My new chlorine perfume...

Today I went to the Delta State Aquatics Center to do some water aerobics.  As you all know, my knees have been nothing short of worthless these past few months, so walking is pretty much out of the picture.  I've made a plan to do some water aerobics a couple times a week to get some exercise and give my knees a super low-impact workout.  The flaw in the plan is that the DSU pool is only open super strange hours (to accommodate the other, actual swim teams that practice daily).  So today was my first day to be able to do this since school started back this week. 

I hobbled in on my crutch (I'm such a renegade that in public, I only go with one crutch! Yeah, you heard me.) and the first thing I noticed was the extreme heat.  It was like a sauna in there.  I mean, hot.  Later I would want that heat to be turned up even higher when I was in the cold water and was freezing.  Trying to make small talk, I asked the lady with the young child beside me if they were cold.  "No, its not really cold if you are constantly moving around."  Wow, way to hate on me in the middle of the natatorium, lady.  If I want to stand in the water occasionally moving my leg around and be cold, then I can.  No judgment.  I'm not judging you on the fact that your young child beat you (twice) in a race across the pool, so don't judge me for being cold and apparently lazy. 

But the real water aerobics gangsters were the gaggle of older ladies in their 70's who were in an actual water aerobics class.  These ladies don't play.  They got there the same time I did and one of them passed me on the steps getting into the pool.  She sucked me up like a vacuum zooming past me as I waded into the water, one knee at a time. 

I'm really not exaggerating when I say this picture about sums it up.  At first, they were all excited that someone was joining their class and asked me lots of questions about my knee and myself.  Then, when I realized this was an actual class and I'd have to pay actual money to join, I excused myself and went to the other end to do the exercises my doctor had suggested.  This didn't set well with this group of snobby senior citizens and they stopped talking to me.  They moved closer and closer to where I'd gone and every time I got near them, they'd give me a dirty look, turn their backs and spread out even further, thus giving me less room.  They didn't have those weights like in the picture above, but they seemed really coordinated when they were making fists in the air and shaking from side to side.  I breathed a sigh of relief when I walked past them on my way out of the pool, until their leader, "Betty", hollered after me that they meet every Monday and Wednesday at noon.  She didn't invite me back or anything.  But there was something in her voice that was unsettling.  Perhaps this was a warning? 

In other, less geriatric ganster news, I was very inspired by the lady in the lane next to me.  I watched her as I did my special leg kicks and arm squeezes (the arm sqeezes were like hugs, mostly designed to keep my arms warm).  She was in the pool when I got in and left a couple minutes before I did.  She never stopped.  She swam and kicked and used these fancy little fin things.  I was impressed with her stamina.  Mostly because those old ladies were lapping me already. She made eye contact with me a couple times and gave me a huge smile both times.  I love that about people. 

But, then, I didn't notice when she got out of the pool, and when she came out of the locker room, I saw that she was in a wheelchair.  A super cool, sleek looking black and neon green wheelchair.  She had one leg amputated.  It was a very sweet moment for me-- to look at this wonderful, tough, cool lady and see how she wasn't letting anything in her life get in her way.  (To be clear, I don't know this lady- she might be a serial killer or hate Bill Cosby, or be related to some of the old bittys doing the hip circles in the pool beside me. But she seemed nice.)  It made me send up a quick prayer for my two half-way good knees. 

So, if anyone wants to join me, I'll be at the pool a couple times a week.  Except maybe not Monday or Wednesdays at noon.  Cause those old ladies could totally take me down. 

My testimony...

In my spirit of new beginnings, I'm going to share my testimony.  I didn't have one for a long time.  I mean, I was "saved" when I was younger, I honestly don't even remember when this happened.  I remember meeting with the preacher in the Ladies Lounge at my church, and thinking this was a big scandal since this was the "Ladies Lounge" where the Ladies Lounged, I don't know, prior to Sunday School or whatever.  It was, and still is, my favorite part of FBC, Laurel.  I also remember asking the preacher how did he know God wasn't a woman.  I remember this and remember my mom being embarassed, but I'm not sure this actually happened.  I could have made it up in my mind.  Wouldn't be the first time.  Or the last. 

I remember being baptised. I remember my GA teacher Ms. Susie being upstairs with me, helping me get ready after the baptism took place.  I remember being very concerned that it would hurt my mom's feelings that I chose Ms. Susie and not her, to help me get ready.  I remember trying to turn on the heair dryer, being concerned it would be audible to the congregation, and then ultimately waiting until Ms. Jan sang a solo before we felt safe enough to turn it on.  I'm not sure why my hair being dryed at that time mattered so much, but I remember that feeling every time I see a baptism. 

I remember being a really good kid and a really good teenager, with only a few exceptions.  I was perfect.  I really was.  Perfectionism starts young, people, and my issues started very young.  I was the perfect child, the perfect grandchild, the smart one, the Most Likely to Succeed.  And I thrived on this.  I pushed myself way harder than necessary.  Yes, I was the one who beat herself up about getting a 94 on a test.  I was that girl.

And college was just as great.  I loved BSU and I love, love, loved my friends.  Still do!  I felt very perfect.  I didn't get into trouble much, if at all.  I didn't obsess over every little issue because I felt like my life was on track.  I was also, in retrospect, a bit haughty.  A lot judgmental probably.  I didn't understand how people weren't as together as me.  I struggled to understand people who had actual "testimonies"- people who'd made mistakes, and lots of them.  I didn't get it.  My friends and I didn't make a whole lot of mistakes.  We didn't party, we didn't do drugs or run wild.  Our idea of a fun weekend was renting old movies from the dorm video area downstairs, staying in our pajamas all weekend and ordering food in the entire weekend.  I still think of these times every time I see "Liar, Liar" or "Hope Floats".  I had lots of fun, but I didn't understand people who were out making obviously poor decisions left and right.  However, I kinda envied them.  To hear someone speak about how God changed their life when they were hooked on drugs, or got pregnant at 16, is, in my opinion, much more moving that to hear me talk about how I was seven and I realized my biggest sin was being mean to my sister (sorry about that, Betsy).  Not quite the emotional kick that that some people get when they get close to God. 

Be careful what you wish for.  After college, I started making decisions about my life-- moving to DC to work, moving home, making new friends, starting law school, etc.  Most of my college friends moved on, got married and had kids.  I didn't.  I felt awkward, left out, frustrated.  My perfect life wasn't really going perfect at all.  I didn't have goals.  I went from one job to another, more and more frustrated that I wasn't very good at any one thing.  I had a political science degree.  I loved polisci, but its not very marketable.  That and a music degree will let you sing the National Anthem.  And have you heard my singing voice? 

I look back now and see how far I got away from a relationship with God during these past few years.  I felt like my college friends were so far away from me- we stopped having anything in common and it was a struggle for me not to feel sad and bitter that they had a life I really wanted.  And I was wondering around, trying to figure out what my problem was.  Obviously, my problem was getting away from God.  But I didn't know that then.  I was still a "good" person.  No murders or racketeering charges or anything remotely exciting.  But I wasn't living the way God wanted me too.  I was searching, hoping to find something to fill the hole in my heart.  And my decisions kept coming, each one worse than the next.  I invested in people who weren't positive for me, I searched for meaning in all the wrong places.  I was so afraid of messing up at work that my life became paralyzed with fear.  I didn't know what I was doing, where I was going, so it was easier to just stay in bed and watch Angel reruns.  I was miserable and was pretty miserable to everyone in my life.  I stopped wanting to see my friends and quit returning their calls.  Things I once loved because struggles-- it was a struggle to pretend I was holding it all together.  I didn't have a life I loved and I felt lonely.  Not able to reach my potential.  Scared of making a mistake.  Which, ironically, led to tons of mistakes.  I'd feel so guilty about not calling a friend on their birthday that I'd decide never to call them again.  I'd be so afraid, that, as a lawyer, I wasn't doing a good job with a case that I'd avoid a client's phone calls (again, no malpractice or anything, but not living up to my idea of perfection.)

I once went to the beach with my sister and we were in the ocean swimming.  She was got out of the water and headed to the sand, and I started to follow her.  But the waves kept knocking me down.  And I'd almost be able to get up, but then another wave would come along, and down I'd go again.  At first it was fun, I was laughing.  I mean, I was only a couple feet deep in the water- this wasn't a panic time or anything.  And Betsy was laughing at me, and it was fun and she turned to go on back to our stuff.  And I kept trying to get myself balanced and stand up on my own two feet, but ever few seconds, another wave would come.  This went on for several minutes.  Sometimes I was still submerged from a previous wave when the next one came.  Other times, I was almost standing up. balanced, and walking out of the water when I'd get knocked down again.  I was still laughing and being silly about the entire situation- a grown woman getting pushed about in shallow water. 

But then, it stopped being funny and it stopped being fun.  It became concerning.  As wave after wave hit me, I began to worry I wasn't going to be able to find the bottom.  And then, as the waves kept coming, and I couldn't get up on my own and stay up, I nearly began to panic.  Here I was, just inches from the sand and my sweet sister (who, obviously didn't even know this was going on and has probably never heard this story, so don't judge her for not jumping in and saving me!) and I couldn't get it together enough to get myself balanced.  I was flailing about miserably, and I was doing it while laughing and pretending it was funny, all the while, panic was creeping up in my head.  What a picture I probably was at that time! Eventually, as you can guess by the mere fact that I'm here writing this blog, the waves subsided and I was able to get up and get onto dry land.  I fell onto the sand, exhausted physically and mentally by the ordeal.  It took me a while to shake it off and get back to where my sister was. 

This is kinda the story of my testimony.  In a nutshell.  Or rather, in a big ocean shell.  I kept getting knocked over by life.  Some of the waves were just life.  Life's hard sometimes, right?  Some of the waves were self-induced by me trying to ignore the issues and pretend everything was all right.  Some of the waves were pitfalls I willingly jumped into-- decisions I knew were bad at the time and I went ahead with them.  But the waves kept coming and as soon as I thought I'd conquered one wave and was about to get back up and keep going, the next one would knock me down.  I was ready to just stay down. 

Over the last couple years, I've struggled with depression and sometimes, I just wanted to give it all up.  Not like tie a noose give up, but just give up trying.  Just quit searching.  Luckily, God never gave up on me.  He found me when I couldn't go any further and reminded me that he's my lifeboat.  Even in 2 foot water.  He's got all this, and he changed me life.  Significantly.  I've not wanted to talk about it really, because its very personal.  It's no fun to admit to all the mistakes I've made, all the frustrations I've felt, the ways I've felt I didn't measure up.  And I wasn't a lot of fun to my family and friends during a lot of those times either.  I know they've not found my miserableness to be much of a picnic!  And yet, over time, God has changed me.  Changed my life.  Made my life a testimony.  I still struggle with depression, and I can take a good situation and wreck it with my own agenda in 5 minutes flat.  So, I'm still a work in progress, which is just fine with God. 

I always felt I wasn't enough-- popular enough, fun enough, pretty enough, smart enough, together enough, certainly not rich enough.  And I'm not.  I'm none of those things, really.  I'm not enough... but in God, I'm so much more.  I am deeply loved, despite my horrible decision making skills (seriously, some of my decisions were laughable they were so bad!), despite my inability to figure out what my talents and skills are, and my ability to mess up a situation in a blink of an eye.  I am a daughter of a King.  And right now, thats all that matters.  I'm sure that in a week or two, I'll make another one of my famous dumb decisions, but God will be right there, waiting to catch me.  And that's pretty awesome.  Its my testimony. 

There is always a silver lining...

Last weekend I got a wild hair, packed up Parker and my crutches and headed to New Orleans for the weekend to visit my friend Penny.  We had a great time hanging out at a couple of our favorite places and basically being bums and watching tv every night.  Its nice to have this double knee surgery thing to use as an excuse for when I'm tired and don't want to do anything! 

But the best part of the weekend, hands down, was when we went to Canal Place to watch a movie in their fancy smancy theater. 

A blurry picture of what could be any movie theater in the world, but in fact, is the Theater at Canal Place, the topic of this blog.  I promise.  Trust me, people. 

Canal Place is one very familiar place to me (and my wallet) in NOLA.  Penny works in the adjacent office buildings and we often use the parking pass to park there and walk somewhere else.  But I've never been to a movie there before. 

We decided to go see Silver Linings Playbook with Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence.  Being a Hunger Games fan, I love Jennifer Lawrence and she can do no wrong in my eyes.  And Bradley Cooper can do no wrong by being seen by my eyes, so it seemed like a good fit.  I'd actually wanted to see the Hobbit but Penny nixed that idea, and I wasn't into seeing Les Miserables, for reasons too complicated and unimportant to go into here.  So Silver Linings Playbook it was. 

I'd seen lots of press for SLP and, of course, its getting a lot of Oscar talk, but I didn't really know what it was about other than Bradley Cooper's character just got out of a mental hospital and Jennifer Lawrence is the woman he meets and she's got her own issues.  I wasn't sure if it was a indie-type dark movie, a romantic comedy, or just a sad movie.  I don't really care to see romantic comedies-- its been a long time since I've enjoyed one and I generally avoid them like the plague.  And, as I've gotten older, I am much more selective about movies that I see in the theater since its never very comfortable anymore. 

But that was because I've never gone to see a movie at Canal Place!  These are awesome!  The theaters are much smaller than normal, and have large, recliner-like seats.  Each chair has a cupholder on each side and between two chairs is a small swivel table.  There was plenty of room between each aisle for even crippled old me and my crutch to walk. 

Best of all, the menu ROCKED!  It was awesome!  They have a full menu, and a full bar, so there isn't anything you can possibly want that you couldn't get.  The waiters lead you to your seat and take your order.  If, during the movie, you need something, you can push a button and they will come sneaking in to get you anything you need!

I ordered a big Diet Coke and Penny and I split an appetizer plate of olives, pita bread, hummus, dips, crackers, etc.  We also got some truffle oil popcorn (one of their speciality flavored popcorns) which was DELICIOUS.  I nearly made myself sick on that stuff.  I'm not sure Penny even got to each much of it, but I kept warning her if she didn't eat it, I was going to eat it all!

In addition to the theater being super fun and awesome, the movie was GREAT.  I mean, really great.  Probably the best movie I've seen this year.  I loved it.  Its kind of a darm comedy and there is romance and its sad and the characters are crazy and nutty and everything but I loved it.  I laughed the entire movie and then, at the end, when I was crying, I was considering pushing the red button to get someone to bring me a clean napkin since the only napkin I had was covered in truffle oil popcorn crumbs and they kept getting into my face when I wiped my tears.  Yeah, I have weird problems sometimes. 

I'd totally recommend this movie to just about anyone.  Its basic premise is that Bradley Cooper's character Pat, gets out of a mental hospital after seeing his wife cheat on him and beating the guy half to death.  He thinks his life is about to go back to normal, if he can just get everything together.   Obviously, everyone else realizes that his wife, Nikki, isn't quite as excited to see him as he is to see her.  His parents (his dad is placed by Robert DeNiro) are really good about trying to protect their son and trying to get him to see that maybe he's not really living in reality.  He meets Jennifer Lawrence's character, Tiffany, a young widow with her own social problems.  I'm not going to spoil how it ends for you, but its a quirky enough movie to not follow typical rom-com rules, so you never really know whats going to happen.  I thought Robert DeNiro was awesome, and Pat's mother did a great job of a sweet woman with an OCD husband and a nutty son who's just trying to love them as much as she can. 

As someone who has often felt broken and confused and half nutty, I thought this movie was fantastic.  It showed that even broken people try to get their lives back together (sometimes this works out, sometimes it doesn't!).  The picture above is great to me because it shows Tiffany's sister's (played by Julia Stiles) family in their dorky white turtlenecks.  This is the reason I love this movie.  I know people who take these type of pictures and put them up all over their houses.  And I feel like a total reject weirdo, sometimes, around these type people.  I've tried to get Parker to take pictures with me but she thinks turtlenecks make her face look puffy.  I loved seeing these two self-proclaimed "broken people" interacting with people who seemed a lot more perfect than they were.  Its a hilarious movie.  I could be all deep and intellectual and try to write a really smart sounding review, but I'm not.  Its a funny movie and it made me laugh, made me cry, and made me have a really big smile on my face when I was walking out.  The truffle oil popcorn didn't hurt either. 



It's a Perfect Day...

Its 2013!  Yay!  I'm so glad 2013 is here.  2012 has not been as good to me as I'd hoped last year about this time.  In fact, the last couple years have been tough on me, or rather, I've not handled them as well as I'd hoped.  But isn't New Years all about hope?  We are hopeful things will get better, or hopeful that our happiness will continue.  We make new resolutions, hopeful they will change our life for the better, or hopeful we will stick to them (this time!). 

This blog has been a bit of a letdown for me this year.  I've not had much computer access for large portions of the year (including now).  I hope to have this remedied soon, but you never know.  Also, I find it really hard sometimes to get on here and act happy, or find something funny or interesting to share when I just plain old don't feel like it.  Last night was New Years Eve, and, much like 2012 in its entirety, it did not go as I'd hoped.  It went spectacularly bad.  I'm not going to get into it (otherwise this blog could be used against me in a court of law.  Just kidding, nothing that major!)  But, when I got home, and climbed into bed with my fancy new heated mattress pad (Thanks, Santa!), I got to thinking about the changes I wanted to make this year. 

Changes have been on my mind a lot lately.  I have had a lot of changes in the past couple years- new city, new job, new job location, new roommate, family changes, personal changes, health changes, friend changes.  A whole lot of my life is significantly different that it was last year.  Or the year before that.  Or the year before that.  I could go on, but I won't bore you (although, if you are bored, then why are you reading this anyway?  Go pick up a real book!).  Some of these changes are simply life; others have been brought on by my decisions (some good decisions, some bad, some ill-informed, some with good intentions).  Blame it on the double knee surgeries with weeks of bed rest and nothing good on tv, but I've done a lot of thinking lately about how I want my life to go from now on.  And one thing I've decided to do is to be honest on this blog.  Use it as a diary of sorts.  Nothing major or even particularly interesting, but I don't always find myself being honest on here.  I skip over things and I ignore things (I'm excellent at avoidance!), to make myself seem more fun, more cool, more normal, more together. 

But here's the thing, readers.  I'm SO not together.  I'm a basketcase.  A lot of the time.  And its something I struggle with a lot-- seems like many other people have it together a lot more than I do, and even faking it till I make it doesn't work for me anymore. 

In the book, You're Already Amazing, by Holley Gerth, she says "When parts of my heart or life don't measure up to my expectations, I tend to hide them.  But what if someone would be blessed by what I have to share and they miss out because I hide it?"

Now I'm certainly not crazy enough to think that anyone's life will be changed by something I write on this blog, but this quote really got me to thinking- I'm not perfect.  So incredibly far from it that its ridiculous.  And I try so hard to hide that from the world.  I've often had a thought about writing different things on this blog but was too afraid of what someone might think if I did.  Not in a hateful way, but more in an intimate way- if I open myself up on this blog, other people can get inside.  And thats terrifying in so many ways!  I mean, what if they don't like me?  Or think I'm weird?  To a people-pleaser like me, there is nothing worse!

Well guess what, I AM weird.  I like to watch Star Trek.  All of them.  I have a co-dependent relationship with my dog.  I stress about work-related relationships and issues that I cannot change to the point it makes my physically sick sometimes.  When I have a bad day, or bad days, you can read it all over my face.  I still beat myself up over decisions I made years ago that I don't think were the right ones.  I often think I could have handled situations much better than I did, and I obsess over those things as well.  I don't like mayonaise, cream cheese or sour cream in their purest forms.  I withdraw from my friends and the people who love me when I'm down.  I struggle with depression a lot.  I have seriously bad road rage.  I have two bad knees and it scares me to think how bad they will get as I get older.  I don't think I've set a goal for years, for fear of not reaching that goal.  I'm scared to walk into church alone sometimes.  I'm afraid to tell people about how awesome my God is and the awesome things He has done in my life because I think people will think I'm weird. 

All of these things make me super weird.  And I've admitted them to you in this very public forum.  Its time I embrace my weirdness.  I'm not perfect in anyway.  But the Bible says "By one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy."  Hebrews 10:14.  The Message version is good too-- " It was a perfect sacrifice by a perfect person to perfect some very imperfect people."  So, hold on, what?  I'm already perfect?  Y'all, God has made me perfect already!  So I don't have to worry about being perfect anymore.  I don't have to beat myself up about bad decisions (or even just not great decisions) in the past.  I don't have to front like I'm super cool and awesome (though notice my use of the cool "fronting" lingo.  I really am pretty cool and awesome.  But only cause God made me like this!).  I'm an imperfect person who was made perfect by Him.  Christ is the only one who is truly perfect.  But, Galations 2:20 says "I have been crucified in Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." So God's got this all worked out for me.  He's perfect in me, and as long as I let Him lead, I'm good to go! 

So, the point of this super long blog is to get it all out there.  I'm making some changes and one of those things will be this blog.  I hope to be more consistent, but I might not be.  But I will be more honest and more filled with Christ's love and unafraid to say so.  Hope you guys will stay tuned!

Who missed me???!!

Can you see my pretty striped shirt?  I'm into stripes.  Also, ignore the nasty keyboard- I've borrowed my brother's old computer since my computer died a few months ago.

After an extended hiatus, I am back to blogging.  Did you guys miss me?  I missed you!  I really did.  I didn't miss the familial nagging, "why haven't you blogged yet today?" (at 9 am), or the "you haven't blogged since such and such date, Jessica, this is ridiculous."  All of these semi-abusive statements came from family, so go ahead and judge them.  They totally deserve it.

But I did miss the comments and the few readers I had, and the blogging ideas that my creative mind just never quit imagining.  Over the past few months, there were many, many times I thought, wow, that would be a great blog.  Its too late to go back now, but from now on, none of you will miss a single blog-able snuggle moment with Parker or boring, sci-fi movie night at the house.  Aren't you excited!?

Here are a few things that have changed since my last blog:

- I've moved from my utterly adorable rental house to a house across town with a roommate.  Her name is Meghann and I'm sure you'll hear more about her in the future.  This move saves me lots of money as well as gives Parker and me some company in the form of Meghann, her cat, Mr. McCarty, and her dog, Atticus.

- I've changed jobs- somewhat.  I'm still doing the same thing-- working for DHS, Child Support.  But back in June, I left the Clarksdale office and moved to the Cleveland office.  New co-workers, new judges, new attorneys, same type cases.  This move saved me money and gave me a lot more time, now that I'm not driving 40 minutes each way.  The jury's still out on this move.  (Thats a nice way of saying that I'm not too happy with this change.  Some things are better, but for the most part, I really, really miss my Clarksdale office.  I'm sure I'll be talking more about this another time.)  For now, I'm glad to have more time and save some gas money, so I'll be focusing on that, instead of the bad things I cannot change.

- Parker is still sweet as ever.  That has not and will not ever change.

- I've had knee surgery.  I had a scope done on my right knee a few weeks ago.  I was lucky enough to get to stay with my mom during the recovery and she was, for the most part, an excellent nurse.  I'm headed back to the doctor this week to discuss options for my left knee.  We shall see.

- My sister, Betsy, is getting married!  She's set the date and we're all getting ready for the Big Day in May!  In unrelated news, my blood pressure has gone through the roof and my dad's bank account has gone through the basement.

I guess those are the major points.  I'm sure the other things will come up eventually, but I won't bore them with you now.

Today I'm getting ready for a friend's baby shower.  My friend, Corley Mullins, is expecting little Lucy in a couple months and we are throwing her a shower at Mississippi Grounds.  I'm using this time to borrow the internet.  Then I'm headed to Greenville for some Christmas shopping, dinner and a Christmas party at a friend's house.  My life is just so packed.

Happy Birthday to me, Part 1!!

I'm sure all your readers know that March is a super exciting month for yours truly.  And if you don't then we need to have a little talk and you need to re-read my phamplet o'fun facts I hand out to all my new friends.  Its my birthday month!  Its also my mom's birthday month!  And its my new friend Ginni's birthday month!  Well, she's not my "new" friend in that I've known her for a while now, but its my first March birthday month to know her.  Remember Ginni?  You met her here.  She's a fun girl.  And her birthday was this past Monday.  And mine is next Saturday.  We're practically twins, you know.

Yesterday, I got to work and there was a table with a tablecloth in the middle of the little trailer I share with Cassandra and Jerome and a crockpot with something yummy inside.  I asked Cassandra about it and she denied all knowledge of this, but with a hint of a wicked smile.  Later on the morning, I went over to the other trailer to do some work.  Or, hang out and talk to Ginni.  Something like that.  We were then called back to my area and lo and behold, it was a birthday party for both of us!!!!

 The decorated table!  See the little flower pots on the edges?  I found those at Dollar Tree and bought everyone one-- they are solar-powered and wave their little leaves and flowers.  Its so cute!!!

 Ginni eyeing the food.  I'm not sure what Marietta or Doretha are doing. 

 In this picture, you can barely see Valerie, sitting so lady-like in her pretty turquoise and black and white dress, and Vanessa in the back.  Vanessa is so picture-shy- she never wants me to take her picture!  I don't know why!  She's so pretty and I love Vanessa!!!

 Me and the other birthday girl, Ginni Mitchell!  I love this supervisor!!  She's my favorite!

 Me and Doretha-- she was amazed at how my camera phone showed you the picture while you were taking it-- right before this she was all fixing her hair and stuff!!!

 Jerome's absolutely fantastic salad-- craisins, strawberries, mixed greens cause thats what Ginni likes, cucumbers, almonds-- it was great!! Jerome is officially in charge of making our salads from now on at all office functions!

 I shoulda known something was up when this little toaster oven showed up in our office yesterday and Vanessa waved it off and said something like, "oh I have to take it back"!  She used it to toast us some garlic bread!  Yum!!!
 

 Ginni looks awfully guilty tasting those cupcakes!!!

 My card and the best gift you can give someone who spends all day in her office-- office supplies!!  Ginni got some too and she also got the largest jar of pickles I've ever seen.  She's obsessed with pickles. 

And then, the best part- my legal clerk, Cassandra, whom I adore, got me and Ginni

these pretty potted plants!! 

 Ginni is attempting to hide behind the plant so she won't have to do anymore work.  Nice try...

This was a fantastic birthday lunch!  It made my day, it really did!  I've worked with some really great people in my life and enjoyed them so very much.  But this group is absolutely the best group I've ever worked with entirely.  I love them all!  I'm so happy to have a job where I really, really love going to work.  Oh this job drives me crazy sometimes, it really does.  But rarely do these co-workers drive me crazy!  Its usually more like the clients!  We have so much fun laughing and cutting up about the most random things and we really band together when we have to deal with some crazy folks!  Its nice to have people who know what you are dealing with and help you when you have bad days and such.

I'm really blessed to have a job I love so much, especially after my last job, wherein that boss was just awful!  I'm a lucky girl to have co-workers who love me enough to have a birthday party for me!  They just really make my heart happy!  Thank you to Vanessa, Jerome, Doretha, Marietta, and Cassandra, and the newest addition to the group, Valerie!  I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!

Pizza, Tennis and Draw Something....

Last night, my friend Jennifer and I went to watch her husband, Cliff, and our friend Paul, play tennis in a local tennis league.  We cheered super loud, made all sorts of Rodick/Nadal/Williams catcalls, and then left when it got a little bit cold.  I've never been accused of anything other than being a fair-weather fan.  We then headed over to our friend Andrews house for an impromptu pizza party.  I've fallen into a pretty great group of friends here in Cleveland, and thus far, they continue to let me hang out with them, and, usually, sit at the same table in public. 

Anyway, it was a spur-of-the-moment thing and I don't really know where the idea originated, but it was a great idea!  Joannah made some yummy pizza dough and everyone had individual pizzas with their own choice of toppings- chicken, cheeses, pepperoni, tomatoes.  Another part of the evening was my new favorite game- Draw Something!  I've seen a lot of people on facebook talking about this new game and yesterday, a friend of mine introduced me.  I've spent entirely too much time playing it since then.  And last night, everyone saw me playing it and downloaded it themselves, and we spend a good portion of the evening playing it amongst ourselves with each other, saying things like "what in the world were you thinking when you drew that?" or "how could you not see that was a grandma?  Are you blind!??" or "hurry up and play your turn!".  Its addictive and also quite humbling when you realize you cannot draw a dolphin or a duck.  Its a whole lot of fun.  And once you readers download it, let's play!

Here are some pictures from the night:

 From l-r, Laura Beth, yours truly, Corley, Joannah and Andrew the host

 Here they are cooking up a storm.  I also love this picture cause Jennifer doesn't look posed at all-- this is actually how she cooks, people.  With a pretty smile and her arm picking up the cheese.  For no apparent reason. 

 Doesn't Andrew sorta look like a cooking show host?  Thats like posing with some fans or something?!

 My pizza.  What it lacked in symmetry, it made up for in good, old-fashioned taste!!

Me taking a picture of Corley taking a picture of the group.  Spooky, right?