Practice

My roots were showing again today.
As I stood for the bus this evening I got the chance to hear the drumline from one of the local schools practice their marching. There was color gaurd and a handful of marchers without intruments.

They drumline sounds pretty great but again I was reminded of the difference in my upbringing. Back home there is a large pretty football field for the marching band etc to practice on. Here they practice by marching on the streets.

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What am I to do!

By order of my boss, I am to leave at a reasonable hour. So here it is 5:45pm and I am waiting for my bus. What will I do with my time tonight. *gasp*
I think I will make popcorn, watch Ironman which just came in from BlockBuster and unpack from last weekend. :)

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Who was I?

Rae's Past Lives:

589 BC: Native American

496 AD: A trophy wife

1754 AD: A nun

'What were you in your past lives?' at QuizGalaxy.com

I am speechless? A nun?

Focused.....

I had intended to write about Sunday, which was a lot of fun (except for the horrendous travel snafu) but yesterday got away from me. All of a sudden it was after 10 and I was still trying to get things done for work.

The emails started this morning bright and early. I got so focused on what was coming in on my blackberry that I walked into a tree branch this morning. Lol!
It's gonna be a good one. Ha ha ha!
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The end of the day....

What a day it has been. After the show and the back stage tour by the wonderful Jane, I went to dinner with Kara and and her husband Craig. Feeling the effects of very little sleep, lots of walking, and the insecurity of being in a new place, I skipped Central Park and the Met for a chance to go home with Kara for the night instead.

Now it's late and I'm tucked away in the guest bedroom here at Kara's. We have had tea and cocoa, browsed the lastest twillight paraphenalia (a companion to the movie with some great stills in it), and watched a Disney Channel muppet version of The Wizard of Oz, that, honestly might cause nightmares. Lol!

Oh well I'm tired. It has been a long day and I need sleep. Talk at you tomorrow. :)
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The sites....

The train ride to New York was beautiful. The leaves are starting to turn and it was just gorgeous.

Once I got to the city, I met up with Jess, her sister Ci Ci, and her friend Sara. We walked through Orchard dtreet and had guys yell at us to but things and then hit the Tenement Museum. They are restoring one of the tenements to what it looked like in the 19th century. So they took us through it and explained life in those times. It was interesting to learn about and I now have 2 books to help me learn more. :)

From there we took the subway (with a lot of handholding from the local Ci Ci) and ended up on Broadway, waiting for our show to start. We grabbed hot dogs from a roach coach and got in line.
(Personal note: the food at the Roach Coaches on the National Mall are better. )

Anyway, it is now intermission, and while I am enjoying the show I think I have blushed more today then I have in a long time. :)
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the morning trial

I slept about 2 hours last night after crashing my computer. Talk about stress. I still don't know what I have done. I'll have to talk to IT on Monday.

I was up and ready at 4:45 am but my cab didn't show. I stared to get worried when I called the cab company and was given the number of a different company. 11 calls and an hour and a half later I am finally on my train.

Note to my readers: Diamond cab and Checker cab both have crappy people on their phones. Diamond cab will only take your fare if you are in NW DC. But you won't find that out until you call them to ask where you cab is only to be told that "there are no cabs in your area".

Bad news: I missed my train. Good news: Unlike the airlines, there isn't a fee to change your ticket.

But I am not complaining. I am now on a train headed for New York. Where I will stay until Sunday evening. I'll get a chance to see a broadway show (Ave Q this time) and tour that theater (Kara is the coolest TM EVAH!) I am also going to see The Met and have Sunday brunch with the NY TM's. Who knows what else I will have time for. Lol!

Who cares! I'm on my way. ;)
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But I slept in....

So I have today off but the day is still jam packed full of things to do. Most important of which is my morning breakfast and shopping trip for Kate's Birthday.

(HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATE!!)

Some how I got the idea stuck in my head that because I slept in a whole hour it was late enough to call my family in UT as I walked to the metro. So I rang my fabulous sister in law to talk. It was nothing important but as the phone continued to ring it dawned on me to look at the time.

Yes, my good friends, I was calling UT at 8:30 am EST.

Do I know that means it was only 6:30 am MST? Yes, and usually I pay closer attention to that. I felt so stupid. Who doesn't worry when they get a call at the crack of dawn from family?

Of course, my fabulous family called me right back and my wonderful sister in law Cyn proceded to talk to me for another 10 or 15 minutes. Poor woman. Lol!

I have got to get it worked back into my head that just because I am awake the rest of the world might not be. Lol! Maybe I should move to Alaska, then it wouldn't matter who I called when I got up. Lol!
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Is today over yet?

I can't even begin to describe my day....or even my weekend......

To say it has been rough is somewhat of an understatement. I can't talk about it. I don't think life will get much easier in the next few months.

November 21st is coming!

Twilight HD Exclusive Trailer


Oh Dear.....

Tiana, I am posting this for you cuz I don't know if you will see it anywhere else. :)

Can any one guess what I will be doing on the 21st? Lol!

BTT #18

I’ve seen this series of questions floating around the ‘net the last few days, and thought it looked like a good one for us!

What was the last book you bought?
The WARDen's Black Dagger Brotherhood Insider's Guide

Name a book you have read MORE than once.
Too many to count......I love to re-read some of my favorites. Recently, I worked my way through Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series...

Has a book ever fundamentally changed the way you see life? If yes, what was it?
Well there is always the Scriptures....I would say they fundamentally change my life. But that sounds like a cheesy answer. I also really loved The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch, there were some very important reminders in that book that I try to implement in my life.

How do you choose a book?
(eg. by cover design and summary, recommendations or reviews)
It depends on my mood....I might just pick up something that sounds interesting on the back cover. Others I get by referrals from friends. I don't usually go by cover design....some of my favorite books have lame covers. And I steer clear of the reviews.....I prefer to make my own assessment.

Do you prefer Fiction or Non-Fiction?
All of the above.

What’s more important in a novel - beautiful writing or a gripping plot?
I like there to be plot. I can put up with some crappy writing if the plot has been engaging.

Most loved/memorable character (character/book)
Anne Shirley from the Anne of Green Gable Series, hands down! She has been my favorite character since I was 12.

Which book or books can be found on your nightstand at the moment?
Currently,
I Am America (And So Can You) by Stephen Colbert (he makes me laugh)
and
The Outlandish Companion by Diana Gabaldon (it has so much fascinating information)

What was the last book you’ve read, and when was it?
Today I continued reading The WARDen's Black Dagger Brotherhood Insider's Guide (I am on page 417......I will finish tonight on the metro ride home. wahoo!!)

Last book I finished was A Stroke of Midnight by Laurall K. Hamilton which I finished on Monday.

Have you ever given up on a book half way in?
Not that I can think of. I usually try to force myself to finish them. Though I know there are those that got interrupted and I haven't gotten back to them yet. And I emphasize the word YET!

Its an addiction

Over 3 years ago I was introduced to a little place called Crisp and Juicy. I'm told it is Peruvian chicken. All I know is I LOVE it. So I a. Eating it today. Steph wish you were here to join Jess and I. :)
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I get married first.

Another first for me.....

While running to catch the metro I was approached by a decent looking guy asking to give me his number. Being me I asked him why. He was honest and told me he wanted the "get with a white woman cuz he never had before." It wasn't the reason that shocked me so much as him admitting it aloud. Lol!

In my clumsy way I told him thanks but no thanks; I wasn't into it. Being my neighborhood he immediately pulled the race card. Obviously I wasn't into mixed race. Ugh! Save me from stupidity!

So I said the one thing I knew would get him to back off.

"That isn't it at all, man. You see I get married first."

He stopped following me after that! LOL!

Now I am off to enjoy the final session of conference.
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18 forever.......

I'm on the bus again tonight. I spent a few hours with Chel and her family. (I'll post pictures later)

Tonight I am reminded why I live where I do. I love living in the city. I love riding the metro and the bus. Granted, I don't like to be surrounded by too many people. But for the most part I like to sit and listen to those around me. Whether it is on the metro or the National Mall or some place else. I love to be apart of it all without haveing to be involved. Does that make sense?

There is a breeze on my face from the open window and people are happy. What could be nicer. :)
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Thoughts during todays morning seesion..

As I listened to Elder Oaks talk today about the importance of attending the Sacrament meeting I was reminded of an experience that happened months ago.

After the death of Boo’s mother a group of us gathered in Kentucky to help in any way we could. There wasn’t much we could do but be there and so we went. Come Sunday we headed off to the local church for a sacrament service. Unfortunately, when we arrived we learned that the times had changed and we had missed the meeting. This was not good news and Boo was obviously upset. Lucky for us we were found by two brethren who upon learning why we were in town and our current dilemma they went and received permission to give us the sacrament. After the brethren finished and left us, Steph bore her testimony and one by one we each followed. I don’t remember what was said that morning. But I do remember the feeling of the Spirit as the 5 of us sat in the high council room of that chapel in Louisville Kentucky.

That experience is a constant reminder of a 3 things……….
1. The Spirit was with us that day. As we gathered to partake of the holy ordinance of the sacrament we were blessed with the calming influence of the Spirit

“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20

2. God loves His children.
We were in desperate need of that calming influence. There is nothing more difficult then losing a family member. Boo needed the peace and love that can come from the Spirit. So the Lord provided a way for us to participate in a spiritual experience in the midst of a Boo’s pain.

3. I don’t know how to explain the connection for the third thing. But I am reminded of the blessing of Relief Society.
Boo and Steph came into my world by way of attending a singles ward together. Many a Sunday were spent together on the second row back on the right. The bonds have been forged over the past 3 and a half. That experience reminds me that I am blessed to find amazing women among the members of my church.

It's up to you guys....

Thanks Amy!

Just for Tiana!

I am trying to catch up on my 2,000 unread blogs but it is not working. Work keeps interfering today. Maybe in a couple of weeks when I am allowed I can express a bit of the frustration that I am experiencing due to work. But for now you get things like this. :)

My big sister called me last night to tell me she had tagged me. So I am supporting her today!

8 T.V. Shows I love to watch:
I don't have Television anymore and haven’t for months now. Thanks to Brother Richard who kept me up on the season Finale’s. Now I have Hulu….and well I am addicted. *sigh*

1. Bones
2. House
3. Numbers
4. American Idol
5. Law and Order (all of them I love the re-runs on TBS or is it TNT? I never remember but I used to watch them all the time. Lol!)
6. Friends
7. Gilmore Girls
8. Firefly

8 things that happened yesterday:

1. Had to get out of bed! Ugh!
2. Finished book 131 for the year
3. Started the Merry Gentry Series
4. Work….can this count for the rest of them? It really should
5. Talked to my big sister on the phone
6. Thought about cleaning my room….that is seriously HUGE!
7. Got Yahoo IM downloaded to my Blackberry so I can now chat on the way to and from work! Wahoo.
8. Talked to my best friend Meg ( I think this happens every day)
   

8 favorite places to eat

1. Cheesecake Factory
2. Coastal Flats (Seafood)
3. Crisp and Juicy (Peruvian Chicken…..YUMMY!)
4. What is the name of the Mediterranean place in DC…the one where we sit on the floor and there is a belly dancer….I can never remember the name but I try to take everyone there. LOVE IT!
5. Captain Pell’s…Boo when are you coming back?
6. Okay…I’ll come clean…..every once in a while I crave one of the sausages from the Roach coaches on the National Mall…..there is just something about eating them. *sigh*
7. There is a Sushi Joint in Tyson’s corner….Steph what is the name of it…it is really good
8. “That Pancake place I would go to with my sister Rachel when I visited her on the weekends in DC...what was the name of that place?" - T it is called the Original Pancake House. It definitely deserves to be mentioned here. I go there with Kate every now and then and is the only place that I will eat pancakes.

8 things I am looking forward to:

1. Steph and Boo coming to visit the end of Oct…..We are going to see the Secret life of Bees!!!!
2. The End of the Work Stress!
3. The Twilight Movie with the TM’s at the end of November
4. Christmas with the Fam
5. Sleep
6. The New J.R. Ward book that comes out next week and the LKH book that I will get at the end of the month. :)
7. General Conference
8. A clean bedroom

8 things on my wish list:

1. Books…I always wish for more books…..for authors to write more in their series’; for books that are already out but I haven’t had a chance to read; for books that I haven’t even heard of yet but could interest me……
2. Time to read the above mentioned books. Lol!
3. To have Tiana or my other sibs to visit VA
4. A good vacation
5. To go back to school
6. A pedicure
7. To get back on a regular exercise cycle
8. And since I am wishing….I really need to update the wardrobe

Now 8 people that I tag:

1. Boo
2. Steph
3. Meg
4. Amber (A.K.A. Dancing Queen)
5. Kathy
6. AmyO
7. Julia (from the JD Robb group)
8. E.L.E.

BTT #17

What, in your opinion, is the best book that you haven’t liked? Mind you, I don’t mean your most-hated book–oh, no. I mean the most accomplished, skilled, well-written, impressive book that you just simply didn’t like.

Like, for movies–I can acknowledge that Citizen Kane is a tour de force and is all sorts of wonderful, cinematically speaking, but . . . I just don’t like it. I find it impressive and quite an accomplishment, but it’s not my cup of tea.

So . . . what book (or books) is your Citizen Kane?

I am responding to this because I don't even have to think about it. I know the answer.

The Phillip Pullman Dark Material's Trilogy. Now don't get me wrong, I am not one of those that is here to complain about Mr Pullman's religious preferences. Though, I can see why some of the Christian Right got a bit scared after reading this book. Mr. Pullman is an amazing writer. If I had been more in tune with the subject matter, I might have loved these books.

But...I hit a wall in the middle of book to as I tried to wrap my head around the universe that he had created so well. It went against all of my beliefs and I found myself having to push myself to finish.

Why did I push myself?

Because I wanted to know what happened. Even with my head firmly slammed against the wall I wanted to know how it ended.

So I pushed through.....and then I HATED the ending. HATED IT! Among other things it was not happy. If I wanted depressing I would read the news. So, while Mr. Pullmans talents are quite impressive, he isn't...how did they put it.......my cup of tea.

What an odd feeling.....

Today the clip I am using keeps pulling my hair.

So I took it out.

I know....you are telling me this isn't a big deal. But in the last 4 months I have only worn my hair down once. Yup that is right.....1 time! (And that time....I totally blame my best friend Meg, she is a bad influence on me. I ended up wearing makeup that day too. *gasp*)

It is odd to have my hair hanging down my back. It is humid today so it is curling just slightly. It just barely reaches my shoulder blades.
It keeps falling in my face...which means it is going to have to go back up shortly.......but I thought this day should be marked some how. Other then by the 3 people who have stopped in the door of my office with a look of slight shock on their face. Lol!
Kathy Just for you.....
(I am no Tara so you are stuck with these crappy photos....sorry)