Big important plans for the night...

Are you ready? Are you sitting down? My big important plans for the night are.... >insert drum roll sound effect<

Laundry!!!
>ta daaaaaa<

That's right, you heard it straight from me. Feel privileged to be told first cause it's kind of a big deal. My poor laundry hamper is buried somewhere beneath a mound of clothes in my bedroom and I'm running out of long pants to wear!

The good news is, my toe is feeling surprisingly better than I had expected so it shouldn't be a problem to go up and down the stairs tonight as far as that goes. I will have to unwrap it for the first time tonight so I hope all goes well there. Eek.

What a beautiful day for a toenailectomy!

The weather in St. Louis is just gorgeous today! I believe it was in the 70's, nice. I did get out for a brief time to go to the podiatrist and have a partial toenailectomy. Oooo, yay.

I only noticed my toe hurting a couple of days ago and it soon showed signs of infection and just wasn't getting any better so I decided to fork out the $40 copay and see the specialist. It was my first ever visit to this kind of Dr. so I was a bit apprehensive. He assured me that he went through this many times when he was a child and that is what made him interested in this field.

So, they sprayed freezing spray on it, then numbed it with shots, then in no time at all, the Dr. had cut out the ingrown portion of the nail and had me bandaged up ready to go! I was back in my office staring at the ceiling fans dreading the time when the numbing meds wear off before I knew it. I didn't watch the procedure. I took a book and honestly couldn't tell anyone was doing anything to me. Thank you, Lord! Eek, I think the numbing meds are losing their strength... Thank God I thought to bring a pair of flip flops with me today, 'just in case.'

Who knew fiber could be SO good?

On a recent trip to Sam's Club, my mom picked up a box of Fiber One blueberry muffins. I usually don't enjoy the taste of "diet" or "good for you" foods. But for the lack of anything else to have for breakfast one morning, I caved and tried one out.
Um, YUM!! These are the best blueberry muffins I think I've ever had! They have a bit of oats and some kind of crumbles on top and they are so moist and blueberry-y. Mmmmmm....I'd have these for breakfast everyday. Each muffin boasts 7 grams of Fiber and at least 8 grams of whole grain and have 25% less calories than other popular muffins. They come in a box of 12 and are individually wrapped which makes a great on the go snack that you can enjoy on your way to work or throw in your child's lunchbox. Did you know that fiber is a key ingredient in curbing hunger and managing weight? Talk about weight loss products, add this to your shopping list, they are so yummy! My only complaint would be that each one is only *this* big, so I feel like having 2, ssssshhhhh!

Um, ew?

How are you supposed to know if you are sick or not if your tissues are colored green already?

I just opened a new box of Kleenex and to my surprise, the tissues are not white, they are green! It's just strange is all. I wasn't really expecting to see that. I guess atleast this way, I will be all set for St. Patrick's Day, you know if I need to blow my nose that day or a leprechaun happens by and piddles on the floor. LOL

Enough is enough!

Yep, I'm there again. The place where I'm physically at my limit. I am no longer able to be comfortable and all my clothes are getting too small and nothing new in the stores fits right and again I am finding myself at the edge of what I can handle.

How can I expect my body to be strong and ready to serve others and get through what I ask it to get through everyday if I am overloading it with junk? Some people turn to various strict diet and work out regimens. I'm not interested in losing a bunch of weight rapidly and focusing on the pounds and results. What I am interested in, first and foremost is getting back to my online bible study called The Lord's Table: Phase 1. I was part of the way in to this fantastic and FREE 60 day study before and dropped the ball. I have an obligation to honor God in all my ways and that includes the health I have control over. The study will help me to make better eating decisions and discover the importance of being intentional about working exercise into my life a few times a week. If I get a grip on a few simple things, the Lord will control the results and I'm ok with that. So, enough is enough already, it's time for me to get focused!

I'd like to get back to things I used to do that were fun, like Six Flags or going back to Washington DC and Baltimore but in this condition, I am not ready for that, that's for sure! Not only do I need to get my physical self into shape, but get my finances into shape, too. I want to save up for it so I won't have any debt as in my prior trips, I'd also need to look into things like travel insurance online and new luggage.

I'll come back and share my tips and tricks. What works and what doesn't work so well. Perhaps you have a few ways you are intentional in realm of eating and exercise that you can share with me, feel free to leave a comment and let us know what works for you!

Review: The Word of Promise Next Generation New Testament MP3 Set

This is good, you're gonna love this! Imagine if you could just sit back, close your eyes and listen in while the stories of the Bible came to life in your mind. Now, what if I told you it would come to life with the voices of an all star cast? Well, you don't have to imagine anymore!

The Word of Promise Next Generation New Testament is a set of 3 CD's in MP3 format is over 23 hours of just that! Each book of the New Testament is introduced and explained by either Max or Jenna Lucado setting up the book in an easy to understand format. Sean Astin is the main narrator, you younger generation may remember him from the Lord of the Rings series.

The best part about listening to the CD's for me is the care and hard work that went into the background ambiance and how not only was there great musical accompaniment but also when the stories take you to different places, you can hear the movement. When someone runs from the truth, you hear their footsteps! For instance, when Jesus' parents came back to find him in the temple, you can hear the bustling of the market and town in the background! And in Revelation 4, when John is describing heaven and the thrones and the lamps, you can hear a roaring fire crackling.

This set would be great on a long road trip, I wish I would have had them when A and I drove from Maryland to St. Louis this past December. These CD's would make great gifts for people of all ages, really. I suggest, if you are thinking about giving someone an MP3 player, it would make an even better gift if you loaded it with the Word of God! I plan to enjoy mine for many years to come.

What's your favorite social networking site?

I realize that I am old fashioned when it comes to certain principals. I can't help but to be put off by the idea of Facebook or Twitter or MySpace or any of the other social networking sites. Do I really need to know every little detail of everybody else's life? Do they all need to know what I am doing at all times during the day? Do I really need yet another distraction in my day to keep me from doing the things I need to do or being the person I need to be? Are we losing touch with reality with our relationships? Some might say they are 'closer' to other people because of their participation and some might say they now rarely communicate by traditional means, even email or by phone, now that they are 'Tweeting' and such.

So now I want to hear from you. What is it about the social networking sites you belong to that you have liked or not liked? What are some pros and cons? What are your thoughts on the extent at which you feel you need to be 'plugged in' in order to keep up? What would you change if you could? Do you have any concerns about the reality of your relationships being like disposable gloves in the sense that you don't make as much 1 on 1 contact with those around you? How many minutes or hours would you say you spend a day on these sites? Am I just missing the boat?

Blow me away!

What is the deal with the wind in St. Louis today? We've had clients coming in all day and the wind just about rips the glass door to our office right out of their hands! According to the weather.com website, the gusts have gone up to 34 mph, but it seems like more than that. If it keeps on, it will blow all the mulberries off of the Mulberry trees!!! Even the street signs are wobbling back and forth.

Coming to the Fox Theater: Spring Awakening

Spring Awakening takes its inspiration from one of literature’s most controversial masterpieces – a work so daring in its depiction of teenage self-discovery, it was banned from the stage and not performed in its complete form in English for nearly 100 years.

It’s Germany, 1891. A world where the grown-ups hold all the cards. The beautiful young Wendla explores the mysteries of her body, and wonders aloud where babies come from, till Mama tells her to shut it, and put on a proper dress.

Elsewhere, the brilliant and fearless young Melchior interrupts a mind-numbing Latin drill to defend his buddy Moritz – a boy so traumatized by puberty he can’t concentrate on anything. Not that the Headmaster cares. He strikes them both and tells them to turn in their lesson.

One afternoon – in a private place in the woods – Melchior and Wendla meet by accident, and soon find within themselves a desire unlike anything they’ve ever felt.

As they fumble their way into one another’s arms, Moritz flounders and soon fails out of school. When even his one adult friend, Melchior’s mother, ignores his plea for help, he is left so distraught he can’t hear the promise of life offered by his outcast friend Ilse.

Naturally, the Headmasters waste no time in pinning the “crime” of Moritz’s suicide on Melchior and expel him. And soon Mama learns her little Wendla is pregnant. Now the young lovers must struggle against all odds to build a world together for their child.

I remember teen angst. Not a time I would enjoy revisiting, but I know there would be plenty to do over again-differently-if I had the chance. I have a ticket for the musical on opening night, next Tuesday night. It sounds very interesting, I've never heard anyone talk about it, so not sure what it will be like. They have some videos on their website that seem ok so far. Think there will be any custom promotional products? I'll let you know what I think after...

Valentine's Day is looming

What is the deal with Valentine's Day?

When you are a child, it's all about the candy and 'Valentine's' cards which are shared with every student, not just the girls. As you get older, the day takes on an entirely different persona.

Having never had a Valentine on Valentine's Day, I can honestly give an outside opinion. The whole 'holiday' (and I use that term loosely considering there isn't anything 'Holy' about it these days) seems to have taken the same commercial route that all the other holidays have taken. You have to buy flowers which are exponentially priced compared to 'off season', special candy that is put out just for the occasion, a card full of glitter and gushy words that someone else thinks might reflect your love and devotion, a 'real' gift like jewelry or a weekend away, an expensive dinner out, some kind of activity such as dancing or a show, not to mention a new outfit or two of them, if you are married. If you're *really, really* in love, you could spend a couple thousand dollars on this day!

If you are not in a serious relationship, you can be left to feel loveless or worthless or hideous if you don't have 'that special someone' who will shower you in this way. That is ridiculous! I know personally, I felt this way for many years before I realized that I didn't need a man to shower me with superficial things that I can buy for myself. It can really drive a person to feel bitter and sad and depressed! As if having a man in your life will make all those feelings go away. Well, it's simply not true.

And since when is it all the man's responsibility to go overboard trying to set up this forced environment of love? I don't really understand why the burden of this day always falls so heavily on the man...and women buy into it as well, as if they are entitled! I've seen women basically assume they will get X, Y and Z or their man is 'in trouble'. What??? Ugh...don't get me started you pampas arrogant princesses! Of course it's nice to be appreciated, but how dare you go there? You don't think your man shows you his love and devotion every day when he gets up and goes to work when he'd rather do something for himself like go fishing or sleep in just once? And that's just one way men show their commitments. I think the women today take WAAAAAAY too much for granted. They threaten to leave when things don't go their way and there is nothing sadder and weaker than using fear to gain control over your mate. Do you really want him if he's acting on fear or with his wallet? What ever happened to your vows? For better or for worse or for until I can no longer get whatever I want and need? Wake up women who act this way! Stop taking it for granted and focusing on the bad things in your mate. Why not look for the good that's there and find out what he needs for a change? Better yet, invite God back into the equation. Remember, you made your vows to Him!

Now there's nothing wrong with doing something nice for each other. Flowers are great! Cards are wonderful and so are notes left on the steering wheel just letting them know you are thinking of them that day. And who wouldn't enjoy a small gift of candy every now and then? Every couple has an anniversary, a date set aside in their lives for them to reflect on the past, evaluate the present and dream of the future! So why do we need an anniversary and some other day as well, that everyone celebrates? Do we really need to be reminded to be loving to each other? Is it really that special if everyone is doing it? Hmmm......

Down with conformity!!!

Well, as usual, I'm pretty sure I am alone in my convictions. So if you'd like a chance to win a $70 gift card for ProFlowers.com, go over and leave a comment on my friend Patrick's blog on his contest post called 'You Got Me What!' It's only open for a week so hurry in for your chance! There's nothing to sign up for, just leave a comment and you are entered. Anyone can play along.

Too funny: "Baby got book"

Enjoy!!!