"'Stressed' spelled backwards is 'Desserts.' Coincidence? I think not!"
— Anonymous

Boy did I ever need to receive this "Daily Quote" today. After much stress and concern over several family matters, I feel as though this quote was perfectly placed in my Inbox. Maybe stress is a certain sign of our "just desserts."

Real Life Questions from Real Simple Magazine

1. What is your motto?
"To be loved, you must love and be lovable"

2. What superhuman power would you most like to have?
I'd like to be able to fly

3. What makes you laugh?
Mr. O'Neill; Other people's laughter; My friend, Mrs. Shuff

4. Cats or dogs?
I prefer dogs, but I like both

5. Would you rather be a little smarter or a little sexier?
A little smarter, as I think I am plenty sexy!!

6. High road or low road?
High road, of course, unless I've had too many cocktails...

7. What's the one thing you'll never understand?
My mysterious Mother

8. What's the nicest thing anyone has ever said to you?
That I am the one they turn to for honest and non-judgmental opinions.

9. My life would be simpler if...
I would just slow down and enjoy each moment for what it's worth.

10. The big decision I'm currently wrestling with...
I don't have a big decision I'm wrestling with, but the one thing that's been on my mind a lot lately is getting back into my exercise routine after a long hiatus. That is weighing on my mind a bit, if you know what I mean!

11. What's your favorite feature?
my hair and my eyes

12. What was your most embarrassing moment?
During Dance Party USA at a friend's house a couple of weekends ago, I bent down to do a super smooth dance move and completely split my pants!! How cool is that?!

13. What are you most proud of?
Working toward getting my masters degree at SMU

14. What is something that no one knows about you?
I am mildly claustrophobic and I dislike onions

15. I feel most beautiful/attractive...
between the hours of 7 p.m. and 12 a.m....oh and when I'm wearing sassy high heels!

16. The quality I least like about myself...
my need to always "be right."

17. Guiltiest pleasure?
The Batchelor on ABC

18. My favorite possession...
my photographs

19. When I was little I wanted to be...
a professional dancer on Broadway and a mother of lots of kiddos.

20. What surprises me most about my adult life is...
how much easier it is to make friends and relate to people who are seemingly different than I am with just a little bit of effort. When you're younger, you don't venture out of your inner circle or your comfort zone much.

21. My favorite place in the world...
is my home, particularly when I'm lying on the couch reading a good book, the windows open with a cool breeze. Favorite place aside from my home would be New York city.

22. What's the quality you least like in others?
dishonesty

23. If you suddenly came into $1,000 in spare cash, what would you do with it?
take a weekend trip to New York or splurge on a spa weekend for myself

24. What are you really good at?
writing and editing, cleaning house, keeping secrets, listening

25. What's your go-to dinner?
sushi and a green salad or Tom Yham Gai Thai soup

26. What's your favorite item(s) in your wardrobe and why?
my pearls, my diamond earrings, my new Givenchy purse and my fur scarf because they were all given to me with love and I feel beautiful when I wear them

27. If I had a free hour, I would...
sit outside playing with my dogs and enjoying the nice weather

28. Chocolate or vanilla?
chocolate

29. Mountains or seashore?
seashore

30. What three songs would go on the soundtrack of your life?
"My Wish"-Rascal Flatts
"You're Beautiful"-James Blunt
"Home"-Michael Buble

31. What is your simplest pleasure?
Sandra Brown novels
(And lately a sudden obsession with dancing around the house to Justin Timberlake's song "SexyBack")

32. What would your ideal "I'd rather be..." bumper sticker say?
"I'd rather be traveling the world"

33.What's the craziest fashion trend you've ever followed?
The tall, schlacked, big bangs of the late '80s/early '90s

34. Who is your hero?
my grandmother & my husband

From the Thanksgiving Weekend, I am Thankful for...

1. Perfect weather, not too hot and not too cold, all weekend.

2. Noticing and enjoying the leaves that had changed colors on all of the trees around where I live as I had passed the trees many, many times before this weekend and not noticed them at all.

3. My Mother arriving safely and happily from her drive between Dallas and Houston.

4. The laughter and jovial nature of my Irish in-laws.

5. The generosity and warm welcome of friends when we arrived at their home on Thanksgiving night.

6. The nicest, most accommodating customer service representative that made what could have been a long, frustrating conversation about our DirecTV service into a completely lovely conversation. Heather, I'll never forget you!!

7. Great homemade desserts, s'mores by the fire, mulled wine and good friends.

8. My husband's mopping skills, goofy humor and his ability to make me smile even when I really, really don't want to.

9. Finally getting engaged in some yard work (boy am I sore today from that!).

10. An article in my latest issue of Real Simple magazine, which is a short memoir from a woman writer on "being right" and how one must choose between being right all of the time or being happy. This article caused a serious shift in my thinking as I tend to want to "be right" instead of just being happy with the situation, the person or whatever comes my way. I want to be happy, even if it means keeping my mouth closed and not proclaiming that I am right about something. ***As the article states, if you are committed to always being right, you make it tough on yourself to love others fully and completely and you make it tough to be lovable. (Geez...that'll knock you upside the head!!!)

Here's to being happy and thankful,

and not always feeling like I have to "be right."

"GOBBLE, GOBBLE!!"

TWAS THE NIGHT OF THANKSGIVING
BUT I JUST COULDN'T SLEEP
I TRIED COUNTING BACKWARDS,
I TRIED COUNTING SHEEP.
THE LEFTOVERS BECKONED -
THE DARK MEAT AND WHITE
BUT I FOUGHT THE TEMPTATION
WITH ALL OF MY MIGHT

TOSSING AND TURNING WITH ANTICIPATION
THE THOUGHT OF A SNACK BECAME INFATUATION.
SO, I RACED TO THE KITCHEN,
FLUNG OPEN THE DOOR
AND GAZED AT THE FRIDGE,
FULL OF GOODIES GALORE.

GOBBLED UP TURKEY AND BUTTERED POTATOES,
PICKLES AND CARROTS,
BEANS AND TOMATOES.

I FELT MYSELF SWELLING
SO PLUMP AND SO ROUND,
'TIL ALL OF A SUDDEN, I
ROSE OFF THE GROUND.

I CRASHED THROUGH THE CEILING,
FLOATING INTO THE SKY
WITH A MOUTHFUL OF PUDDING
AND A HANDFUL OF PIE.

BUT, I MANAGED TO YELL AS I SOARED PAST THE TREES....
HAPPY EATING TO ALL -
PASS THE CRANBERRIES, PLEASE.

MAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY,
MAY YOUR TURKEY BE PLUMP.
MAY YOUR POTATOES 'N GRAVY HAVE NARY A LUMP,
MAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS
MAY YOUR PIES TAKE THE PRIZE,
MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING DINNER
STAY OFF OF YOUR THIGHS.

MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING BE BLESSED AND MAY YOU REMEMBER ALL THAT YOU ARE THANKFUL FOR EVERY DAY!!

I my class entitled The Spiritual Vision of Jesus my professor told us a story about a man with three dogs. These dogs were all beautiful, vibrant animals and each morning this man took his three dogs to an open field to allow the dogs to run. While watching this man and his dogs one day, a friend asked the man, "Why do two of your dogs run and play freely throughout the field, enjoying the open area while the third dog merely runs in small circles at your side?" The man with the dogs said simply, "Because the third dog lived most of his life in a cage before he became my dog, so he doesn't realize that he can run free, and so he runs in circles near me, just as happy as can be."

What does this story mean to you?

THE EVENT WAS A HIT!!

I couldn't even wait until next week to write...it was that good! It was the coolest experience to see what I had envisioned and planned since the beginning of 2006 become a reality. Everything was perfect, and everyone thought so. I am typically a communications, sit-at-my-desk-and-write and conduct the occasional interview kind of girl for work. I feel that I am successful at my usual job, but I think this new experience was necessary. The big event planning was a whole new thing for me and I really enjoyed doing it-stress and all!

I'll post photos from the event at a later date...

Following the event, I had a serious adrenaline crash. I felt like I'd come crashing down from a serious Cloud Nine high up in the sky. I realized how little sleep I'd gotten the last couple of weeks because I was suddenly overwhelmed with exhaustion. It's crazy the things a body and mind can do. You can push sleep and stress and everything aside and not even realize what your body and mind can make you accomplish through all of that. Even with the crash afterward, it was all worth.

I pushed through my adrenaline crash and my exhaustion to go have a celebratory cocktail with two of my closest co-workers who supported me completely through this whole proces. You see, I would not usually have been the one to plan this event, and it even got passed up by two other co-workers before the two supporters I had cocktails with told my boss I should be the one to do it. My boss was not supportive. He went on and on about how much work it would be and didn't trust that I could necessarily pull it off-not because of anything that has been lacking my work these last four years there, but because I am young (his words, not mine). But, the others won out and I was asked to take on the event.

Yesterday, when the happy guests were exiting and all of us workers were coming down from the excitment, that same boss came up, put his arm around me and told me everything was perfect and that he always knew I would do a perfect job. What's better than that? An excellent event AND the affirmation of a boss who wasn't supportive of me in the beginning! WOW! I feel like I could walk away from this job right now completely and utterly satisfied. But I won't...I have much more to do.

Here's to the disbelievers and the naysayers who cause us to propel ourselves even further and who come to their senses on the other side of a challenge. And here's to the human body and spirit, which rallies for us even at our craziest, most stressful times.

YEA ME!!!!!!!

Today I will see many months of planning and organizing for the biggest event I have ever coordinated come to fruition. I didn't sleep a wink last night, but not because of nerves, more because of excitment and adrenaline. Because of the work of myself, along with many volunteers and staff, this event will be something to be proud of.

My boss came in late yesterday afternoon and told me to think about this momentous occasion (the celebration of breaking ground on a brand new building for patients here at the hospital) and what it will mean years from now when I'm driving around Dallas with my children or grandchildren and we'll see that new building and I can say I was part of it-planning the largest groundbreaking in the 40-year history of the hospital and being a part of the fundraising team that helped make the building possible. I'll be part of the men and women working there; part of the men, women and children being treated there; and a little piece of the history of something that will live on long after I do. Wow, when he put it that way, I got quite emotional.

I'm hopeful that today will be a time for celebration and pride, knowing that this is a time to pat ourselves on the back for all that we've done to help bring better health care, something so integral to all communities, to so many.

Hopefully I'll have photos and lots to report next week. Until then, have a safe and happy weekend. CHEERS!!

On Being a Grown-up

The things no one ever told me (and that really stink!) about being a grown-up...

1. Bills are not fun because they just keep coming and you always have to use real money to pay them.

2. You stop getting taller, but you never stop growing.

3. Your days get longer, you sleep less and you achieve only a little bit more than you did as a kid.

4. You're expected to do certain things, be certain places and if you don't then you may feel bad about yourself or someone else may feel bad about you.

5. Typically when you feel bad, it's because of something you've done all on your own, and you can't blame "Susie" or "Johnny" even if you want to.

6. Judgment is prevalent.

7. You're going to make things more difficult than they have to be, and you're going to say things like, "I am SO STRESSED!" or "It has been such a LONG WEEK!"

8. Things are going to break and stop working, and you are the one who has to buy a new one or make it work again.

9. Even though we thought we were emotional and dramatic as kids, nothing compares to how we react when things don't go our way now. Can you say Adult Temper Tantrum?

10. Friends change, people change...the only things that remain are taxes, gas prices and God.

I'm not trying to be all negative. There are some perks to being a grown-up:

1. You get to choose your own clothes every day.

2. You can have your hair cut any way you'd like.

3. You can eat whatever you want.

4. You can decide not to go to work one day, if you really don't feel like it.

5. You have your own money now and you can do what you want with it.

6. If you want to stay up all night watching TV, you can do that.

7. You can vote and have a voice in your city, state and nation.

8. You now understand and appreciate special days like Veteran's Day, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter and anniversaries.

9. You now know the true meaning of friendship.

10. You see your parents and your family in a whole new light for all of things they have been doing as grown-ups for so many more years than you have.

If you haven't figured it out already, the previous blog entry was about my Mother-Mia Marcia Stratton Carman. She is an exotic, mysterious, spontaneous creature for me, and you can probably figure out why after reading her response to my blog, which appears on her blog today (www.miaspeaks.blogspots.com). I did not ask her to respond, she simply did so after reading what I had written yesterday. I'm glad she did, though!!

I have posted her response, for all of us to enjoy, below.

Answers to questions asked at www.santasmoon.blogspot.com

Well, very interesting post on www.santasmoon.blogspot.com to say the least. I'll attempt to answer some of the questions.

Who I was, in the fifties through the early 60's. Living in small town Irving, Texas, free as a bird, best friends with your Aunt Gail from the beginning, why, for a number of reasons, some of which I didn't even realize until I started writing this comment. She, like all my best friends to come, is stable as a rock, has a very strong mother and is blonde, blonde, blonde! Gail was the one that made my, "hair like yours" blonder and blonder, with that Summer Blonde stuff. It was a typical "small town Texas" life. Church on Sunday, focus on school (I won the Blue Ribbon at Field Day one year for poetry reciting), football on Friday nights. A father that loved me, a Grandmother that took very good care of me and two older brothers, one that indulged me, one that drove me nuts! One of my most vivid memories of that period of time, was the day JFK was shot! I wasn't old enough really to understand, on more than what was affecting my immediate surroundings, and what that looked like was seeing my Grandmother rattled for the first and only time in my life! I always loved History, English (especially poetry) and Music, Music, Music. Never much tv happening in our house, there was always music playing. After becoming an adult, while thinking about my Grandmother one day, I burst out laughing at a memory of her. On Saturday afternoon at 6:00 the entire house and the rest of the world, I think, stopped while she watched Lawrence Welk, later that night, after all the kids had gone to bed, she would watch wrestling! What a combination, Welk and wrestling! I think she was probably more interesting then I ever thought she was, I wish I had known her better! Zelma!

In the mid-60's I moved to Houston to live with my mother, what a different life! A wealthy neighborhood in Houston, snobbiest kids around, I had one friend, Mary Durham, then she went away. For the next year or two, I pretty much lived my life alone, afraid to make friends (they might leave, like Mary did) and my mother was busy being a typical single mother! Then, out of no where, suddenly she appeared! Carol! There she was, older than me, wiser than me, more interesting than me, I thought she was the best of the best and she was and still is! She was my best friend then and for years to come I couldn't function without her. She is still one of my best friends to this very day! Wild, oh my gosh Wild! Drinking, Drugging, hanging out in all the wrong places. Committed, Yea, to getting into my tight hip-hugger jeans! I spent more time in her home then I did mine, she had a very stable home, mother, father, grandmothers, Polish/Russian screamers! Said whatever they wanted whenever they got ready. (Carol grew up in the Bronx) Very different from my gentile southern up-bringing. And I loved it! We both dreamed of having our own little girl, the deal was who ever had the first little girl got to name her Jennifer, we both loved that name. Carol even has a painting I gave her a long time ago of our future Jennifer! Of course, we both had a little girl, but neither one of us named her Jennifer. Then, my mother re-married and moved me across town, into a home with a younger step-sister and much younger step-brother. I hated it! I had nothing in common with any of them, I didn't like that side of town, it was too far from Carol, I had been raised like an only child and suddenly I had to share my room and my stuff with this bratty younger sister! Yuck! But, as it has most of my life, music connected us and she became and still is one of the great loves of my life. Talk about wild! Boy, the stories the two of us could tell. Shortly after Baba re-married, I left for New York, Carol in typical Carol fashion was very upset about me leaving, so what did she do, she headed the other way, off to California! We were both gone for over a year. My time in New York was the best time of my life, I was with my wonderful Daddy, met my friend Cindy, someone else who is still in my life, and roamed the streets of New York during the end of the 60's. What a great time it was to be there. Fast-forward to the day I married your father... (the day the photo below was taken).

July 2, 1977, I was 25 years old and thought I knew it all! I didn't know a single thing. Larry and I had had a fiery, passionate relationship for 3 years and I don't think anyone thought we would ever get married, but there we were doing it. I use to tell people that I wanted to have 6 children, but I only dreamed of having a little girl. My dream came true. Career - nah! Just wanted to make enough money to buy books, music and have fun!

On April 16, 1979, my world changed forever, all I wanted then was books, music, and a stable home for You!

Do I think we would have been friends, no probably not. I think we would have liked each other and there's a little bit of a possibility that I would have been Your Lisa and You would have been my Mary, but I think that period of time would have come and gone pretty quickly. Even though I'm a thinker, like you, I'm not a planner, I'm more a fly by the seat of my pants kind of girl. As you got older and matured, I think I would have driven You crazy! I never had the interest or commitment to school or school activities like you did. I grew up very quickly because of my family situation and the events that went on there. That's why Aunt Carol was such an incredible gift, she was my rock for a number of years.

So, there you have it, if you want "specifics" we'll talk in private!

This is Mia Marcia (pronounced Mar-see-ya) Stratton.

The man next to her is her father, Elmer "Mann" Ione Stratton.

In this photo she is a dashing 20-something on her wedding day about to marry Larry Don Carman. Mia is the picture of '70s laid back style and aloofness in her wind-swept blond locks tousled about, the white eyelet dress flowing down to bare feet with matching daisies for her wrist, and a locket at her neck, which proclaims her best friend's love for her on this special day.

As I sit in my masters class on Thursday nights and "remember the sixties," which as my professor states was "the long sixties" carrying well over into the early seventies, I can't help but think of Mia. I think of the girl she was in the fifties, the wild teenager of the sixties and the 20-something of the seventies. What was she like? Would we have been friends had we known each other at the age she is in this photo and the age I am now? What were her dreams on this, her wedding day? Did she dream as I do about having a career, making a home for herself and her husband and having lots of babies fill that home with love and laughter? What were her thoughts on the happenings in her hometown, her state, her nation and the world? What was her strongest conviction? Who was her best friend, and why?

I wish everyone would blog.

You learn so much about people when they just write what's in their hearts and minds and there aren't many opportunities for people to do that in such a public way. My Auntie Pam just joined the blog world (www.from-rufus.blogspot.com), my Mom has been part of this world for a while (www.miaspeaks.blogspot.com) and my good friend, Barbara, started it all (www.lovethemanyway.blogspot.com).

Today is a great day because it is Friday. It has been a long week of stress and nerves over various work and school projects, but I am feeling less tense today about it all. I hope to get some relief over the weekend as I plan to get some school work completed. We also have plans with our newly-married friends, the Childs. Can't wait to spend some time with them!!

As we head into Thanksgiving season, I must remind myself not to be stressed and nervous over what might be, but to instead be thankful for what is right now. Easier said than done, I know, but it sure would make the days a little brighter and more enjoyable.

Wishing you a stress-free weekend with those you love and time for yourself. Oh, and think about starting a blog...it's simple and it's free!

Happy Friday!!!

It's been a stressful couple of days as I have so much going on at work and a lot rides on my "getting it right" for a big event on November 17. So, when I read my Mother's blog (miaspeaks.blogspot.com) and she gave a list of ten of her favorite things (no people) and asked others to do the same, I thought this would be a great exercise in relieving some stress, but I think my list needs to be longer since it's for therapeutic purposes.
So, here goes...

Twenty of My Favorite Things

1. A Good Book-particularly Sandra Brown, J.D. Robb, Phillippa Gregory, John Grisham

2. When Harry Met Sally, and other great movies I could watch over-and-over again.

3. My cold feet against my husband's warm ones

4. A long, warm embrace from a loved one

5. Warm, fragrant, bubbly baths

6. Lindeman's Australian Chardonnay

7. Sushi

8. Dance Party USA with the girls

9. Anything prepared with love by Chef Greg

10. A day at the park with hubby, Doby & Yankee

11. Baba's laughter

12. Mom's spontaneous song

13. Gege's deep, brooding voice

14. Cherry Garcia ice cream

15. Christmas

16. Cool breezes on sunny days

17. New York, New York

18. My Givenchy and my Fox-Rabbit Fur (OK-I cheated, that's TWO THINGS!!)

19. E-mails between friends

20. Thank you notes from the heart

Wow, I'm already feeling better!!

Never thought I could love something made of leather and metal so much!!!

I will admit, I am like most girls who enjoy shopping and buying new clothes, shoes and purses, but I'm not very picky or over-the-top and I don't usually spend a lot of money and I surely don't whine over anything found in the mall. On the rare occasion that I want to purchase something I really like, I either just buy it right then, or save up my money to buy it myself, depending on the cost. All-in-all, it is very few items that I find worth a high price.

This bag was different.

I saw my "G," as I now like to call it, up on a shelf in a local high-end boutique while at a party my friend and I attended that my husband was catering the food for. I saw the purse, immediately walked over to it and took it off the shelf, sliding it smoothly onto my arm. It was the only one of its kind in the store and it seemed made for me. Boy did it look nice! I soon realized someone (my husband) might see me drooling over this nice item and I quickly put it back on the shelf...but it was too late. My husband did not see me, but one of the co-owners of the store (a friend of my husband's) we were in saw me with the purse and walked right over to me, saying sweetly that I "HAD to have it!" I smiled demurely and simply said, "No, no, no...it's a beautiful bag, but it's not for me." (HA! What a lie!!) The co-owner walked right over to the other store owner, a close friend of both me and my husband, and told her the bag was for me, again, I "HAD to have it!!" She simply smiled at me, knowingly. This all happened in August, since which time little has been said about the purse. It appeared only in my dreams.

For our anniversary this week, my husband surprised me with this glorious purse as a gift and I was so overjoyed. I tried so hard not to be outright with my yearning for the bag, or to be a brat, and I think I did that well enough. But it did not matter how much I tried to deny it, a certain Fairy God Mother, who has a way of making things turn out just right for Greg and I, made sure that this bag became not just any purse left on a shelf, but my purse forever.

Thank you, Greg, for a fabulous anniversary gift and anniversary celebration.

And thank the Lord for Fairy God Mothers!! ;0)

It's Our Anniversary!!

It was six years and two months ago today that I went out on a first date with the man I would marry. Little did I know that as I sat across the table from him at dinner that the laughter that filled the air that evening and the music we enjoyed together that night would become the sound track of our future together.

On October 25, 2003, on the best, most exciting and enjoyable day of my life,

me and the man I love said "I do."

We had no idea just what those two words and the vows that were taken really meant. On this, our third anniversary, I think we know more than we did then about all we promised on our wedding day. We love each other more deeply. We cry a little easier together at the sentimental things. We share our hearts and our minds with one another more easily. We know each other better and more fully.

If we know so much more and feel so much deeper today, I can't imagine the beautiful metamorphosis our love and friendship will take over the many years to come. I cherish our wonderful wedding memories, I am filled with joy over the last six years together and it thrills me to think about the memories yet to be made.

Greg, I love you with all of my heart.

Happy Anniversary, honey.

The Joys of Home-Ownership

Just when you start to think you have a plan, something happens to make you think that plan might not be for the best. Two nights ago, after having been out of town over the weekend and having heavy rains while we were away, my husband calls me into his office in our home to show me something "really bad...," as he put it. He walked to the far corner of the room and started bouncing lightly up and down and I realized he was catching a bit of air because the floor beneath his feet was bouncing with him. Somehow, water had gotten underneath our wood flooring and the flooring has now collapsed up away from the foundation. We know it's a water issue because the rug over that area of the room was wet and moldy, meaning this isn't the first time this has happened. So, we may have a serious, expensive problem with our home.

Just as a reminder: We just had our old, rotted, big holed fence replaced; we're in the process of having our gutters replaced (I say "in the process" because a handy man had to come out and do some unexpected work to some wood on our home prior to the gutters being replaced); and now we have this issue in my husband's office. The joys of home-ownership!!

We had a plan, many plans, in fact, and this additional cost was not one of them. Now I'm afraid that our plans will have to be put on hold a little longer while we get this current house mess straightened out. After the fence and the gutters, we planned to have our ACs (yes, we have two AC units!!) replaced after the first of the year, then our windows replaced and possibly the flooring upstairs replaced. Why do we have to have this other issue?

Wow, I feel so grown-up griping about home repairs. Who would've ever thought I would be doing that at this point in my life? I guess my biggest questions about our home are: Will these repairs ever end? Will we ever come to a point where all we are doing on our home are self-inflicted improvements and changes? Will we ever just sit back and enjoy? I sure hope so. I feel very blessed to have the means to live in our beautiful home and to have a loving husband to share it with, but sometimes, only at very rare times like these, I think renting an apartment doesn't sound so bad.

10 Reasons I had a Great Week

1. I visited Chicago and Naperville, a Chicago suburb, for the first time

and loved both places.

2. I was in a place where the leaves change from green to a rainbow of fall colors, and it's possible for it to snow in October.

3. I successfully, and nervously, planned and executed a bachelorette party for roughly 25 ladies in a city I've never been to.

4. I danced all night long with some of my very best friends

to the spinnings of a fantastic dj.

5. I was treated like a woman of leisure-brunches eaten, hands, feet, hair and make-up done professionally and I stayed in two different fabulous hotels.

6. I experienced one of the best moments of my life; watching my very best friend marry the man of her dreams in a beautiful ceremony.

7. I enjoyed a great wedding reception, complete with a toast from the matron of honor (that's me!) that I am proud to say was pretty darn good, a dance performance that rocked the dance floor and had us all busting up with laughter, and hours of fun, great friends and the good times of people knowing the bride and groom are a match made in Heaven.

8. Seeing friends who may live far,

but are never far from our thoughts and our hearts.

9. "OH ARE YOU?!" (Jenn), "King Charles Spaniels are really named for King Charles, ya know.," (Laran) and other funny moments that we'll re-live and laugh together about over and over again.

10. The love of a good man who traveled many miles in a form of transportation that is not his favorite, to a city he's never been to just to spend time mostly alone while his wife was gallavanting around without him getting her hair and nails done. That same good man saying it was a wonderful weekend

and that he was so glad he went.

Thanks to everyone who helped make this a weekend to remember forever, and who made it extra special for my good man, my very best friend and myself.

Bad News, Good News

So much to report...bad and good.

I'll start with the bad to end on a good note.

On Friday, September 29 at around 4:30 p.m. I was exiting the Kroger grocery store near my home when three men approached me in the store parking lot. One man came up behind me as I was placing my grocery items into my car, the other two men remained in the car, which they had parked behind my car. I did not realize this man had walked up to me until he was merely an arm's length away and I felt his presence and whirled around, staring him right in the eyes. I was confused as to why he was standing there and I think my sudden turn to face him may have deterred him from whatever action he was about to take with me. I soon broke the eye contact and quickly got into my car, locking the doors. The man ran back to the car where his friends waited and they sped out of the parking lot. I called 9-1-1, but did not request an officer meet me as all I wanted was to get home and I knew there was nothing the officer could do aside from taking down what the car and the men looked like. This whole experience was frightening, and it taught me a very valuable lesson...you never know when something might happen to you, or someone you know, so be alert and be careful where you choose to be out alone. I will not be visiting this same store any time in the future and I hope those who read that can take the same lesson away with them. Be careful, be aware and be safe.

In other news...

Our beautiful, board-on-board, tall, cedar fence was completed last Tuesday. Hubby and I sat outside yesterday and enjoyed the Fall weather and the new fence. It's amazing how something that seems so inconsequential can feel so rewarding and fulfilling. I love our new fence.

After today, I will not be in blog world for a while as I am headed out of town. "Chicago, Chicago..." (That's me singing!) I am headed to the Windy City for my first visit ever, and what a wonderful occasion for this trip-my best friend's wedding!! That's right, my very best friend, Mandy, is marrying the man she has been in love with for 11 years and I am the matron of honor, and what an honor it is. I will spend time in the home where Mandy spent much of her years before college (where we met) on Tuesday and Wednesday, we will have a bachelorette celebration on Thursday, girlie festivities and rehearsal dinner on Friday and the much-anticipated wedding on Saturday. I am so, super excited!!! I can't wait to blog about my Chicago Adventure next week.

Something that I also want to blog about now is friendship and my latest revelation about friendship. I don't rely on others very often as I think I have a tendency to want things done a certain way and I also have trust issues. I love my friends and they are all really special people and they have done nothing to lead me not to trust them, but it's an internal issue that I haven't faced until recently. I'm not one to ask for favors or for help, even when I really need it. And I'm not just talking about big favors, but little things, as well. In the last month, or so, that has changed. I have asked several different friends to help me, in big and small ways, with various things. At times I felt a bit of anxiety even asking for the help or the favor, but each time I followed through and my friends showed me there was no reason to feel anxious about depending on others. I have seen a whole new side of friendship in the last month and I have to say, it looks and feels so good. I have a ways to go before I can completely trust and not feel anxious about asking for help, but I am so happy to know that I can count on my friends and to know they want me to depend on them. That is what friendship is all about, right?

See you next week!!

(At last a guy has taken the time to write this all down.

I, as a female, actually found this somewhat helpful!)

The Guys' Rules
Please note.. These are all numbered "1" ON PURPOSE!

1. Men are NOT mind readers.

1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.

1. Sunday sports, it's like the full moon or the changing of the tides, just let it be.

1. Shopping is NOT a sport, and no, we are never going to think of it that way.

1. Crying is blackmail.

1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one:

Subtle hints do not work!

Strong hints do not work!

Obvious hints do not work!

Just say it!

1. "Yes" and "No" are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.

1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.

1. A headache that lasts for 17 months is a Problem. See a doctor.

1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 Days.

1. If you won't dress like the Victoria's Secret girls, don't expect us to

act like soap opera guys.

1. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us.

1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one.

1. You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done-not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.

1. Whenever possible, please say whatever you have to say during commercials.

1. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we.

1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like the Windows default settings.

Peach, for example, is a fruit, not a color. Pumpkin is also a fruit.

We have no idea what mauve is.

1. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.

1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," we will act like nothing's wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.

1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to,

expect an answer you don't want to hear.

1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine...Really.

1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as sports, the shotgun formation or a bowel movement.

1. You have enough clothes.

1. You have too many shoes.

1. I am in shape...Round IS a shape!

(I share this with all of my female friends, in honor of my husband.)

"Chef"

I've been in several restaurants kitchens and it is there that I was exposed to a certain culture and a certain way of being. I was reminded of this on a phone call I had yesterday. I called a restaurant in Chicago so that I could set-up the menu for a party I am planning there for a friend of mine. I had chosen the menu items and wanted to run them by the chef, have him give his blessing on what I had chosen and then have him send me a cost estimate. So, I called the Chicago restaurant and the host answered quickly putting me through to the kitchen where the chef promptly picked up. When he answered, he said, "Hello, this is Chef." Strangely, I was not surprised to hear this man greet me as though his name is "Chef", instead of Tom, Dick or Harry, as this is the typical way in which chefs and professional cooks refer to themselves and each other. I'm assuming it is easier to get one's attention in a loud, raucous kitchen by yelling, "Chef..." this or "Chef..." that, and, more importantly, this is also a title of respect in the culinary world. Even those who have not been formally trained in the culinary arts are shown they are respected by their peers, and at times their managing chefs, by being called "Chef."

As my phone conversation with Chef went on, I was surprised to learn that I had, indeed, chosen from the menu very well-a varied mix of foods, enough for a large group and some of the house specialties-all without much experience with this sort of thing. After hearing Chef's compliments on my menu choices, I began to feel quite proud...and as we started to end the quite enjoyable call, I said, "Please tell me your first name..." In response, I could almost hear Chef's grin of embarrassment, realizing how he'd first answered the phone. He said, "I'm sorry, that's a force of habit in this industry. My name is Sonny, Chef Sonny." And the story continues...

As I came into work this morning and saw the follow-up e-mail to this phone conversation, I quickly looked for the signature on the e-mail...uh-huh, just as I suspected. The e-mail was signed "Chef Sonny."

In a world full of professions and careers, we typically only assign a title of this much utilization to certain careers, such as a doctor or someone in the military. So, I find it interesting that in the culture of professional cooks, they have chosen to be known by their career, showing much pride in their profession and one another. I think this shows a certain level of appreciation for their own skills and talent, and since self-confidence is something that is lacking in our society, I find it refreshing to know there is a profession based on skill, creativity and experience comprised of people that feel so strongly about their own worth, that they will call themselves simply by their choice of profession.

I say congratulations to Chef Sonny and all of the Chefs out there for being proud of who they are and what they do. It is something the rest of us should learn from.

Favorite excerpts from the book "The Creative Marriage"

Chapter 3: Creative Conflict
"When I am critical of [my spouse] or [my spouse] is critical of me, we are, in fact, criticizing ourselves, because we are now one. Marriage is not a relationship of dissonance, but of harmony."

Chapter 4: Creative Intimacy
"When couples are unaware of God's take on the subject [of sex], unaware of what the Bible says, it becomes a sex buster."

"Sex is a gift from God..."

Chapter 5: Creative Finances
"Pay God His 10%; Pay yourself the next 10% in savings; Enjoy the remaining 80%."

Chapter 6: Creative Priorities
Keeping Your Family Spouse-Centric Instead of Kid-Centric
"I know this book is about marriage, but in order to help [the reader] understand why a spouse-centric home is best for everyone (including the children) I want to share with you my working definition of parenting. Parenting is the process of teaching and training your children to leave."

"Children are supposed to leave and parents are supposed to stay. Thus, the marriage should be at the top of the family food chain."

"Have you thought about the fact that you will have approximately 18 years with your children, but you will have the rest of your life with your spouse? You are not benefiting anyone by focusing on the kids to the detriment of your marriage relationship"

To be honest, I feel like I've gotten the most out of this last chapter, which I haven't even finished. It talks about all of the ways you and your spouse should put one another as top priority and how the kids will respect that and appreciate it and it will help them be more well-rounded and less selfish.

More chapters to come. My husband and I are learning so much. Hope some of you will, too.