That’s right, my friends. Today I’ll be crossing the Red River into Longhorn country.

It’s time for the (not so annual) annual BTS weekend!

I met Sarah while vacationing back home in 2006 and we had a really fun day full of lunch and facials!

Last year Sarah, Theresa, and I were united in Texas for a weekend of fun which included a Rodeo, shopping, and relaxing (and it was a that point I was certain I wasn’t chatting online with hairy sweaty fossils with Dorito crumbs stuck in between their neck fat).

This year is gearing up to be lots of the same- fun friends, fun memories, and fun plans.

To think we all met on the nest is always so crazy to me.

Here’s to another weekend of fun.

More to come.

<3

Okay.

This is my blog. Mine. All mine! Iinsert evil laugh right ______<- here.

This is my blog and it's something very important to me. Something that keeps me sane and a place I run to during all times of my life. This blog as been my life's journey and is a giant part of my life.

When I started this thing- way back in 2005 on the nest I had no idea anyone would ever read it- let alone that I would have “blog friends” I talk to on a regular basis, some of which I have met. I had no idea that this “blog” would do so much for me and become part of my identity. No idea at all.

With that said, I feel like I need to share something with you.

I’m beginning to feel like I can’t be myself on here anymore. When I started this blog- 1. I never thought anyone would read it (as previously stated!) and 2. It was not created for people I know to read it.

I know that sounds silly, but it’s very true. The thought of people that I actually know and see and talk to knowing about the time I plugged up my in-law’s toliet or the time I left my lunch in the fridge for half a year or…

well- you guys read my blog- you know the list goes on and on…

that stuff isn’t made for people I know! It’s made for you guys! The people I like!

Ha ha- kidding.

sort of…

Anyway-

now that I’ve moved back I feel incredibly censored by myself.

I feel like I can’t share my heart like I want to and I hate that.

I hope you hate that too.

I think about all the people I think I know that read my blog and it makes me feel all bummed- because

as I said before-

this blog isn’t for them!

Okay wait-

it is.

I guess.

There are several people that I know in real life that I know read my blog (Hi guys! You know who you are...), and I’m so fine with that. It doesn’t bother me at all. I appreciate that we can keep in touch in this medium, and am most appreciative of them outing themselves.

It’s the people I know that read my blog and I don’t know about it that bothers me. The possibilities are endless.

Unfortunately I’m getting to the point in which I’m considering going partially private- and I really, really don’t want to do that. That’s not why I started this blog and it was never my intention to feel as though I need to be careful in what I say. I wanted this blog to be raw and honest and “me” and I want it to stay that way.

However, now that I’m back home I feel like it can’t as easily as before.

Do you guys know how many people from Oklahoma are reading my blog these days? A freaking ton!

Okay- so I officially went from 3 readers to 9- but seriously- it feels like a ton!

I think I was most freaked out when someone searched for something specific about my family on my blog. Perhaps it was innocent, perhaps it was by one of those people I mentioned above- people I know that know me and read my blog, however I can’t help but think it’s those people that think they know me and have somehow found out about my blog. Sadly, there are a lot of people like that in my life. People that knew me before I went to Kuwait and have judged me for my decisions and have said some pretty hurtful things.

Sigh.

If I really wanted to I could take hours upon end to figure out who everyone was but I’m not that dedicated in reverse blog stalking (ha ha- I think I just made up a new term). 

I know this is what I get for having a public blog- the unknown of who’s out there. The inability to control who visits and what they do with the information I write.

I don’t want to feel like I have to tip-toe around what I want to say because of other people- like I said- this is my blog.

So I’m going to try my best not to do so, and that’s my commitment to all (ha ha- all...) nine of you who read my blog. We’ll see what the future has in store, and don’t worry you won’t show up to my site and be completely locked out. If I like you- I’ll tell you first (ha ha).

To my fellow Okie readers (the ones I don’t know in real life)- thanks for stopping by. If you ever see me at Teds or an OU game or at The Dollar Tree (see below post) please say hi! <- and please also don’t be a creepo. Thanks. Also, if you feel inclined to say hi in the comments section, please do! It will probably put my mind to rest a smidge.

Smidge.

What IS a smidge?

...

Anyway-

I have no idea why I shared all of this with you guys (the blog stuff- not the smidge stuff)… I guess it’s been weighing on my mind for a while now.

I suppose that’s all, really. I just needed to vent a little and do some sharing. Thanks for listening.

Now go have a good day!

Obligation:

The constraining power of a promise, contract, law, or sense of duty.

Why is that as of late I have started to feel as though my blog has become an

obligation?

I guess it’s normal to go through such ebbs and flows.

Do you ever feel like maybe you’re all talked out?

Like you couldn’t offer the world one more single ounce of your day-to-day slice of life posts without someone throwing up all over their brand new Easter Sunday shoes?

Perhaps this is a normal feeling.

Or maybe it was the casserole I just had.

It could also be this time of year. There’s really not much to talk about. The holidays are over (which means no complaining about family),

football season is over (which means no complaining about Will’s OCD tendencies),

we have a gym membership (which means no complaining about my fatness).

Hmm- are you sensing a theme?

I think the heart of the matter is not so much that I have nothing to post about but rather nothing to complain about.

...

Did I just have a breakthrough?

I think I did.

Alright so my friend Jacqueline- you know, the one that watched me try to buy a pizza with a coupon- has inspired me to do an interview with her! She sent me five questions whic I have to fully answer. Oh- and here’s the fun part:

If you would like me to interview you just leave a comment and I will email you the questions! Here are the directions:

1. Leave me a comment saying, “Interview me.”

2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. (I get to pick the questions).

3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.

4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.

5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

Let’s get started. Here’s what Jacqueline asked:

1) I seem to remember you wanting to be a weather girl when we were younger.  When and why did that change?

Yes! Yes I did want to be a weather girl! You have an amazing memory! Besides my family I’m pretty sure you’re the only person that remembers that. I used to LOVE (yes- LOVE) watching the weather channel in grade school and even in part of junior high. I so wanted to be a weather girl. I thought it would be the best.job.ever.

I think that changed for me because we had career day in junior high and a real life meterologist came to our school and answered all my our questions. As it turned out- you need a lot of math and science to be able to read a teleprompter and point to a screen.

Huh.

Anyway- that was sort of when I realized that maybe the life of a weather girl wasn’t meant for me. I was never very strong in science and math- but we’ll get to that better.

2) What did you get your degree in?  Do you ever wish you had gotten a degree in something else?  Why or why not?

I got a BA in Communications with emphasis in Public Relations and a minor in political science.

At the time, I really wanted to use my degree to eventually become a campaign manager, or a press secretary- something where I could definitely utilize both skills.

Like a lot of people, what I’m doing now has nothing to do with my degree. I always wondered how people went to school for one thing and did another for a living, but now I know- it just sort of happens. I wish I could do something in the PR field. I think it would be so much fun and I think I’d be good at it, but at this point I’ve started a whole different career path. I’m not saying I don’t like what I do- because I do, but that’s sort of the background on the degree thing.

As for whether I wish I got my degree in something else- yes and no.

I joke with Will all.the.time that I wish I would have become a doctor or pharmacist or vet or something like that because at this point I would be done with school and making a ton of money. However- the truth is I would have hated every minute of it.

I do think my sister’s degree plan is very interesting too.

3) What was the best thing about living in Kuwait?  The worst thing?  Do you miss living there or just miss living near your family?

The best thing about living in Kuwait is definitely the location and the opportunities it affords you. I know a lot of time I lamented about how much I wanted to be home, but at the same time- I really liked living there. I loved being able to travel because we were close to so many interesting places. There are so so so many things I loved about Kuwait, but you only asked for one.

Oh- but can I please say one more?

please?

The safety. I felt incredibly safe in Kuwait. I could have left my doors unlocked every night and would have not worried. I know you guys might think it’s crazy, but it’s true.

The worst thing?

By FAR the heat.

The heat was the absolute worst thing hands down and no question about it.

There were other negatives, but that’s definitely the worst!

Your last question about whether I really miss living in Kuwait or just being near my family is something I go back and forth on. In fact- it’s a question Will has asked me before!

I really do miss living there. I had a lot of hell (mostly because of my job… actually all because of my job), but a lot of fun too. I don’t think I would have enjoyed it near as much had my family not been there too. In fact- we never would have gone had it not been for them! So- I waiver a lot…

4) What is your favorite thing about Will?  What does he do that really bugs you?

My favorite thing about Will is that he truly is my knight and shining armor. He is my protector and defender.

I’m very passive aggressive and I’m also a nonconfrontational peacemaker. What a bad mix, right!? For that reason a lot of times I let people take over and because I want to be nice and not be confrontational- I let them (and then am annoyed later because of the whole passive aggression in me!)

Anyway- Will has given me a voice. A lot of times he sticks up for me and defends me. He takes care of business (like he makes the “angry” phone calls when something is charged wrong, when our cable is out, etc) a lot of times. However, he has defintiely “made” me start sticking up for myself too. He has given me courage and I really love that about him. It’s been uncomfortable for me- but a really good thing. So- that’s my favorite thing about Will. His ability to take the lead. He takes really good care of me.

Somewhat on the same token- one thing that bugs me about Will is that he’s “always right.” Because he does have such a strong personality and tends to be more hard side love, he thinks that his ideas and viewpoints are the best. When we argue it’s very annoying.

5) What is the biggest lesson that you’ve learned in life thus far?

Wow! This is a really hard one. If you were to ask me this once a month it would probably be different every time depending on what was going on in my life. I mean, there are so many spiritual lessons I’ve learned throughout life. So many hard “life lessons” I’ve learned…

Too many to narrow it down to one.

I’ll simply say one of the best I’ve learned is “Life’s Too Short.”

I tend to be caught up so much in the here and now and I allow silly things to bother me, and Will always reminds me that Life’s Too Short.

He’s right.

It’s the small things in life that matter- playing with my dogs back in America, watching TV with Will right next to me, taking trips others thought we shouldn’t- all of these things make up who I am. There are so many of the things in my life I wouldn’t have done but did because I’ve begun to realize that life is too short and I should live it to the fullest while I’m here. “Our life is but a breath.” I think the Bible says that exact phrase. It truly is but a breath- and so I want to make sure to inhale extra big while I’m here.

So there I go! This was fun, Jacqueline!

If you want to do the same let me know and we’ll play.

Have a good weekend.

So the last two days have been entertaining blasts from the past. Today we’re going to tone it down a bit.

I know- I’m disappointed too (not).

Among other things (ie: spilling the baby plans ) Jessica suggested I write about how P is doing in school-

and I thought that was quite possibly the best.idea.ever!

P decided to pursue a degree in hotel management. Her experiences abroad have given her the desire to travel for the rest of her life and work in a growing industry that gives her the opportunity ahd flexibility to go wherever she wants! I think it’s awesome.

Why didn’t I think of that 8 years ago when I was entering college!?!

Anyway, it appears as though her current plan has changed and she will stay at her current university for a couple years, and then she will finish her degree elsewhere.

I keep trying to get her to come to Oklahoma. OSU just started a program for hotel management.

She’s not biting.

I don’t understand why…

Anyway, her school is so so so awesome! P- you really must guest post while you’re back in Kuwait next month! The people need to know the truth! ha ha

She is getting a BS, and along with the normal boring “basic” classes she has fun classes like kitchen!

Although- I’m pretty sure she doesn’t think of Kitchen Class as “fun.”

Their final exam is like a bad episode of Hell’s Kitchen. She had to cook a three course meal in like 12 minutes and serve it all fancy.

Okay- so I’m exagerrating about the time, but it was pretty astonishing when she told me about it.

She also gets to learn about wine and fine dining and she has to be able to speak another language fluently before graduating.

She speaks French.

And I love her for it.

Guys- when did my kid sister get so totally way cooler than me!?

Sigh…

Anyway, her school is freaking awesome and it makes me want to Freaky Friday our lives for a week.

I’m joking.

Actually, really- I’m not.

I saved the best part for last!

I got a random phone call from P a week ago at like 5:55 to tell me she had received the hotel she was assigned to work in for 2 weeks during this one special part of their class.

Ha ha- like how technical I am?

I’m sure P can clear things up for us and make me sound more coherent.

Anyway- you’ll never guess where she is going to be working!

Guess!

Hint- we stayed there in the Spring of 2006.

We took goofy pictures like this

this

and this

have you guessed yet?

Actually- aside from like three of you, has anyone even been reading my blog since 2006?

I’m thinking no.

So I better just tell you!

She’ll be working at the Burj Al Arab!

One of the nicest hotels in the world.

I’m pretty sure after adding that to her resume, it will be like a blank check and she’ll be able to intern wherever the crap she wants.

It’s sort of funny- back in 2006 while we were there we were served this:

and now it will be served by this:

Knife included, of course.

We had beautiful flowers in our room like this:

and now they’ll be arranged by this:

Okay, so I won’t be participating in the flower fun- just P.

I simply wanted to be in the picture because I want to pretend that I am.

(um- remember the living vicariously through my sister thing?)

And wow- my hair was really blonde.

And wow, P’s hair was really blonde too.

Sorry, I went darker this past weekend and am sort of missing the look of “blonde blonde.”

But this post isn’t about me, is it?

Moving on-

P is doing great in school. I’m really proud of her and so excited for all her opportunities.

I’m pretty sure after working at a place like the Burj she won’t be making any plans to attend OSU’s school of Hotel Managment (I still don’t understand why!… ha ha).

Kindred spirits are never very far apart, so I don’t worry so much about was the future holds.

I’m really proud of my sister and am so happy she’s found something she enjoys and loves.

P- you really must guest post when you’re home next week. I’m sure I speak for most of my blog friends when I say your life is far more interesting than ours and it would be fun to hear how school is going!

Does that come off desperate? I’m thinking it does…

Oh well.

So there you have it, P’s school update.

I hope you guys are having a wonderful day!

More to come.

Yesterday’s story came from Jacqueline, today’s story comes from my friend Lyna.

Lyna is a family friend that has known me for a very long time- which means she saw all my awkwardness and watched me live my stupid stories in real time.

Couple that with her freakishly amazing memory, and well- you get the following story.

Here’s what Lyna had to say in response to Sunday’s post:

You could tell us all how you have evolved in your cleaning experience, you know what I mean. From “learning how to vacuum, when you were in high school.” to being a total neat freak now. Really the vacuum story is absolutely priceless, and the reason you mother bought you one as a wedding gift.

And thus begins the evolution of how I went from Cleaning Dummy to Cleaning Domestic Goddess.

My parents spoiled supported me and my sister our entire life (which is probably why I tried to pay for pizza with $3! Um- read yesterday’s story). I had wonderful parents that always took care of me.

A lot.

To include vacuuming.

Sure- I cleaned my room, I folded laundry, I boiled water- but everyone knew that my mom was the lady that cleaned the house. She was obsessed. She was a cleaning freak.

Seriously- you could literally eat off our floors.

In fact, I’m pretty sure I did on more than one occasion.

Three second rule- ha!

Sure- I tried to help out, and I definitely did my part to keep stuff clean, but my mom was fanatical about a clean house. Cleanliness is next to godliness? Yeah- that was like our family theme.

In fact- I think we put that on our Christmas cards one year…

Anyway- you get it.

“Big” cleaning jobs were off limits to such irresponsible adolescents like myself.

Like vacuuming.

One day, in high school when I was old enough not to be a freaking idiot, I decided I’d surprise my mom and do some vacuuming for her while she was out and about.

I started by vacuuming my room, finding it rather difficult to get the corners and also astonished by the weight of the vacuum!

As I finished, a little winded, my mom came in to see my surprise!

“I vacuumed for you!”

“I see! Thank you!” my mom replied.

“Man mom, that vacuuming- that’s hard work! You can get quite an arm workout! I gotta ask- how do you get the corners of the room? I found it really hard!”

“What do you mean?” my mom looked at me puzzled.

“Well- all that lifting is makes it really hard to vacuum- it doesn’t roll very easily. Not only that, but the vacuum is heavy and I could pick it up to get it into the corners without scratching the baseboard!”

“?”

My mom stared at me- deeply trying to figure out how she was able to birth someone so nice and book smart but incredibly real world stupid.

Turns out, after further discussion, I had forgotten to release the handle!

I was vacuuming with the handle upright, picking it up and trying my best to roll it that way.

Who knew vacuums had a handle release!?

Genius.

Can you believe you guys are friends with me!?

So, somehow- between wearing the wrong shoes to school, vacuuming my bedroom without releasing the handle, and today- 27 January 2009 I became obsessed with cleaning.

I’m pretty sure you guys know that. I would point you to a post in which I obsess about how much I hate people wearing shoes inside my house, however I realized it’s linked to a goofy video of me and my sister, so um- no link.

Anyway- somehow I became my mother.

Ha ha- I’m pretty sure at some point every woman says that.

I don’t know how it happened, what changed- but I’m obsessed with cleaning and truly get very agitated when my house is not the way it needs to be.

Perhaps it’s as though I feel I owe it to that poor innocent little vacuum I used-ha, or misused- so many years ago.

So there you have it. Yet another B-Love Moment.

Perhaps I will no longer ask for blogging help.

But then we’d never have this much fun!

Writer’s Block.

That’s what they diagnosed me with.

I’m pretty sure I’ll make it through okay, but they’re requiring me to think more creatively and open my mind to new ideas.

But.it’s.so.hard.

I’ll pull through, I promise.

In the meantime- help a girl out. Give me something, anything to post about.

Well- almost anything.

I have limits, you know.

Or questions. Questions are good too. Angela always answers blogger’s questions (and does a great job, I must add!). Questions are good too.

Time to take my medicine.

Writer’s block medicine… Hmmm..

Do you think perhaps they misdiagnosed?

Everyone kept telling me how “dead” it would be at work this week.

They were lying pieces of crap.

Who are getting coal for Christmas, I’m sure.

Oh- and by the way- I had quite possibly the most HILARIOUS POST EVER EVER EVER written last night,

and then my internet locked up and died.

I’m pretty sure the internet is getting coal for Christmas as well.

The world will never get to see my masterpiece…

tears…

Here’s to hoping tomorrow is actually quiet as promised,

and here’s to hoping I can recreate yesterday’s post…

Let’s face it though-

You can’t redo perfection right?

Sigh.

(ha ha)

Talk to you guys soon. Merry Christmas Eve Eve!

1. Kill the power to my blog all day.

2. Tell me “you’re working on it” and have no estimated time as to when it will be back up.

3. Provide your husband with a shopping list for the following:

Milk
Evaporated Milk
Pasta
Coke

Come Home to Find:

Honey Buns
Donuts
A 17” Walmart Pizza
Chocolate Chip-Peanut Butter Cookies
Reeces Brownie Kit
2 Twix Bars
Egg Nog
2 Types of Dip
2 Bags of Chips (you know- one for you! one for me! As if one bag wasn’t enough to put your arteries into shock...)
Milk
Evaporated Milk
Pasta
Coke

4. Proceed to watch your husband stuff, shove, and pray the aforementioned items into the most awkward crannies of the fridge and cabinet. I’m pretty sure the fridge is so full it’s about to throw up all over the freaking tile.

5. I mentioned the blog already, didn’t? Screw it- seriously, it’s twitch-worthy enough to be up here twice. I was on edge all day yesterday. Just ask Angela. I’m pretty sure she and retired blogger Sarah got the brunt of my twitching regarding that matter.

Thankfully all is well with numbers 1, 2, and 5.

3 and 4?

Yeah, currently sweating all over myself in an angry twitching frenzy.

Anything causing you trouble?

"You’ve been working way too much this week.”

“I know. It’s been really crazy. I’m really ready for a break this weekend. Although, I’ll still have a few hours of work to do Saturday too. I decided to take a break tonight. I left my computer at work and have made time just for you.”

“Why don’t you use tonight to get some things done so you won’t have to work as much this weekend?”

“Good idea.”

...

2 hours later and I have done the following:

-checked my personal email
-updated my facebook status
-wrote on my sister’s facebook wall
-listened to trance music live online
-checked my blog (blew the dust off the front page… it’s been a few days since I last logged in)
-checked other blogs

Oh-

-and checked my work email.

Needless to say I will be doing a little work this weekend.

In my defense, I had not done any of those things since Saturday. I’ve been a busy girl!

Totally justified, right?

What can I say- I missed you guys.

My brain is mushy this week. Too much writing at work has affected my ability to switch into blog writing mode- unless of course you want to hear about various laws and rules and deadlines. Then I’ve got a host to share.

...

I figured you wouldn’t be interested.

More to come soon (and less mushy work brain!)