A Win is a Win.

Wow! I've been out of work for an HR conference the past two days so I've just been too busy to update my extremely exciting life. I still haven't uploaded pictures on the camera, so this will be a picture-less post. Sorry! I have got to upload those pictures soon.

First: Let's discuss the game on Saturday. We went to it. It was crazy. We did not play well (understatement). We had a great time though. We read Harry Potter on the way down for a long time, ate Chick-fil-a for lunch, had gorgeous weather for the game, and made it back about 12:40am Saturday night/Sunday morning. It was a hard trip, but a really fun one. We were thankful for a win, but as Landon said in Sunday School the next morning, "We know Alabama is better than us. NO need to tell us. We know."

Second: Chilis 2 for $20. Okay, who has taken advantage of the Chili's 2 for $20 deal? They had this at our Chilis for a while, took it away, and now it's back again. We went there last night with Eric and Kelli. Wow, it is a lot of food. We had skillet queso, then I had fajita quesadillas (did I spell that right?), then we had chocolate chip molten lava cake. Oh my word. It is like gluttonous kind of eating, and I felt like my dad felt (and told us he felt a lot of times) when we took my parents to Okay Cafe and Dad talked about how full he was the rest of the weekend. I was disgusting - yuck.

Third: Woody the Woodcutter. After eating, we headed to Eric and Kelli's to watch a video on their VCR. In May of 2003, a lifetime ago, right before we were married, Landon was asked to be Woody the Woodcutter in a children's musical at church. He rapped a song that started like this, "My name is Woody and I cut down trees. Big ones, small ones, anything with leaves. Maple tree and oak...."
I can't remember anymore - but trust me, it's funny. He had like a toboggan thing on, and it was funny. We watched this video last night for the first time since the actual play. Let me just tell you, Landon has changed a lot since then. On the same video was Landon and me coming home to our house (that I didn't live in yet) when my parents bought us the piano as a surprise for our wedding present and had it waiting for us when we got back from getting furniture at Granny's. I was really tan. The tanning bed really gets you tan - might leave you with skin cancer, but it gets you tan, alright.

I basically have nothing else to report. Did you know that when the recession ends, 50% of people at your job will be actively looking for new jobs? They are completely disengaged now and are just waiting for the economy to be good enough to look for new jobs. And, they will not be the yuck employees - they will be the best employees. Interesting, huh? Did you know this is the first time ever that all four generations are at the workplace together - veterans, baby boomers, gen x, and gen y. crazy, huh? (These are things I learned at my conference). And, that Gen Y can demand stuff like flexible schedules and more work life balance because for every 2 people retiring, there's only 1 Gen Y person to replace them. AND, the baby boomers wish they were retired, but they can't now because of the market and they are mad. There you go. You feel like you were at my SHRM conference, don't you??

I will post pictures TOMORROW (Hopefully).

It's Finally Friday

Ya'll, I have got a post in my mind that I SO WANT TO DO! But, I just haven't had time to take pictures that I need to post it...and I've already got some other pictures I want to post but I haven't had time to get them off the camera and onto the computer. I have some random things for today. First of all, you know how I read Kelly's Korner blog? Well, somehow I came across this blog:

http://ministrysofabulous.com/

I have no idea, really, who this girl is, but she is one of the funniest people and one of the best writers I have ever seen. She is really, really talented. She has a page of quotes on her blog, and I love this one:

"I cannot find in either scripture or history, a strong willed individual whom God used greatly until He allowed them to be hurt deeply." - Charles Swindoll

That is serious stuff. And I love it.

The other quote on there I love is this one:

"A woman becomes beautiful when she knows she's loved...cut off from love, rejected, no one pursuing her, something in a woman wilts like a flower no one waters anymore. But this same woman, who everyone thought was rather plain and unengaging, becomes lovely and inviting when she is pursued." - Stasi Eldridge

That one makes me "wow" too. Isn't it amazing what I could let the Father's love do for me if I'll allow it? Not love from my husband or dad or any man, although that love is wonderful and really reassuring, but just the comfort and confidence I should choose to have knowing the Father is constantly pursuing me, that He created me beautiful - exactly as He wants me - that's really hard for me to swallow - and believe, but wow....if I just would trust in it, my life would be spent with a lot less worry of how I look and what people think about me. He's so good it gives me a shiver. This quote is from the book Captivating, which I haven't read, but had already planned to ask for this Christmas. Have you started making a Christmas list yet?

We had Eric and Kelli over last night for a breakfast dinner. I took some pictures of Landon and Eric cooking in the kitchen - and they are great - but I forgot to upload them last night! We played Phase 10 until about 10 (ha) last night. At first I wasn't doing well, and Landon told them to watch out, that really I was a hustler at that game. RIGHT...Oh, and Landon and Eric moved some furniture in and around for us. We thought of some new nicknames for all of us - do you think I look like a "Scratch"? Do you think the nickname "Nickel" is weird? I promise to post pictures of our dinner last night when I get a chance.

Also, I've been working on a project for our church's Love Loud weekend. It's those blankets - you know, the ones that are like a fleecy material and then you tie knots in them all the way around? I've done the first one, so we have one more to do. I took some pictures of that project and need to post them, as well.

Tomorrow is the game. I think 3:30pm will be a good game time for us to travel down there and get back. We'll get back pretty crazy late, but not as crazy as we've done before - and, we won't have to leave at 4am like we did last time.

Finally...Krista's shower is next weekend...check out the invitation:

The church ladies sent postcards for the shower invitation. I thought this was a very smart idea. Save on postage. Isn't she beautiful??? She and Matt are getting married December 19 this year. I'm so excited! Krista and I look somewhat alike - more and more it seems as we get older - and I love it when people ask if we're twins. That really makes me happy since we are 6 years apart :) Krista has always had better hair than me. Hers is more like a Pantene commercial - and mine is more like Barbie doll hair or straw. Anyway, the sparklebaby will be getting married in December...I'm sure I'll have much more to say about all of that as the occasion draws closer.

OOh, I want to ask one more thing. Who takes their comforter to the dry cleaner? I will make a confession now, but please don't judge me. We got a new comforter when we moved to Woodstock (we basically got a new "everything" because of Katrina). I have not washed that comforter in the entire time we've lived here (almost 4 years). I've thought about it lots of times, but I always felt overwhelmed by what in the world I was supposed to do with it. I didn't think it'd fit in the washer or it would mess it up...or what if I washed - should I put it in the dryer? So...after the whole dustmite presentation on our big bed a few weeks ago, I decided enough was enough. I took the dust ruffle off the bed myself (note: not a good idea to pull that off by yourself if you have a really heavy king size mattress) and the comforter and took them to the dry cleaner. Mind you, I took the comforter to the cleaners this week when it's the coldest at night it's been so far this fall, and Landon will not allow us to turn the heat on yet. It was 67 upstairs when I came home...but it was 68 this morning, so although I slept in full serious warm clothes and didn't take them off in the middle of the night, I wasn't freezing. Back to the comforter. I took it to the cleaners. The lady (who always asks me in a Chinese (because she is Chinese) where my baby is...."Where's your baby today?", and I always nervously laugh and say, "I don't have a baby, remember? Just me!" ) first told me I could not get the 10 percent off on my comforter because it wasn't clothes. Then, she told me it would be 5 days before I got it back. Oh, how I hope I really get it back....and it's really mine...and nobody did anything gross with it. I'm picking my old friend up today! I love this comforter. Although I have sort of just started wanting one of those down comforters, I really am not sure yet, and I really love this one. It's Croscill, and it was expensive, so I'm thinking we'll keep it a few more years. Hey, if we only keep it a few more years, I'll never have to clean it again and then can just get a new one :) Here's a picture of what it looks like:

I think I've been random enough for now. Since you're probably about to have a seizure from your head spinning from so many random subjects, I will sign off for now, my peeps.

Mid Week Update

Ya'll, I have absolutely nothing interesting to blog about this week! I do have some funny stories, but I can't put them on here! One is about dust mites and one is about what it actually means when you go to certain doctors to "chat". So...I guess I'll just update you on my boring life. The weekend was good. On Sunday afternoon, I drove downtown and met cousin Amy, Brad, and Kayla, Gabe, and Brayson to have lunch after they had their pictures made by Joy. I had such a great time with them! Good grief, I love their family!!! Then, I decided to do some shopping. Well, let me just tell you this. I went to Lennox mall - which is a long and boring story why since I was supposed to go to Perimeter. It had to do with paying a 50 cents toll that I didn't want to pay. I really do not like Lennox mall. Why in the world would there be an Ann Taylor Loft in that mall that is the size of a shoebox??? It just makes no sense to me. And, although they are the flagship Macy's for Atlanta...whatever...I think Perimeter is at least the same or better. I really need some new fall clothes...and I really need some new fall shoes - but I had very little luck. I did buy this dress below:

I'm wearing it today, and it is so cute!! I have it on with black tights and boots. It's cool and rainy here today! Winter is on the way - and I'm excited!!

Co-worker, Mandy, is back from leave this week! I feel kind of lost because I've been doing all the different jobs - I really liked it. But, I'm also happy she's back so I can see her every day. Her baby is like the sweetest thing EVER.

Last night Landon cooked chicken parmesan for us - it was delicious! I should have taken more pictures. Oh I have one funny story to tell. We were able to get a free bookshelf - I'm not sure if I should say how because I don't want our friend to get in trouble - but anyway, Landon went to pick it up yesterday afternoon. So, you know we don't have the truck anymore. He was able to fit it in the Murano, but he had to do the driver's seat up crazy far. He was like all the way in the dash. I mean, he called me and told me he was feeling really sick and had the air on full blast. So, last night about 9:30pm, we remember this thing is still in the car and go downstairs to get it out. He got up in the driver's seat so I could see how he had been crammed into it. Ya'll, it was hilarious. I mean I laughed and laughed over it. I do not know how he even fit in there, but the fact that he was able to drive probably 20 minutes home is insane. It was really funny.

Today we have been making weekend plans. A man who works in our Atlanta office has season tickets to the gator games. Well...he's not going this weekend...so...we're going!!! We are maniacs! That's about it for now! I'm thinking of a very interesting post I might do tomorrow....it would be more interesting for girls, I think, not boys, so much.

Show Us Your Life Friday - Favorite Team!

First of all, I wrote the wrong Friday post....so sorry! This is the one I was supposed to do for today!

I LOVE THE FLORIDA GATORS!!! I don't know how I could not love them since I've grown up in a Gator family....and I mean a serious Gator family. My parents met at the Baptist Student Center while at UF - and their brothers, sisters, etc. have mostly all gone to Florida, too. We love to go to home games as often as we can - which is usually once or twice a season. We've been to the Troy game at UF already this year and we are going to the Vanderbilt game in November. Landon and I met at UF, although we are from the same area at home. I had a great experience in school there, and I am a Gator for life! In all kinds of weather, we all stick together!!! Here are a few pictures from the last couple of years of games...

I hope our future children will go to school at UF one day, and we would love to be season ticket holders one day! GO GATORS!! If you've read more than one of my other posts...you probably already know I love UF....I'm wearing my I Heart Tebow pin today! Beat LSU!!!

Show Us Your Life Friday - My Hometown(s)

My Hometown(s)

Today on Show Us Your Life Friday, we are showing our hometown. I grew up from birth to 7th grade in one town, and then we moved to another for my 8th grade and high school years (and my parents still live there now). Both places have things I love, so I want to share about both towns. And, know that I don't have really any pictures, except what I got off the Internet (recall: Katrina got the pictures...)...here we go!

Here's a map showing DeFuniak Springs, Florida, and Crestview, Florida. They are both in the FL panhandle, about 30 minutes from Destin and the beaches. Like I said above, my family lived in DeFuniak until right after 7th grade, and then we moved to Crestview.

One of the neatest things about DeFuniak is that it has a huge lake in the center of town. I think this lake is like the 2nd roundest lake in....I don't remember...of course, I want to say the world, but I'm sure that's not true. Anyway, it's almost perfectly round. Around the like are gorgeous houses like the one below. The couple of years I went to middle school here, we were close to the lake and would walk to it on Fridays for P.E. and have to run around it. I started piano lessons in the 4th grade and took from a lady who lived pretty close to around the lake. I went to West DeFuniak Elementary School and then Walton Middle School. Isn't this house beautiful? It's just one of many around the lake that are gorgeous. My family owned a clothing store downtown called Wise Department Store. My mom taught at Walton Middle School - 8th grade English.

Here's a picture of the Public Library in DeFuniak. It's the oldest Public Library in the entire state of Florida - crazy, huh? Momma used to take me here almost every single week and we would check out books to read. It's one of my very favorite places. Two of my favorite restaurants in DeFuniak are Tastee Freeze (also known as Ed's Restaurant) - they have the best steer cheeseburger and krinkle cut fries I've ever had. Oh, and they have real cherry coke - like coke with chunks of cherries that come up through your fat straw. It's awesome! My other favorite restaurant is called Mom and Dad's. It's an Italian restaurant.

When I was in 4th grade, my parents decided to close Wise Department Store. For a couple of years my dad did some different things, and then my Grandpa asked him to come to work with him and reopen a tractor store Grandpa owned years ago and had sold to some people (and it didn't go well for them - many reasons - will not go into it). So...when I was in 8th grade (or maybe a year or two before), Daddy started at Wise Equipment. Wise Equipment was in Crestview, 30 minutes away from DeFuniak, so we started a move. This was a great move for my family - I'm SO THANKFUL we moved to Crestview. My mom got a job at Richbourg Middle School in Crestview teaching 8th grade English. The schools were a lot bigger, so I had a great experience at the high school there (which I'll elaborate more down below). Anyway, Wise Equip. was a big hit - they reopened it and over the years as Crestview has boomed in growth, Wise Equip. has grown too. I worked a lot there over some of my college years and even some of my first couple of married years when I moved back home.

Here's a picture of my high school. I know you are thinking that you can't believe I was a Bulldog in high school. I didn't really think that was a big deal until moving to Georgia and becoming up close and personal with the Georgia Bulldogs - now, I can't believe I cheered for Bulldogs in high school. The high school was fantastic. I had GREAT teachers, and I played the piano the years I was there for our choral program. I could not have had a better high school experience. My senior year, especially, was fantastic. At the end of the year, in true small town fashion, they shut down the main highway through town and let the seniors have a parade through town. Then, we all head to the football field and do a field day kind of things with all sorts of relays. I graduated with honors in 1999 - all my family had come up from Winter Haven for graduation, and then it rained like crazy in the middle of the outside graduation! My best friend was Stephanie Luke, and we loved to drive around to all kinds of places, eat McDonalds french fries with cold ketchup, drink Surge (who remembers Surge??), and eat Mia's bread sticks. Being in Crestview and at the high school there, since it was so much larger than DeFuniak, really gave me greater opportunities - and more people to fit in with. There was more of a Christian crowd, and I was able to play the piano for lots more stuff.

That's about it! I had a great hometown!! Both of them! My heart is more in Crestview since that's where I started driving, gaining independence, and really felt like it was MY town. But, DeFuniak was a great place, as well. Thanks for learning about my hometown today! Sorry I don't have any of my own pictures up on here!!

Story Time

This story is really not that funny, but I thought of it last night, for some reason, and it just was totally cracking me up. About 5 years ago, when we still lived in Crestview, I taught piano lessons for a year. It was interesting experience for me. The main thing I liked about it was that it was like having your own business. I took in the money; I kept track of the lessons; I handled all that administrative stuff and loved that aspect of it. I somewhat enjoyed teaching the lessons. I had just a few students (and it's amazing how cheap I gave those lessons now that we're here in Atlanta and can see how expensive it is), and taught the lessons in our home. We had a great house there in Crestview - the best house we've lived in through all of our moves. When you walked in the front door, there was a separate dining room on the left and a study on the right, and then you moved on into the living room. The piano was in the empty dining room with my bridal portrait hanging over it. And, my parents gave us the piano as a wedding present. Anyway, enough background. I had a student I will call "A". I would never want this person to run across this story and be embarrassed or even know it was about her, yet...if she did run across this story, I'm not sure how she could NOT know it was about her. "A" came for her lesson, and since she was early, she had to wait about 10 minutes for me to finish with my current lesson. When I got ready to take her, she asked if she could use the restroom. I don't really like for people to use our restroom, but I understand it is a fact of life, and I am not unreasonable, so of course, I said yes. She came back from the restroom, and we began the lesson. Things seem normal and fine. We finish the lesson (where she always banged on the piano and played extremely loudly, and I would have to say thing like "Don't wake baby Jesus - He is sleeping!!!" while she was blasting away at Away in the Manger), and she leaves our house. Landon gets home from work (his surveying job...another lifetime) and we cook dinner. I think I must have cooked that night because we got ready to eat, and I had all the food on the table. Right when we were about to sit down Landon says, "I think I'll run to the restroom really quick. Be right back." He walked into the guest bathroom, then immediately walks out and just shuts the door behind him. He says, "There's a problem in there. Let's just eat, and then we'll fix it. Your student stopped up the toilet." Ya'll, "A" had thrown crazy toilet paper in that toilet and stopped it up bad. We ate, and then we realized we didn't even have a plunger. It was the first time we'd needed one since we'd been married, and we didn't own one yet. We had to get in the car after dinner and go to Lowe's to get a plunger to take care of the problem. Let me just tell you. It is one thing to clean up your own business gone wrong. It is another thing to clean up someone's business gone wrong you barely know. It is bad. And, it was funny. Landon had to do it, and it was hilarious. I can't really remember why it was so funny...but it just was. I remember laughing so hard I could barely get my dinner down, and then laughing while Landon was in the bathroom cleaning it up. I cannot remember if she ever used the restroom at our house again, but I'll never forget her just normal little peaceful face coming into the dining room for her lesson, when she'd just torn up our entire bathroom. I hope you enjoyed this long story time today....It's almost Friday!

The Perfect Place to Relax...NOT

So, last night Landon is in the kitchen making some cornbread for our dinner. We were eating leftover chili for the last time, and he wanted to have cornbread with it. A lot of times, if he cooks us something (L probably cooks half the time), I'll sit on the floor below the clock with a pillow from the couch and lean up against the wall and talk to him while he cooks. Sad that there are 8 chairs right next to where I'm sitting on the floor...yet I choose to sit or lie there in the floor to chat. (I should have made the circles bigger with our names on them showing where we sit...too late now)

So, Landon puts the cornbread in the oven for 25 minutes. Then he says, "Do you want to go in the living room and watch one of our shows while we wait for this to cook?" I say, "We can, but I kind of like us being in here so we can just talk." As if you walk in the living room the television handcuffs you to the chair and turns itself on in your face against your will. So, Landon just slides down the cabinet and sits here on the rug in front of the sink.

We just chat away like this for a while - probably for about 15 minutes or so, and then I realize. We have a decent home. We have many chairs to choose from...yet, we are both sitting on the floor in the kitchen like we have nowhere else to go. Isn't that weird? I really enjoyed us getting to talk though - sometimes the tv is a big temptation to turn on. We've learned about managing our time and being disciplined to have quality time, but still...it's hard sometimes. I really enjoyed our kitchen chat last night. Maybe we should get some bean bags to sit on? I definitely think in our next house we need to try to have room for a love seat or oversize chair in there, for sure. You would think the kitchen is just for cooking, but for the Frymires...it's for chatting, too.