the help Stacey)

Hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving holiday. This weekend I came across something that I wrote a few years back... thought i'd share it:
The words "work" and "worship" come from the same Hebrew root, "avodah." Some people say, “As you work, you are worshipping the Lord”. It’s almost like the idea of “suffering” for God. I disagree with this idea. I believe that God created me to worship Him. God created us all to worship Him with the talents and gifts that He has given to us. In our use of those gifts and talents, we worship Him. And that is our work on this earth.

Kinda interesting that I came across this... as I am becoming increasingly convinced that I am not able to use my unique talents or gifts in the particular job that I have at the moment.... hmm...

A little Thanksgiving History:

Continental Congress Thanksgiving Proclamation 1782

STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE. IN COMMITTEE of SAFETY, EXETER, November 1, 1782.
ORDERED, THAT the following Proclamation for a general THANKSGIVING on the twenty-eighth day of November instant, received from the honorable Continental Congress, be forthwith printed, and sent to the several worshipping Assemblies in this State, to whom it is recommended religiously to observe said day, and to abstain from all servile labour thereon. M. WEARE, President.

By the United States in Congress assembled.

PROCLAMATION.
IT being the indispensable duty of all Nations, not only to offer up their supplications to ALMIGHTY GOD, the giver of all good, for his gracious assistance in a time of distress, but also in a solemn and public manner to give him praise for his goodness in general, and especially for great and signal interpositions of his providence in their behalf: Therefore the United States in Congress assembled, taking into their consideration the many instances of divine goodness to these States, in the course of the important conflict in which they have been so long engaged; the present happy and promising state of public affairs; and the events of the war, in the course of the year now drawing to a close; particularly the harmony of the public Councils, which is so necessary to the success of the public cause; the perfect union and good understanding which has hitherto subsisted between them and their Allies, notwithstanding the artful and unwearied attempts of the common enemy to divide them; the success of the arms of the United States, and those of their Allies, and the acknowledgment of their independence by another European power, whose friendship and commerce must be of great and lasting advantage to these States:----- Do hereby recommend to the inhabitants of these States in general, to observe, and request the several States to interpose their authority in appointing and commanding the observation of THURSDAY the twenty-eight day of NOVEMBER next, as a day of solemn THANKSGIVING to GOD for all his mercies: and they do further recommend to all ranks, to testify to their gratitude to GOD for his goodness, by a cheerful obedience of his laws, and by promoting, each in his station, and by his influence, the practice of true and undefiled religion, which is the great foundation of public prosperity and national happiness.

Done in Congress, at Philadelphia, the eleventh day of October, in the year of our LORD one thousand seven hundred and eighty-two, and of our Sovereignty and Independence, the seventh. JOHN HANSON, President. Charles Thomson, Secretary.
PRINTED AT EXETER.

To see Presidential Thanksgiving Proclamations spanning from 1789 through this year visit:
http://www.pilgrimhall.org/ThanxProc.htm

slow motion

got the new David Gray cd “Life in Slow Motion” over the weekend… it’s so great. http://www.davidgray.com
does anyone else see their life as a slow motion music video like I do?
speaking of slow motion- it's Monday.

our employer supplies us with free soda & juice… the kitchen is stocked… nice, eh? anyway, it's really been one of those days for me and so… I went into the kitchen, grabbed a V8 & poured it in a glass along with lots of black pepper & some dried red chili peppers that I found in little Mazzio’s packages. yum. yes, I pretended it was a bloody mary. and while I was sipping my pretend Bloody Mary, I had a great marketing idea for bars. They should run specials for Bloody Marys after 5 o’clock on Mondays…. and call them BLOODY MONDAYS. if they marketed it right it would be a big hit.
seriously… I’m not much of a drinker… I have my occasion glass of wine… and a pretend bloody mary in the office every once in awhile.
Drink responsibly.

Listening to Coldplay's "Fix You"

FIX YOU
When you try your best but you don't succeed
When you get what you want but not what you need
When you feel so tired but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse

And the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone but it goes to waste could it be worse?

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

And high up above or down below
When you're too in love to let it go
But if you never try you'll never know
Just what you're worth

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

Tears stream down on your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down your face
And I

Tears stream down on your face
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down your face
And I

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you.


Don't you hate it when you're so passionate about something that it comes spilling out all over the place and all over everyone around you? Yeah, I don't either. I make no apologies for who I am. Just call me Joan of Arc.

I promise to write an entry in the near future that's a "real" entry and not just lyrics & hub-bub.
But seriously, LOVE this song. Don't you have songs that speak to you??

Wizard Academy Reunion

Got back from the Wizard Academy Reunion just in time to make it to Joy & Isaac's wedding on Sunday. Had a great time in Austin!! We met Michele Miller at the Wizard Reunion & had the opportunity to chat with her a bit. Michele's blog WonderBranding was named as one of the best blogs by Forbes.com this year. check it out: http://www.michelemiller.blogs.com/marketing_to_women/
how cool is it that i got to meet Malcolm Gladwell in Atlanta & then Michele Miller the next weekend in Austin... and get my picture taken w/both of them! oh, and the top pic here is our pic with the wizard himself, Roy Williams. wow... i'm a nerd sometimes.

the happy couple

i present to you, Mr. & Mrs. Issac Abad.

THE RIGHT STUFF!

okay- so I went to the Catalyst conference in Atlanta- got back on Saturday afternoon. it was a great experience. just when you think that all christian related events and churchy people suck- you learn otherwise. let me just say that the very first sounds I heard coming from inside the arena when I walked through the door was: “ohoh oh o oh, ohoh oh o oh, the right stuff!” Yes, that’s right, a New Kids on the Block video. It was at that moment that I knew I was going to have a fabulous time.
I’ll write more about my Catalyst experience later when I have more time…
…checkout my picture with Malcolm Gladwell, author of the Tipping Point. Which btw, I was a big fan of Gladwell BEFORE the conference… if you haven’t read either of his books, you might check them out. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/ref=pd_kk_sr_2/102-6254586-7647309?index=stripbooks&field-keywords=malcolm%20gladwell

Adam, Dad, & Jared at Goldie's on our recent trip to Norman.

Ingrid, Melinda, & Brian!

Ingrid, me, & Bethany "BeatDown" Jones.

Ingrid & me- she paid a visit Labor Day weekend.

Mister Roger's Neighborhood

if it were an option, I would adopt our little neighborhood kid.
he’s such a good little guy. his name is Collin and he’s 9 years old. sometimes I pay him to help with yardwork or whatever… but last night he said “I just want to help for free”. ahh... how cute... makes me feel like i live in Mister Roger's Neighborhood when he offers to sweep my driveway or sidewalk... just for the joy & warmth it brings to his little heart...
you think he’s just working on me? nnnaaaahh…… he’s truly a good kid. he cracks me up too.
I wish I could record some of our conversations and so you could hear what comes out of his mouth. he’s gone through a lot in his little life already… more than a lot of adults I know. sad… he’s had to “grow up” more than a lot of adults I know too.
hmm… all I have to say is you should never underestimate a 9 year old. :)

interactive posters… what will advertisers think of next? seriously, look at this: http://www.adverblog.com/archives/001971.htm
dang, if you ask me, it might spook some people…. could be a lot of fun though.
you know it will definitely grab people’s attention.

i stand corrected.

well- good news- I stand corrected. the little email subscription notice thing DOES work. whooflippinhoo. so, have at it… if you’re so inclined. and you can always unsubscribe if you get sick of it… which is very possible.

so here’s something annoying: I got some very dirty unwanted spam comments overnight. I immediately deleted them. ugh- I hate junk like that! anyway, so, now you’ll have to do a word verification when dropping me a comment because I don’t want anymore junk like that… yuck.

surprised that I haven’t mentioned anything about the hurricane? well, I really don’t know what to say about it… it’s a sad thing that is going to take a lot of work for a long time… from a lot of people. even if they don’t rebuild in New Orleans… thousands of people will have to rebuild somewhere. I can’t imagine what it’s like to be in their shoes. the best thing I know to do is to give to the relief funds & pray.

if you haven’t noticed… I’ve tried to avoid talking about anything sobering, serious, or spiritual lately. the last couple weeks have been crazy! I’ll get around to getting out all that serious junk later. :)

on a different note, whoohoo for shopping. Ingrid & I did a little shopping this weekend & I got some new bedding. yeah! it coordinates well with my black furniture. for some reason the pattern reminds me of India.

this weekend's purchase...

my new bedding.

yeah for Labor Day weekend!

well folks, I had a fabulous 3 day weekend. hope you all did too.
My dear friend Ingrid came into town & we got together with tons of friends. Good times! i'll put a couple pics up before too long. unfortunately... i think that any weight that i had lost... i gained back this weekend. oh well... the cheesecake was totally worth it.

so i added the "subscribe" feature via bloglet last week but i'm not sure it works properly... so for the handful of you that actually keep up with my blog... i guess you'll just have to keep me in your favs for now.

later-
k

slimjim goodness

last week my boss came back from a trip with a slimjim. he hasn't eaten it. nope, he's been using it as a whip... slapping his desk when he's frustrated, or joking around, etc. well, today when he took a break to go to the restroom, i went into his office with a slimjim of my own in hand. i promptly hid his slimjim in a drawer. i opened my slimjim and sat down and awaited his return. jamie, one of my coworkers, joined me. as she & i waited & chatted, i proceeded to eat my slimjim. of course, i knew that when he came in that he would assume that i had opened his slimjim to partake as i pleased. well, you should have seen his face. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?! WHY ARE YOU EATING MY SLIMJIM!?!" i said "what? this isn't yours... open your drawer."

hahaha... good times. he was a good sport.

thanks slimjim. http://www.slimjim.com/

Wakamaru and Cuckoo

okay, those in favor of sending the Japanese the dvds of the Terminator movies say "I".
"A child-shaped humanoid robot that can recognize about 10,000 words and work as a house sitter will go on sale in Japan in September..." see the full story:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/J/JAPAN_HUMANOID_ROBOT?SITE=NCAGW&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

I had a good weekend. hung out with friends… ate a lot of good food… watched movies… got some work done… pretty successful weekend.
one of the movies I watched was One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. gotta say… wasn’t expecting it to end the way it did… but I truly enjoyed it overall.

H2O phenomena and dontdatehimgirl.com

so, I was on this blog today:
http://www.newpersuasion.typepad.com/

I enjoyed her entry about water because I’m a bottled water connoisseur…
a bottledwateroholic…
a bottled water snob...
a bottled water extremist…
a bottled water lover…
a bottled water freak…
anyway, at least I own up to my bottled water issues. i've been a bottled water connoisseur for as long as i can remember... maybe it has something to do with living in Oklahoma and preferring filtered H2O to tap?
no, i'm not the water lady from Return to Me.
(what a great movie! http://www.mgm.com/title_clip.do?title_star=RETURNME ).

here’s something else that I found funny on her blog:
http://www.dontdatehimgirl.com
oh… dear… lord…