waitsm's Xanga

Who am I?

Mon, 23 Oct 2006 17:32:52 GMT

So I had a little adventure this last weekend and sometimes it doesn't even seem real to me. And I did it!

Here is four of the six in our group. They guy in white, Chris, is our pilot and the guy in the back, Todd, is the one allowing us to stay in his beach house on Crystal Beach. The second photo is Brooke and I inside our private plane for the weekend! Our take off was pretty good until we had to turn around because gas was leaking but other than that it was a great flight!

We picked up a friend in Houston to make our party six and headed to the beach house. This place was huge! We all had our own rooms and there were still plenty more beds!

Here's some of the highlights:

Friday night, took a swim in the ocean at sunset. Gorgeous.

Saturday, Todd took me sailing for the first time. We capsized a couple of times trying to get past some waves but after that it was wonderful!

Saturday night, Chris started singing that famous Top Gun song to Michele and then she started singing it back to him and then our whole table chimed in and then the table next to us and then the table next to them until the entire restaurant was singing this song. It was so movie.

On the flight back, Chris showed us some fancy flight manuevers. Let's just say the scarf I was wearing was hanging in the air!

Monday, October 09, 2006

Mon, 09 Oct 2006 20:06:46 GMT

Last week I went to the Citizen Cope concert at the Gypsy Tea Room. There are no words to describe how awesome it was. If you don't have any of his music I recommend you stop looking at this and go buy some Cope immediately. He has become my favourite.

Also, I don't know if it's all the working out but I've been a little assertive lately. By not mentioning the tussle I almost got into at the concert
it seemed like I was trying to gloss over it. Um. So there, now you know.

Could I be anymore irate?

Thu, 28 Sep 2006 18:08:25 GMT

As most of you know, I've been dating here and there. Primarily good, upstanding Christian men, right? That's what a good Christian girl is supposed to do, right? But just recently, I decided to date this guy that is not a believer with the understanding that it is temporary as he is a foreign exchange student and will leave the country in just a few months. I enjoy his company and he has an excellent combination of humour and intelligence. Anyway, we had the DTR before we even started to date and in that discussion I outlined my boundaries for physical affection. He said he understood and could abide by those rules. Considering every single guy to which I have ever expressed these rules has always tried to push that line, I had reasonable doubts about that, especially since he didn't have a love of Christ to help temper that urge. Here's what I found: Foreign Guy is so much more respectful of my boundaries! I'm completely floored.

Here's what I realized:
(1) Because I have never experienced such respect, I didn't sincerely believe it existed. So therefore found it difficult to expect it.

(2) And if a nonbeliever can do it, what are Christian guys thinking?

I find it exhausting to constantly be on guard, like I am on border patrol, monitoring for an immigrant attempting to cross the line by any means possible. To constantly have to say no and remind them of what we talked about the previous 236,000 times gets a little wearisome. I feel like I have had an awakening - a new understanding of what could be. I feel like Foreign Guy has better prepared me for future relationships. Thanks, Foreign Guy!

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Tue, 12 Sep 2006 14:02:50 GMT

Has anyone read Nature by Ralph Waldo Emerson? I'm reading it and would love to discuss it with someone. I can tell there is a lot more to be understood and I would like to hear another's thoughts.

Mr. Holy

Wed, 30 Aug 2006 15:36:01 GMT

As many of you know, I find it interesting to discuss religion and am pretty open about how I practice my faith. Well, this is the first time I have encountered and responded like this:

A person who works with my company often chats with me as he waits for the elevator. We do this frequently everyday since he works on the my floor and another. He asked if I had any big plans for this weekend and I excitedly told him about how I'm going on this retreat through my church. He kind of nods his head and then asks, "So you are pretty involved in church and all that?" "Well, yes," I replied. He then had a long explanation about how he used to go to church but he doesn't anymore. He understands why people go to church because it makes a difference in how they lead their lives. But he makes good decisions whether he goes to church or not so he doesn't need to go. There was a long silence after this explanation before I tossed back my head and burst into laughter. In response to his questioning look, I said, "So basically you are just that holy? Maybe I should stop going to church and just follow your example?" He tried to deny and back pedal and I told him that he can call me Sinner and I will call him Righteous. He was rightly embarrassed.

I'm not really sure if that's how evangelism books recommend sharing truth.

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Wed, 23 Aug 2006 13:39:42 GMT

My French friend, Julien, came for a visit this last weekend! He stayed with his cousin Marie who is an exchange student through SMU. She has a few buddies and we all ended up hanging out pretty often. If you would like to see some photos, go see Julien!

Thursday, August 17, 2006

Thu, 17 Aug 2006 20:00:01 GMT

Details of Dori's wedding must wait until I get photos to accompany!

In the meantime, I thought I'd share with you that I got rid of my TV and DVD player. I found that too much of my time was taken with late night reruns. I'm looking forward to seeing what I do with those two extra hours an evening. So far, I've gone to bed earlier. Like before Midnight. But I've missed those good times of vegetating in front of the boob tube.

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Wed, 09 Aug 2006 20:06:38 GMT

Tomorrow morn' I leave for Birmingham, Alabama! And so starts the wedding festivities. From the time I step off the plane we go directly to bridesmaid prep. I'm not sure what this will entail since I have never been part of such a large wedding but I will be having some fun!

Isn't that a felony?

Thu, 03 Aug 2006 13:50:03 GMT

Today started out normal enough. Got dressed, walked Rufus, drove to work and backed into my parking spot. That's when things take a turn. I got out of the car and started walking to the ramp that takes me down to the ground level. I'm walking quickly with purse in one hand and keys in the other. I just pass all the parked cars and am about to cross the inner track that cars use to spiral up the garage. I see a silver Mustang coming up the ramp but it's slowed down so I cross. Right about the middle of the track the Mustang guns it and hits me with the car. I roll up on the hood but since I'm as agile as a cat, I land on my feet on the side of the car. Shocked, I turn and look at the car but the driver keeps going. That's when I noticed that my keys were in the middle of the track. I must have dropped them when he hit me. I walk over and pick them up and that's when a guy comes up to me wanting to know if I'm ok and he was outraged that the driver didn't stop. I told him I was fine and feebly quipped, "What a way to start the day."

Still startled that I was hit softly by a car, I told people at work. One of the lawyers told me that was a hit and run and a felony and that I should go to the doctor and complain about pain that I had and even pain that I didn't have. Crazy, huh?

***Epilogue***

Last night, I had a hard time going to sleep because my left leg ached. And even today when I walk it feels squishy inside.

"No more wire hangers!"

Wed, 26 Jul 2006 21:07:58 GMT

Please do scroll down and read the post before this one. Thank you!

In light of Dori's wedding in a few weeks, I have been dieting. What that means is I have cut out sodas and candy. Until today. This day is not any better or worse than another but today merited a visit to the vending machine. I got a coworker to watch my spot and with money in hand I headed downstairs. I made my selection - a small bag of Hot Tamales. I put my money in and typed "E7." The corkscrew mechanism turned and...the Hot Tamales bag hung on for dear life! Stunned, I willed it to drop with my stare. When that didn't work, I looked around and then started rocking the machine back and forth. Those Tamales weren't budging. I told myself to just walk away. Take it as a sign that I am not to have any candy. I told myself that but as I went upstairs and started for my desk I made a detour into the closet and grabbed a wire hanger. As I walked back to the elevator with wire hanger in hand, I told my coworker I'll be right back.

At the machine, I ripped off the unnecessary paper cover and untwisted the top. Getting down on my knees I wedged the hanger and my forearms into the drop slot at the bottom of the machine. I carefully bent the hanger and slipped it between the front flap and the extra flap in the back which is to prevent people from sticking their hands into the machine. Not to be deterred I persisted in trying. As I kneeled on the floor and steadily maneuvered the hanger like a tentacle, the Hot Tamales hung directly at eye level. Just as the wire hanger was about to finally touch the bag it occurred to me that I was disdainful of a man I previously thought very attractive because he had gained some weight. I felt ashamed because who was the maniac wedging a hanger into a vending machine on her knees? Right about then I knocked the Hot Tamales and they fell gloriously to my reach. I forgot all about Chubbo and I took the Hot Tamales in one hand and threw the wire hanger in the trash. I looked around for security cameras and finding none, I did a victory run back to the elevator.