The One With Col. Mustard in the Driveway with the IED

So.....would you like to hear something interesting? Read something interesting? Gotta stop doing that. You don't hear a blog. You read a blog. Or maybe you do. Maybe you're weird like that.

What was I talking about? Writing about? Drat, did it again. Focus.

So, last night I was sitting in my room watching tv when my whole floor shook. I thought that the spring on the garage door had broken again. But when I got downstairs, the garage door was fine, so I headed outside to check things out. Immediately, I saw smoke floating past my next door neighbors' house, so I started to run over there and warn them.



Then I looked up the driveway.


There, like its Biblical counterpart in Exodus, was a pillar of fire. And no, I am not kidding. Somebody blew up a bomb at the end of my cul-de-sac.

A bomb.




A BOMB!!!!!!! My neighbors on the left have a joint mailbox. Well, HAD a joint mailbox. It is now in smithereens. Let me show you.

Can you believe it? This is OVILLA we're talking about. Writing about. Whatever. The most criminal thing that happens here is when one of my dogs beats up one of the neighbor's. Dogs that is. Beats up one of their dogs. They don't beat up the neighbors.

It was a big enough deal that the entire Ovilla police force came out.

That's right, we had BOTH cars at the end of our driveway. And the CSIs were there, of course...my dad and I had a grand time figuring things out. The police think that it was a teenager who lives in the city. Which brings me to my next point.

If you are going to blow up a mailbox, BLOW UP A MAILBOX IN ANOTHER CITY! Why would you do something so obvious in a city of only 3700 people. I think maybe this kid should have just written his name in flourescent paint on the sidewalk. Then we could have avoided the whole messy investigation thing. Anyway, that's a taste of small town life for you big city folks. Check ya' later!

P.S. This is one of the coolest things I've ever seen. Me gusta MUCHO!

The One With Camp

So...in case you were not aware, I was at camp all last week. Youth camp, that is. Did you ever go to youth camp when you were in high school? Or maybe you are still in high school, I don't know. Anyway, story still applies. So, I am not actually a youth camp kind of person. In fact, before I left for college, I only went to a single camp - my senior year. It was a lot of fun. I mean, two hours each day were spent in various sports, so I wasn't a fan of that, but otherwise good.

Well, this is my first time to go as an counselor (a ref, technically) and I have to say that it was amazing! For one thing, it was one of those few times when God clearly moved right in front of us. The Jeff Berry Band (who you will soon find in the jukebox) led worship the entire week and they were outstanding. They sang a song with the lyrics "Make way to see for our God is here/Make way to hear for he's come so close" and it nearly made me cry because it felt like those words were real. It felt like God was standing in the room with us. It was such a powerful thing. More impressive was the response in these kids. Many adults crticize youth camp experiences because they are just emotional highs that never last and maybe that's partly true. Or maybe it's just that these kids feel more free away from the normal church environment. I think that our church's staunchly traditional setting is hindering our youth. They minds don't work the way older generations do. I think that the camp setting does them some good.

In some ways, camp restored my hope in the future. How cheesy does that sound? Allow me to elaborate. Everywhere I turn, I see kids that are doing horrible things and living lives that are going no where good. But at camp last week, I saw a group of kids that COULD get along and COULD change things if they really want to. When I was at camp, I don't think we were anywhere as nice to each other as this group was. I mean, there were some squabbles, but nothing big. Case in point...

On the last night, we had a baptism service with something like 12 kids lined up who had either made decisions or just never been baptized. We had a nice little service and at the end, the camp pastor openned it up to anyone else who wanted to get baptized too. In the end, 15 or so more kids came down to the waterhole to be baptized. It was amazing! The whole camp was lined up to watch. All of us with golf carts had them parked at a 45 degree angle down toward the water for front row seats. Anyway, 30 minutes after we were supposed to be finished, we finally made our way back to our cabins. I hadn't gotten much further than 50 feet when I heard a huge commotion behind me and saw the kids racing back to the water. My first thought was that the brake had slipped off a cart and it had gone soaring into the water. Alas, it was not the case...

When I walked back to the water, the pastor wsa standing there in the middle with one teary eyed freshman girl. The pastor waited until he had everyone's attention and then said this, "I just asked her why she is crying and it's not because she's getting baptized. She said it's because 'they all came back.'" And that is the truth of camp. After standing out there by the lake far longer than they had planned, the entire camp came running back to the water for one more girl. Way cool.

Gotta love it. I wish I could relive the entire week for you here, but that would simply be too much typing. I hope you get a taste of camp, because it was AWESOME!

P.S. Check out the link if you get a chance, I am telling that this band is great!!

Hahahahahahaha. Every time I listen to this post, it cracks me up! I really was jammin' down the road and having a grand ole time. Sorry about the poor quality; I think the A/C was blowing into the mic.

Wanna hear something funny? When I got home today, the post wasn't showing up, which is not entirely unusual, so I logged into AudBlog to check it out. After making sure that it had indeed recorded the audio post, I looged into Blogger and noticed that the tour blog was listed above SHINE, which IS unusual. They are listed with the Blog with the most recent post on top. I thought maybe Kristin had updated something on there, but no....I forgot to change the AudBlog settings after tour, so my little Broadway excursion sat on the tour site for a few hours today. No telling what those parents think of me now.... ;-)

The One With Work

Hey, everybody! Well, I have good news! For the first time all summer, there is a lot going on!! Can you believe it? I should be asleep right now, but that's what summer is for, right? Staying up late without having to feel guilty? I know das right! I have to wait for my room to cool off before I can fall asleep, but I am almost there. In the meantime....let's chat, shall we?

I am chillin' on my bed listening to a song I just downloaded from iTunes, and I have to say that if all the rest of his music is as great as this song, I may just have a new artist to add to my list of favorites. His name is (are you ready for this, Canadian Emily?) Mat Kearney. C. Emily has been talking about him for a long time, but I have to admit that I never really paid attention until now. I always thought, "Yeah, I'll look him up when I get a chance," but I never did. Enter Kyle XY. New show on ABC Family. Not so great, but worth wasting half an hour on (until this last episode, which was far too liberal for my tastes). At the end of the show, Kearney's song started playing and I LOVED it! The song is called "All I Need" and the lyrics are perfect. You should check it out! Actually, I'll put it in the music player for you. Hang on. Okay, done. I'll have to fill up the rest of the Jukebox slots when I get time.

Which may be a while....allow me to elaborate. First of all, you are all undoubtedly aware that I still do not have a job. I am pretty sure that I mentioned this internship that I have been trying to get for something like six months now. It's getting ridiculous, but I don't want to cut and run. I mean, it's the opportunity to work with Grady and the rest of the music staff every week AND get paid for it. So, I put off getting a job all summer with the futile hope that this would come through in a timely fashion. Now I am dangerously close to maxing out my credit card, and no source of payment in sight. I have been doing odd jobs for my dad to try and get a tiny little bit of money, but it is slow going. My most recent job is, for lack of a better term, yuck. It started out okay. I was going to lubricate the doors on all of the vacant units at one of his self-storage facilities. At $4 a door, not a bad job!! Unfortunately, the manager at the facility saw this as an opportunity to have something done that he didn't want to do, so I am now cleaning out every single unit. Still $4 a door, but it now takes five times as long. And when there are something like 400 units, this is a BIG deal. Texas heat is not helping. After three hours at the most, I am about ready to die. Slow going. So far, I have 76 units done.

Today, however, I had a perk! Each time I got too bummed to go on, I remember that tonight was DINNER WITH AMBER AT CHUY'S!!!!! Yeah!!!!!! It was SOOOOOOO good, and so much fun to chat with Bertha. Don't ever pass up that opportunity.

Did I mention the wedding I went to last weekend? Can't remember. Don't feel like looking. So this weekend, Jennifer/Bealio/Squishie and Michael got married. I was Diana's date, because she can't work up the guts to ask a REAL date (just kidding, Diana!), and we had a grand old time. Jennifer is one of my favorite people and the wedding was PERFECT! Seriously, favorite wedding ever...even better than the ones I have been in! The ceremony was simple and wrapped around praise songs sung by Jennifer's praise team from church. It was very nice. Afterward, we all took off for the reception at a local community center and walked into one of the most gorgeous rooms ever! Chandeliers hung from the ceiling draped with crimson banners that matached the floor length fabric over every chair in the room. We had fajitas with they rest of the 400+ guests, and the obligatory dancing. It was great. The best part of the weekend was Diana's ring. Have you ever seen "THE" ring? It's this $2 fake engagement ring that she has been begging me to let her where for something over two years. Well, this weekend I finally said fine because I didn't really know anyone at the wedding. So Diana fooled the bridesmaids, and the mother of the bride...and the groom. It was something of an awkward moment when Michael leaned over, grabbed my hand, and said, "Congratulations, man! That's awesome." Meanwhile, Diana and Jennifer were dying laughing and I am sitting there going, "Yeah, um, thanks, Michael..." *sigh* This is my life.

I have another wedding this coming weekend. NO MORE WEDDINGS! No one else on the planet is allowed to get married until I do. I am not kidding! I will come over there and stop each and every one. This one is Gje (pronounced Kia...go figure) and John. It should be interesting. I am heading out on Thursday for rehearsal dinner stuff, etc. More out of town. Then I leave for youth camp on Monday. MORE out of town! Sorry, if you need me for something in the next two weeks, because it TOTALLy ain't happening. It's okay, though. Call President Bush. I have empowered him to act on my behalf.

So, that's it, I think! Busy, right? Wouldn't have it any other way. The worst weeks are the ones where I have nothing to do.

OH! I forgot something. I went to see Cars tonight with Truett and Taylor, did I tell you that? GREAT movie! Almost cried at the end. ALMOST! May have to invest in the soundtrack at some point. There is a respectable cover of "Life is a Highway" (on my all time favorites list) by Tom Cochrane that I may need to own...haven't decided yet. Maybe I will just get that one song. Gotta love iTunes.

Okay, goodnight, everyone! SOOOOOO sleeping in tomorrow.

The One With the Dancing Queens

Current Mood: None
Currently Watching: Battlestar Galactica

So, it is about time for an update, isn't it? What's been going on.....NOTHING! ;-) Well, not quite nothing. But pretty close to nothing. This week is VBS at First Baptist, so three hours each morning are spent with 22 2nd graders on the Artic Edge. I have to say that I am a little disappointed in my church's VBS. They have kinda taken the lazy route in preparation for this week and it shows! But I don't think the kids can tell, so that's good.

Funny story. So, there is this music portion of our day, where the different grades learn songs geared toward the message we are trying to get across each day. They watch this little video that goes through the motions of each song and prints the words across the bottom of the screen. It's a nice little program, good songs, great message...Unfortunately, the guy who stands up there bouncing around to the songs could not be more gay if he had a brain transplant direct from Elton John. Monday, when we walked in, I wish you could have seen the faces on EVERY ADULT IN THE ROOM! It was hysterical. In fact, I am going to try to get a picture of it tomorrow. It's that funny. Other than that, VBS is going great. I actually look forward to going each morning. I really miss working with kids. It stinks that that whole "job" thing is still a good three years away.

I saw Mamma Mia last night. Actually, I saw it on Saturday too. Have you ever seen it? GO SEE IT!!! It's great. Funny, and with some KILLER music. I don't know if you are ABBA fans, but this musical will definitely turn you into them. There's just something about seeing three middle-aged women wearing neon spandex spacesuits dancing around. Wait...did I tell you too much about me? :-) Hee hee hee. Okay, that's all. I told you nothing is going on!! Have a wonderful week, everyone!

The One With No Sleep

Current Mood: Tired
Currently Watching: Friends


I AM SO BORED!!!!!!!! Tonight, the ONE night that I need to sleep so that I can be up early and what am I doing? Did you say sleeping?

'Cause that would make you an idiot. What, am I typing in my dreams? Although that would be fun. I've never had a dream about typing. Anyway, SOOOOOOOOOO not asleep. Not even sleepy. Tired, but not sleepy. Are you ever tired, but not sleepy? I can't stop yawning, but I can't fall asleep either.

I therefore resort to the tried and true...watch lots of commercial free tv on my computer! At the moment, FRIENDS! YEAH, FRIENDS!

OHHHHHHH! I have something to tell you! So, Diana sent me a text message a few days ago that said, "I still need ideas for restaurants and do you have a favorite quote?" (which I expertly ignored because I HATE text messages that should be part of a phone conversation). Anyway, today.........


I found my quote. Are you ready for it? Here it comes! Are you sitting down? It's on its way!

"Grace, It's Christmas, for goodness sake. Think about the baby Jesus... up in that tower, letting his hair down... so that the three wise men can climb up and spin the dreidle and see if there are six more weeks of winter!"

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! That is obviously Karen talking to Grace on Will & Grace. IT CRACKS ME UP! The single most convoluted line of thought ever conceived. EVER! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Yup...just typing away. Killing time. Not really talking about anything.

I wish I was Phoebe. She cracks me up. How fun would it be to be that psycho every single day?!

Okay, I've rambled enough. Goodnight. Sleep hopefully.

The One after Tour

Well, hello, everybody! So......I'm BACK!!!! Yeah, Cheer!! Standing Ovation! Mini-wave in celebration of me! I hope that you all have had a blast over the past two weeks, although I have looked over some other blogs, and it does not sound like you have. Does America get boring when I leave? 'Cause that's entirely understandable. Anyway, tour was great! If you haven't looked through the tour blog (which is where I have been updating for the past two weeks...duh.), then please CHECK IT OUT! I finally finished uploading everything last night, so there is much to see. I switched from Google Video to YouTube before I left because YouTube does not personally screen every video that is uploaded (which can take up to a week), and while it's nice to have the video live minutes after I upload it, Google Video is SO much more stable. Oh well. Speed wins over all.

So, Seattle and Vancouver were WONDERFUL! I cannot tell you how perfect the weather was the entire time we were there. I mean, seriously, I am convinced that all that talk of rain in Seattle is just to discourage tourists. We didn't see a drop! Vancouver was the same way and both had the whole rolling hills with lots of trees thing going on. Very cool. This tour was unlike any in the past because it was truly a mission tour instead of a concert tour (we only gave four concerts. Last year we gave twelve). We went to VBS sites, homeless shelters, sports camps. ALL OVER, basically. It will also be remembered always as the tour infamous for schedule changes. Halfway through tour we had to throw our iteneraries away because they were no longer applicable in any shape, form, or fashion. The schedule changed daily and we changed with it. I know that many of these kids hated this tour and that makes me very sad. Partly because that means they missed the point and overlooked all of the ministry we did, partly because I WANT them to have a good time, and partly because I am afraid they won't come back next year. I am worried about the freshman in particular. This was their first Chapel tour and I know that they have always heard about how awesome they are and I know they are disappointed. Gonna have to work MIGHTY hard to pull them back in. But that's okay. I have dirt on most of them. ;-)

So, anyway, I miss the nice weather already, but it had to end sometime. This is wedding month, which means I will be out of town quite a bit. Ugggg. Just kidding, Gratz to Gje and Jennifer! Hope your week goes well!