August... Olympics!!

I literally made myself sick watching the Olympics this year!! I was obsessed!! I am so happy that NBC got my letter! I simply said you own most of the stations on TV why not use them to show every single moment of these amazing games! It all started with the opening ceremonies to end all opening ceremonies! Yes, yes, I know they pulled a C and C Music Factory (the person showing is not the person singing...hee, hee) but it was still freakin' awesome! And I watched it all, from skulling to fencing (which the American women swept in case you have a life and didn't know that!) But for me the real highlight, the whole thing that made it blog worthy... Michael Phelps!!! I see you rolling your eyes, trust me I am just as sick of him by now as well, but I have my reasons. My reasons being, I'm a swimmer... of course I use that term loosely!! My parents put me in aqua baby classes when I was about 6 months old and I was hooked! I am still, to this day the first one and the last one out of any body of water... I even love taking a shower!! I swam competitively in high school and I was AWFUL, but I loved it! Here in lies my love for Phelps... he had MILLIONS of people watching swimming! Swimming was on primetime TV! People were practically water logged from all the time spent at the watercube! I LOVE IT! I swam competitively for years and I can tell you for a fact there was never more than the obligatory spectator. Parents of swimmers, spouses of coaches, and siblings that weren't old enough to drive or stay home alone. It brought tears to my eyes to hear people talking about lap lanes and goggles!!

Another July... another b-day!!

]Thank you to everyone that made it out on the Birthday Boat Extravaganza again, or for the first time this year!! As always it was AMAZING! Every year we say we are going to make shirts, but as anyone who has been on the boat knows it is hard enough to just get us all on the boat, and every year Nancy and I are soooo blessed to have our nearest and dearest celebrate with us! Nance and I realized that this was our 15th year to celebrate together and the 7th year of the party barge's!! And I swear every year it gets better and better! We did take a break from the boat last year for the big 30 and headed down to Mexico! That is where the pic above is from!! Eagles 95!! We do have some great pics of everyone that was on the trip, but I can't figure out how to change the photo!!! (Note: this is my first photo added to the blog!! I JUST figured out that is what that little picture icon was for!! I am so excited!! This just added a WHOLE new element to the blog!! As soon as I get the hang of it!!)Sorry, sorry, you know me... something shiny and I am completely off track!Back to July! This year we took the ole' party barge out for 8 hours instead of our usual 4 and it was TOTALLY worth it!! There was about 40 of us and that made for such a great day!!

Anyone there... anyone?

June!! Really!! Has it really been that long, since I last blogged!?!? That is just inexcusable!!
I promise I constantly think of stuff that would make great posts, so here is what I have just now decided as I am typing I will go month by month since July!! What do ya'll think?!? You with me!? I'll only know if you comment!! I know, I know how dare I ask for comments when I have given you NOTHING!! But, we have to start somewhere, right!! ;)

My life in androgony

First let me start with, this is the second of the "TWO NEW BLOGS" what are the odds that I have not blogged in like 2 moths and as soon as I start to write the second of the "TWO NEW BLOGS" the entire website shuts down for repairs and erases EVERYTHING I had written!! Of all the times to blog...

Now back to our show already in progress....

I recently came across an article in the Wall Street Journal that fascinated me so much that I have been telling everyone who will sit still long enough all about it! The title of the article "The World's Greatest Athlete" promised to unveil the "fastest, strongest, most agile man on earth" I ask you who would that not be interesting too!?! This is not just the man who is fastest, or the man that is the strongest, or the man that is most agile... no, this is the man that is the most of all of these attributes combined!! That is some interesting stuff people!! After reading the article and being amazed by all of the science and statistics and sport each of them plays I couldn't wait to share my new knowledge... there in by breaking my cardinal rule of "knowing your audience" because the next group of people I saw after reading the article were my sister, my mom and my aunt... who could not have been less interested!! I was shocked, how could they not want to know that Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan didn't even make the top ten of this list? As I continued to be politely ignored and gracefully guided into other conversation topics I finally realized... is this only interesting to me and let's face it... men? I usually know the difference, I know most ( not all) of my girls don't want to talk about the Cowboy's off season acquisitions or why Steve Nash getting traded to the Suns was the best thing for him. I get it. But, I guess sometimes I get a little confused!! Such is the life, I have decided, of an androgonist!! Which I have labeled myself only because of my interests, not because I was born with some strange hormonal imbalance!! Rather I think I was born with a pretty balanced interest in both male and female things ( for lack of a better word) I enjoy a pedicure and if I could get it while I was watching a ball game that would be PERFECT! I read Us Weekly and Sports Illustrated, I like the Oxygen channel and ESPN, in the afternoon I watch Oprah on the commercial breaks during Around the Horn and PTI. I listen to sports talk radio in the morning while I am putting on my make-up... is there something wrong with me? I feel like I should, at this point, say that yes I enjoy the sport of football but equally enjoy football because the pants are still tight, a trend I am very sad to see baseball move away from!! I say this knowing the boy's are rolling their eyes now and the girls are nodding their head in agreement!! Aaahhhhh, the joys of my androgonous ways!! I enjoy being "THE GIRL WHO" will explain playoff brackets to a friend trying to impress a boy as well as the girl who will share this article (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121392004594090355.html?mod=yhoofront) with all the guys out there and not be able to wait to hear what they think about it!! Like the fact that Lance Armstrong 7 time Tour De France winner was considered to one-dimensional to even be considered in the top 10!! Fascinating!!

Shout outs

So many of my little loved one's have been doing such great things I thought what better way to show my support for them than with some "shout-outs" on a blog!!
Sadly, there will be no "shout-outs" to my boo, more like "props" Uuuuhhh... I think I need a vacation!To much time with the kids!!

My first shout out goes to my cousin Andie who was elected Student Council President for her senior year of high school!! So very proud of you, Madam President!! I know you will be awesome!! This is just the beginning of your greatness!!

Shout-out #2 to my young brother Lee who has maintained an incredibly high GPA the last two years and was accepted into the honors college at UTA, and will be attending Texas Christian University in the fall!! Go Lee, so proud of you even if you are a horned toad!!!!!!! That has got to be the second worst mascot!
Second to who, some may be wondering, that honor goes to the Fighting Unicorns of New Braunsfels! Their colors, to insult imminent injury are powder blue and white!!

Shout-out #3 to my pal Chris Pieper who received a fellowship for his PhD in Sociology! I actually have no idea what a fellowship is outside of when one was awarded to Diane Court in "Say Anything". So to you Chris Pieper I say this in my best John Mahonney voice "Everyone starts out on an even playing field which gets narrowed down further and further until it comes down to ONE BRILLIANT person that is so amazing that they celebrate you on two continents!!" After hearing him give that speech about fellowships I figured they must be a pretty big deal!! Chris I will gladly celebrate you here and the other continent of your choosing!!

Shout-out #4 to my dear, sweet, precious friend Anissa and her FIANCEE Mike D on their engagement!!!!! You know it is an amazing couple when you feel like both people in the relationship are equally as blessed to have found the other one!! I am humbled, honored and can not wait to stand next to them as they receive the Sacrament of Marriage!!!!

Shout-out #5 MAGS the TRIATHLETE!!! So, so, so proud of Mags for competing in the Danskin Tri with us this year!! It was windy, it was hot, there were 3,000 women racing to the finish and NONE of that slowed our Maggie down she finished in RECORD time!!! YOU GO GIRL!!!! *Disclaimer* I don't actually use that phrase, but the Danskin is quite fond of it, so there it is in all it's cheesy, early 90's glory!!

Shout-out #6 my blogsprirations Luke and Marianne Evans, in case anyone doesn't know the reason I started blogging ( insert sarcastic comment and eye roll on my lack of actual blogging here) was because of how inspired I was by Luke and Murr! Their quick wit, their computer savvy, their little anecdotes... I want to be them for so many reasons and the main one THEY ARE DEBT FREE!!!!!!! These two graduates of Baylor University have paid off their school debt as well as ( I may be lying about this) Luke's Seminary school tuition? Luke and Murr if you are still reading I am just awed by you and your hard work!! And Luke stay tuned I have something I know you will enjoy in my post following this one!!

Shout-out #7 to Shannon for getting into grad school at UT!! The school took 4 of the hundreds of applicants and our Shan was one of them, which between me and ya'll isn't even remotely surprising that they picked her!! Shan is pretty much one of the smartest people I think I have ever met and she TOTALLY deserves this, and will do AMAZING things with it!!

Shout-out #8 and prayers to my friend Page who will once again be spending her summer in Zambia, Africa volunteering with orphans. God Bless you in your endeavor Page!!


Shout-out #9 and last but certainly not least the final shout out goes to Mere and Jeff and brand new baby boy Everett!! He is divine, literally!!

So happy and proud of all of you for all that you are and all that you do!!

"The Office" Quiz

Killing time at work recently and stumbled across this quiz about "The Office" and of course when say I stumbled I mean I was clicking on every single picture and or article about John Krazinski!!
I know most of you reading love "The Office" as much as I do so take the quiz and let me know what you scored!! http://www.parade.com/theoffice/index.html
And you can enter a drawing to win the first 3 seasons on DVD, who doesn't enjoy winning things!
And lastly, I am proud/embarrased to say that I got a 23 out of 30!!
I am telling you one of these days my bottemless well of useless knowledge is going to pay off big and I hope it starts with the first 3 season of "The Office" on DVD!!!!!

DON'T CALL IT A COMEBACK!!

OKAY so I decided if NKOTB ( that's New Kids on the Block for all you male readers) can do it so can I!! Have ya'll seen that they have a new single out!! BAD idea boys, you had your time!
I know I have been absent for a unforgivable amount of time and I really have no excuse so let's get to blogging!!

I really am not kidding when I say I have been inspired to blog by the return of my second favorite boy band of the 90's! My favorite of course being MENUDO!! Can I get a grito from my latina's!! I have just lost all credibility for all things musical haven't I? I don't care I am not ashamed of my boy band love I was 11, and 11 year old girls are supposed to have posters of cute boys on their wall! Are they supposed to have 37 (that is the actual number I had, I know I exagerate for sake of story but I'm not this time!) whose really to say. But they are supposed to have t-shirts with their favorite boy in the band, they are supposed to have key chains, buttons and a VHS tape full of clips from every TV performance their boy band of choice appeared on!! Am I starting to sound like a mini-mexican stalker? I was NOTHING compared to some of the girls I knew! The girls who had a different shirt for everyday of the week, the sheets the sleeping bag! I had a friend, we will call her Shemily, who had a shoebox full of tapes on which she had recorded all of the "conversations" she had with the New Kids when she called the 1-900 number! And there was tell of a girl whose parents drove her to Boston on their family vacation and she stole grass from Donnie Wahlberg's yard! Which leads me to the point of this post! I have long had a theory that you can quite accurately define a girl by her boy band/teen tv show/ 80's early 90's teen dramedy crush. Below I have created a chart complete with personality and the corresponding boy bander/teen tv show/80's early 90's teen dramedy crushes!


Type of Girl: Sweet and innocent. You know the type stary eyed, romantic, do gooder. Most likely to bake a boy cookies.
See also squeeky clean!

Corresponding Boy : For the 30 and over crowd their boy bander is Joey McIntyre ( NKOTB) the sweeties loved his little chipmunk voice and big, baby blues. Teen TV
show-er Ricky Schroeder (Silver Spoons) even filthy rich he was still always polite, your teen dramedy-er Ducky ( Pretty in Pink) but let's be honest she would probably on only date him out of pity... she is just so sweet!!
For the younger gals your boy bander Howie Dorough (Backstreet Boys) I was never a BSB fan but isn't this the guy that donated an internal organ to a loved one or something along those lines? Your teen TV show-er Brandon Walsh ( the incomperable 90210) though Brandon had moments of bad boy he was always the good guy, your movie dramady-er = sadly no examples, where did you go Cameron Crowe!!

Type of Girl: Book worm, intellectual, artist. Writes poetry/draws from her window sill. Most likely to hide behind her hair in the cafeteria at lunch.

Corresponding Boy: 30 and over your boy bander is Jonathan Knight (NKOTB), shut-up yes Jontathan had fans too! Teen TV show-er Doogie Howser ( Doogie Howser MD) not only was he smart but quite moral which the book worms love that! Teen dramedy-er Lloyd Dobler ( Say Anything) yes Diana Court was the braniac "trapped in the body of a game show hostess" but he gave these girls the hope that maybe there was someone out there worthy of showing their poetry/drawings to!
For the younger gals your boy bander is Kevin Richardson ( BSB) he chose not to tour with the band on this lastest attempt at not being washouts, that shows smarts! TV teen show-er Dylan McKay I know, I know this is suprising but allow me to explain! Dylan was a brooding loner these girls related!! And if you remember he ended up being quite the scholar getting into CU just b/c he wrote a really good paper! That must have been a REALLY good paper!

Type of Girl: Wild and crazy! Most likely to get arrested! These are the girls that think it is flirting when a guy turns off all of the light in his apartment to hide from her.

Corresponding Boy: Donnie Wahlberg ( NKOTB) he was the one that always doing the pelvic thrusts on stage at their concerts, you know what means t-r-o-u-b-l-e! Teen TV show-er Jordan Catalano (My So-called Life) beautiful and bad!! Teen dramdey-er Bender ( Breakfast Club) long hair, sloppy clothes, cigarette burns on his arm... these girls eat a guy like that up!
For the younger gals: boy bander AJ McLean ( BSB) one word reason - rehab. Teen TV
show-er Steve Sanders (90210) the guy got his car stolen by hookers!

Type of Girl: Funny never takes anything seriously. Always having a good time! Most likely to fall down, snort or fart and laugh about it afterward.

Corresponding Boy: Danny Wood (NKOTB) because he was funny looking and the funny girls like that! Teen TV show-er the guys on SNL b/c humor knows no age. Teen dramedy-er there is 16 candles tie 1. Farmer Ted ( Sixteen Candles AKA Geek) he farted when he was trying to impress Samantha at the dance, 2. Long Duc Dong... need I say more?
For the younger gals: boy bander Chris Kirkpatrick ( N'Sync) the hair was funny! Teen TV show-er= Screech ( Saved by the Bell) annoying but always got the laugh. These girls don't care about looks they just want to be entertained!

Type of girl: Fruit fly, likes the boys pretty and realizes to late the boy likes his boys pretty too! Most likely to get the Grace Adler award

Corresponding Boy: Jordan Knight (NKOTB) what guy can really sing that high? Teen TV show-er AC Slater he had a mullet and could dance!! Teen dramady-er Blaine ( Pretty in Pink) popped collar, perfect skin, and pink shirt under white jacket, 80's or not that guy was on fire!
For the younger gals Lance Bass ( N'Sync) where you really surprised when he came out? Teen TV shower Ricky ( My So-Called Life) guy liner!

That completes our list, I hope you enjoyed it! The more I read back over this list the more I realize how useful it can be to my single guy friends ( both of them) when getting to know a girl I highly suggest referencing this list. I will go ahead and print it out and lamenate it for you so you can put it in your wallet to have handy for a night at the bars!!