The Anti-Blog's Prior Entries from 2006

See 2005 entries here

January 1, 2006 - Happy New Year!

April 1, 2006 - It's raining, it's pouring...I'm addicted to Lost!

July 23, 2006 - Transitions and Heat

July 30, 2006 - Vociferous cleaning

August 5, 2006 - I still see her in me

October 5, 2006 - Lost in Nashville

November 25, 2006 - Mammograms, Shopping and Penguins

December 3, 2006 - Sun Devils, Spartans, Surgery, etc.

December 9, 2006 - A Wedding Story

December 17, 2006 - Post Op Pre-Christmas

January 1, 2006 : Happy New Year! Wow, 2006. I really can't believe how fast 2005 went. Don't people say something like this every year? Is it really true? Is it really so hard to believe how fast the prior 365 (or 366) days went? Apparently it is. Because every year, this is what we say and hear. Maybe I should start a new trend this year...wow, 2005...that year lasted forever! I don't know...what do you think?

So, resolutions...I don't make them. But, I do resolve to do things better, differently, with more passion. I'm not writing it down, I'm not telling people which things these are, I'm just going to do them. However, if you're someone who makes resolutions, more power to you. I hope you meet them. And I hope next year at this time you rejoice in your victories!

As I sit here watching yet another wind and water storm outside, I pause to think how blessed I am to live in a structure that can withstand it...that this is nothing compared to what our friends in the Gulf experienced last year...to what happened to our friends in Thailand a year ago...that my whining about getting wet when I locked up the outside gates at church this afternoon is pretty lame considering I am allowed to worship how I want, when I want and where I want. I'll let you think on that...

And finally, as I look into the new year, I encourage you all to not take life so seriously...have fun...play more...laugh a lot...and remember...it's all about the YAY.

April 1, 2006 : Okay, so I'm not the best at keeping this updated. Maybe I should call it the Quarterly Anti-Blog...that seems to be more doable than monthly. Oh well...I think you'll get over it. I think you're over it now.

What to talk about today...well, I could talk about the beating that LSU is currently taking from UCLA...but I'm still kinda bitter that West Virginia lost to Texas last week. I could talk about the impending baseball season...but my teams aren't looking very stellar and I just assume I'll soon be bitter. So let's move on from sports...clearly, it's not a good place to be at the moment.

Rain, rain, go away...It's raining, it's pouring...it's really all quite boring! For those of you outside of California, and outside of the Bay Area, you may not be aware of the fabulous record we broke this week...for number of rainy days in the month of March. Oh yeah, that's a record you really don't wanna be a part of. I feel moldy, and I'm pretty sure I've grown webbing between my toes. Isn't it April showers that bring May flowers? I'm really curious to see what will be brought in April from all the March showers. And what on earth could be in store for May? I guess I should be thankful that I was in Tennessee for almost 2 weeks during this record-breaking month, but I don't think I need to tell you, it rained there too. I didn't care. I put the top down on the convertible anyway! So there! I really just need some sun...I'm starting to fade...

I wouldn't say I've been behind the times, because I actually try to avoid trendy TV watching, but, when I was in Tennessee, some fabulous friends sucked me into the phenomenon known as Lost. Yes, I'm completely hooked. So much so that after watching the 1st season on DVD at their house, I downloaded the first 15 episodes of this season (the 2nd) via iTunes so I could get caught up. I am happily addicted to Lost! I can't say it's a good thing, but there are certainly worse addictions. Maybe just looking at Sawyer is one of them, I'm not sure...but despite his basic pigness, there is a hefty bit of the YUM. If you haven't seen it, I can't really recommend it, because you will get addicted, and I don't want to be accused of contributing to anything that will cause you pain and agony in the end. However, the first season is available on DVD and can be found on Netflix...not to mention iTunes.

July 23, 2006: When I drove by the bank sign today, it said 108. Yeah. 108 degrees. In San Jose, California. And don't let me forget to tell you that's it's also HUMID. I'm sitting in a hotel because my apartment is like a reincarnation of the Mojave Desert. Am I crazy to stay in a hotel in the town in which I live? Maybe...but I'm much cooler, so I don't really care. The temperatures have been rising for weeks now...not just here, but all over the country. I feel like we're all melting, and there's just not enough ice to hold us back. Every day I feel like we're moving closer to the end of the world, to the times Jesus spoke of...and while I don't honestly believe we'll get there in my lifetime, I think we're closer than any generation has ever been, and the world is moving in ways that seem out of control...things only the return of Jesus can reign in. It's never dull, that's for sure.

I've had a lot of transitions in my life these past few months. Many of you were witness to my dad's retirement in June, which is not necessarily a big transition for me personally, but it's just evidence of getting older and moving on to other stages of life. I've had friends moving in and out of my life recently, in strange and curious ways. It's not good or bad, it just is. It's me learning how to deal with their transitions in addition to my own. More growing up...hate it.

But the biggest transition of all came this morning when my church of more than 8 years closed its doors for good. This is something I'm guessing most of you have never been a part of, and I have to admit, I'm still in a bit of shock over it. The whole thing is very surreal, and yet, I do feel a full peace about it. My pastor and his wife are moving to a fabulous new ministry where they will be ministers to pastors...wow, is this ever a needed ministry! I'm so excited for them to move into this new chapter of their lives. But as they made this decision, another, much more difficult decision was waiting with regard to the church. They called us to prayer and fasting, and the church as a whole really made the decision to close...based on God's leading and direction. The time was right. Time for us to move on and connect our branches to other trees...to intertwine them with other branches.

Not many of us get a chance to say good-bye to a church in a positive way. This is one of the most emotional things I've ever experienced, and I'm so blessed I was a part of it. As my pastor said multiple times, we got to decide when to close things...got to tuck the church in and give her a kiss good night. Most of the time, when people leave churches, the feelings are negative...either because people are moving on, or because something has caused them to become unhappy, and they leave with hurt feelings or bitterness. This was so not like that, and while it's sad to know we all won't see each other every Sunday going forward, it's so exciting to think about what God has next for all of us.

Well, this anti-blog was a little more serious than some of my others...sometimes that's just way the wind blows...man, if only the wind WERE blowing, maybe it would be cooler! It's days like these I miss that cool mountain air.

Hope you are all well...thanks for taking a moment to check in...hopefully I'll be back soon...

July 30, 2006: Vociferous. We should use this word more often. I discovered it twice on the same page yesterday while reading The Three Musketeers. It's a great word...meaning (per our good friend Webster): marked by or given to vehement insistent outcry. It was dictionary.com's Word of the Day on December 24, 1999. I think that must mean something...not quite sure what, but I'm sure it's important. They also tell me it means conspicuously and offensively loud. I almost like that definition more. I'm sure I can start using this daily...okay, maybe weekly. I recommend you do the same.

There are so many great words in the English language that we just don't use enough. What are your favorites? Send them to me...I'll post them at the end of the week.

I'm writing today to avoid cleaning. I'm sure you'll all shocked I wrote a new entry only a week after the last one. I'm not normally interesting enough to write weekly...my life's just not as exciting as I might attempt to lead you to believe. But, I am trying to be better. And when it gets me out of cleaning, more power to it! Maybe if i did some vociferous cleaning I would enjoy it more. In 10 short minutes, I'll be trying that. I'll keep you posted.

The cleaning is a necessity. My clutter is overtaking me...I think it makes its own clutter at night. I've purchased some new furniture for my kitchen, and my mom is coming in 12 days to help me reorganize. She's not allowed in when it looks like this. No one's allowed in. I'm surprised I even let myself in, but there are some things that can't be avoided. I really don't think I'm a messy person at heart...okay, maybe I am. Or maybe I'm just lazy. My parents aren't like this. I don't know where I got it. I blame television. Is that right? I'm supposed to blame that for the world's problems, right? I'm sure it fits in somehow.

Okay, only 7 minutes left until the vociferous cleaning begins. I am really liking my word. I'm almost excited to begin the conspicuously and offensively loud process of de-cluttering my rooms.

Hope you have a great week! I'll be back soon...maybe...we'll see how lucky you are...

August 5 , 2006: Follow-up from last week: Well apparently, the writers at the San Jose Mercury News have taken my vociferous calling to heart. Check out this article about the Giants earlier this week. When my friend Jill brought this into my office, I almost fell out of my chair. Now, I honestly don't think that many people are reading my anti-blog, but then again, you never know...how many times in the last year have YOU seen the word used in print? See.

And now to this week's musings: So...tomorrow is my aunt's birthday. She is no longer with us, so when the day rolls around, I get a little melancholy. We lost her much too soon. I'm certain she's in heaven, so I do take comfort in that. I mostly feel bad for my grandparents and my mom. Her only sister, and their first child. I can't imagine. The same thing happens each year in late September when my grandfather's birthday rolls around. Funny how a date on a calendar can bring back a flood of memories.

When I was growing up, everyone said I was just like my aunt. I was messy like her, driven like her and got migraines like her. My mom never had the migraines which I always thought was strange...neither did my grandmother. But my great grandmother also suffered. Genetics can pave a funny, crooked road sometimes.

I'm not sure how I got to be like my aunt. I never lived near her and didn't even see her that much. But I was her only niece (no nephews either), so I guess I always felt special. She always gave cool gifts, wrapped in the best Palais Royal wrapping. She lived and worked in downtown Houston, and was just generally cool. She ate out for most meals, and wore her sunglasses everywhere. I still see her in me...I eat out for just about every meal...sunglasses all the time...I'm not the best cleaner, and I happen to be an amazing gift-wrapper. Maybe it was all the professionally wrapped gifts she gave that inspired me.

As her birthday nears, I am thankful that I had her as long as I did. I only wish I would have known her better and been able to spend more time with her.

Good night everyone...

October 5 , 2006: Well, here it is, 2 months gone, and I'm finally getting back to you. I've decided not to bore you unnecessarily with my musings, and there are just many days that are too dull to chat about. I'm just not that entertaining a lot of the time. I'm not guaranteeing that you'll be entertained by today's entry, or that it won't leave you bored, but hey, I'm on vacation and figured it was the best time to do an update.

So, here I am...in Nashville. Tennessee. That's right. The home of country music. Because you all know that I'm a HUGE fan. <cough, wheeze, choke> Okay, I think I'm recovered now. No, I didn't come here on vacation so I could record the next big country hit...or the next big hit of any variety. I came to visit one my closest friends in the world. I'm here for ten fabulous days, and so far, it's been incredibly relaxing...which is precisely why I came. I knew it would be. Someone today asked me what we'd done so far...see, the whole point is to not do anything. Doing things is like work...and really, I've had enough of that for a little while. However, I have exerted some energy while I've been here...

Visited some other friends who just moved here a month ago...we had pancakes and chatted about various and sundry things. It was lovely to see them.

Ate lunch at my friend's son's school today. Who else has missed the days of lunch ladies and corn dogs? I have to say, the only thing missing were the tater tots. Now there are smile potatoes. It's just not the same.

Shopped a bit in downtown Franklin (my friend actually lives in Franklin, TN, just outside of Nashville)...and bought ourselves a few treats. We LOVE this little store: rockpaperscissors - visit it if you can. Fabulous!

And of course, the highlight so far, the season premiere of Lost! Yes, I'm still hooked. Other than the fact that we were overwhelmed by ads, it was great. Lots of interesting things...can't wait for next week!

Okay, signing off for now...we have to prepare for Skate Night. Oh yes, it's all-the-rage among the 7-year olds in Franklin. Catch you later!

November 25 , 2006: Yes, I'm still alive. I'm just so unmotivated to update my web site...probably because I'm too busying working on updating sites at work. Or, just because I'm lazy. It's one of those. As you can see, I've changed my format a bit, and the update is right here on the front page...no extra clicking. I know how that one extra click was uber-painful for you.

I trust you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving and a beautiful Black Friday. I know I did. Lots of great food, an abundance of shopping, and a healthy dose of dancing penguins. If you have not yet experienced Happy Feet...stop everything and go right now. It is so stinking good! Funny. Sweet. And the music is awesome. That was end of my Black Friday which started at the gym, followed by a 4-hour mall adventure, and a 2-hour nap. It was indeed a beautiful day.

Have I mentioned lately how much I love being a grown-up? Oh yes. It's a treat. Got my first mammogram a few weeks ago...truthfully, not a big deal. I don't know why people don't go. That other exam they want you to do annually is WAY WORSE (apologies to any men reading this right now...but it is what it is). Anyway, no big deal I figured. Since I have a history of breast cancer in my family, my doctor decided to go ahead and get one done. Since then, it's been a bit of a roller coaster. After the initial exam, they saw something they didn't like. Well joy. So, I got to have an ultrasound. Then, they called and said there was something "suspicious" about the results of both. Are you feeling the love? Yeah. Me too. So, after a visit back to my doctor, who could not identify what was happening, I've been referred to a surgeon for further review. I actually have a lot of peace about it. It's not like there's anything I can do about it. At this point, I just want to know what's going on. So, in a few days, I'll meet with the new guy and go from there. The moral of the story? Well I don't know. I guess I didn't really have one. Just thought I'd share what's been going on with me.

Now, changing subjects altogether...I am less than pleased with the turn that West Virginia took today. So much for the BCS. And at this writing, I'm not pleased with the turn that the ASU game has taken either...hopefully I can provide a cheerful update later. But for now, I'm done.

December 3, 2006: Bowl games galore...Sun Devils - Hawaii. Mountaineers - up in the air (they're just lucky they won yesterday!). Spartans - New Mexico. Heck, even the NIU Huskies are headed to San Diego. I think the only team left out in the cold, literally, is Wyoming. Poor Cowboys. Maybe next year. I'll be watching it all on TV. I held out hope for a few days that ASU might be invited to the Emerald Bowl in San Francisco, but they chose UCLA (who is my favorite team today after knocking off USC...joy!). So, it's the TV for me. But that's okay. Better and cheaper snacks, and definitely more comfortable than bleachers.

To follow-up from last week's update, I will be having outpatient surgery in about 10 days to remove whatever it is that they've found...most likely a benign tumor of some variety. The surgeon was great and is pretty certain we are not dealing with cancer. He looks at this stuff all day every day so I figure he knows what he's talking about. My mom's going to be flying out, so that will be nice. It's a little freaky, but several friends have had a similar procedure, and they assure me that it's fairly pain-free, so now, I just need it to be done.

Before all that takes place, I'll be traveling to Cambria, California to sing in a wedding. I'm looking forward to the mini-break, and will have the opportunity to visit Hearst Castle which I've heard is fabulous. Best wishes to Cori and Brian!

That's about it from here. I'm staying in today and resting...need to do some cleaning and present-wrapping as well, but for now, it's all about the lounging. Hope you have a fabulous day!

December 9, 2006: Today I'm writing from Cambria, California, where I am preparing to sing in a wedding. The rain has forced us inside (which will probably make me sound better), but it's going to be beautiful no matter what. The kids (Cori and Brian) are excited and ready to be married. Congratulations! The song I'm singing is Lullaby by The Dixie Chicks...yeah, I didn't pick it...I would never have heard it, but it's what they wanted, so there you have it. I think it will turn out nicely...I'm also playing as I sing, so it's a full-on Carrie entertainment fest. :-)

I've sung in a number of weddings, been in a few others, caught a few bouquets, and just been an attendee at many more. I am always amazed at how moved I am by the emotion of it all. Just watching the bride walk down the aisle with her father...well, it gets me every time. It's not because I'm ready to make that walk...far from it, but it's the beauty of watching the transition of it. The hand-off from father to husband-to-be...there's something so complete about it. I know, I'm such a girl.

Well, I hope you are all enjoying your holiday season. I must run and get ready for the big day. Talk to you again soon.

December 17, 2006: The surgery is done. They believe things to be fine. Pathology will give the final word, and I'll hear it on Wednesday, but for now, we believe that things are good and that it was a fibroid tumor and it has been evicted.

It was such a blessing to have my mom here, and I'm glad we were able to do a few fun things and not just lay around doing nothing...although, we did a lot of that too, which was great.

Movie Update: The Pursuit of Happyness was fabulous! I highly recommend it. Will Smith's change in appearance was amazing, and he was great. Definitely check it out!

Now it's back to reality and the office tomorrow. One more day of lounging, five days of work, then a week off...whee! Hope you are all ready for Christmas, and have time to reflect on your year and enjoy the real meaning of the season.

Until next time...

 

Site Last Updated January 1, 2007