Today we celebrate our independence day!

Since today is the Fourth of July, I plan to take some time to reflect on the great moments of our nation's history. I can't help but remember that 14 years ago, with humankind inches from annihilation, our president Thomas J. Whitmore delivered one of the most inspirational speeches in the history of our great nation:


"Good morning. Good morning. In less than an hour, aircraft from here will join others from around the world, and you will be launching the largest aerial battle in the history of mankind. Mankind, (and we could replace this with humankind) that word should have new meaning for all of us today. We can't be consumed by our petty differences any more. We will be united in our common interest. Perhaps it's fate that today is the 4th of July, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom. Not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution, but from annihilation. We're fighting for our right to live, to exist and should we win the day, the 4th of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day when the world declared in one voice, 'We will not go quietly into the night! We will not vanish without a fight! We're going to live on, we're going to survive. Today we celebrate our independence day!"

President Thomas J. Whitmore
July 4, 1996

post 100: A month in review

I know it has been a while since we spoke last, so in honor of my ONE HUNDREDTH blog post I'm going to do things a little different today. Here's a review of the things I've been up to since my last post. You let me know if there is anything you want to know more about and I will dedicate an upcoming post to that topic. ENJOY!

My friend Marianne came and we discussed how this would be an AWFUL bridesmaid dress:


I decided I need a pair of boots.

I served a few meals to some older adults:


I got some ashes on my forehead at a service before work.

I stopped by Religious & Spiritual Life to ask them to redo my ashes so people would try to wipe the "dirt" off my face all day.


I contemplated my Lenten promise and felt guilty about not having one, so I avoided the blog.

I saw this:


I laughed.

I help build a house:


I worked late...A LOT (but with a friend).

I had a couple of scheduled coffee breaks when working late.


I participated in leading a webinar with my office.

I taught a class on gender & leadership and had students try on corsets.


I saw my boyfriend.

I hosted 135 high school students on campus and managed 135 college volunteers for Minority High School Conference/College Student for a Day


I thought about going to Chicago.

A week later I WENT to Chicago and saw my best friend.


I saw a college friend's band play at a bar and stayed up WAY too late.

I interviewed.

I blended in with a booth.


I missed my boyfriend.

I ate this:


I accidentally abstained from television.

I added the Grand stop on the L to the list of public places where I have changed clothes.


I rode the L to have dinner with some college friends-and had a great time.

I rode the L the next day to the same stop to see this guy and had an even greater time:


I said hello and goodbye to some good friends.

I did a Sic 'em.


I hung out with my Dean of students from college, made some new friends, and learned some things.

I said goodbye to my best friend..and to Chicago.


I got excited about Aldi opening up down the street.

I took some students on a spring break trip---to Ft. Worth!


I slept on a YMCA floor- or tried to at least.

I walked into a giant fountain and didn't get wet.


I hung out with refugee children, role played with social workers, served food at a shelter, played catch phrase with some great homeless guys, helped with a field day for adults with development delays, served some meals on wheels, ate some meals on wheels, talked about "the issues," reflected, learned, laughed...

And I bought this:


I got a new computer at work and moved my desk out from against the wall so I can be more creative.

I sat on a giant horned frog with my boss.


I snuck into work late and I snuck out early.

I stopped to smell the flowers.


Then I blogged about it.

INTERACT: Wanna know more about any of the above? Let me know in the comments.

SNOW DAY!!!

This is the view from my living room window:



I got an email telling me the university was closed today due to ice this morning. It wasn't until I got up and about that I realized it was SNOWING! I love that I got the day off b/c today was my BUSIEST week for meetings and things. Hmm..I may go out and make some snow cream... I live for days like today.

MEL'S SNOW CREAM RECIPE
Grab some freshly fallen CLEAN snow (I usually get the top half of the layers on a car).
Put the snow in a bowl and add vanilla, milk, and sugar (brown or white) to taste.



OPTION: stir in some flavored coffee creamer, or powdered instant latte mix for and added delight.
ENJOY!



Note: ALWAYS - ALWAYS make sure the snow is clean. It takes at least one
to two hours for snow to clean the pollutants from the air, then use
only snow that
has fallen after that first cleansing snow. It also goes without saying
(but I will anyway), to make sure you do not collect the snow where
animals and birds eat (or do
other things).source

Now I'm off to collect some snow...

What a day to take a picture...

I never have my camera at the right time... I'm always jealous reading friends' blogs that seem to have photo documentation of everyday activity. It's as if God posts photos of fun times online and they have the special password to access it. Even so, this is a photo from a day last month when I happened to have my camera around at the right moment. SO I got to capture this:



That is a picture of the man I love putting himself out there. JT is applying for PhD programs around the country. He has never lived outside of Texas, and I am SO proud of him for making the decision to apply and make it happen. As I type this, I get really excited about his future and the fact that in a few years he will have this photo to look back on as a documentation of the beginning.

I don't like to risk sounding cheesy on the blog, but I really think JT is the most brilliant guy I know and I think he will serve the field well whereever he lands.



Now, I won't tell you my pick for where he winds up next, but I will tell you that I am trying hard to let him make his own decision.

Shoe lovers, eat your heart out.

I had this friend in college who counted her shoes one day and found that she had 85 pairs! I bet this shoe was not amongst the crowd...



Maybe she would have been even more embarrassed if it was part of her collection. However today I am the embarrassed one. You, this is the new designer shoe I shall be wearing for the next 3 weeks. The downside: Having a fractured (READ: Broken) toe does NOT go with my wardrobe. The upside: It cuts down on packing when I go out of town, since I only have to bring single shoes along....

So, I really can't believe that these two people have been together for 3 years:


This past weekend was our anniversary, so JT and I got on the train from Ft. Worth to Dallas, hopped on the DART and headed to the State Fair to see Mary Poppins. The trip was not without its challenges since it was last weekend of the fair and it was also the weekend of the OU vs Texas game. (READ: the trains were PACKED and slow, and people were a little mean). Anyway, we got the show just in time and it was totally worth the trouble. Mary Poppins actually flies out into the audience, which is really cool.



Then we headed to see BIG TEX at the State Fair:




We decided that our anniversary dinner would include a tour of state fair fried foods including a corn dog, friend latte, fried peaches and cream (fave), and fried pecan pie. we didn't try the fried butter, but we had a great time walking around, eating, and laughing. We even caught the parade and a couple of fireworks.

A Day in the District

So, since I don't have internet at home, I have been neglecting you- no more since my new friend Katie has both internet and giving spirit, which in her words- "knocks my socks off." Which brings me to the subject of this entry- my new friend Katie.

Katie is a Hall Director at TCU and we are on the Sophomore Transitions team here. One day as we were walking back to our offices after a meeting, she turned to me and said, "We are going to be girlfriends. I know that sounds creepy, but I need friends here." You know, I didn't think it was creepy, I thought it was AWESOME! So that weekend, we went to see FAME! at the Movie Tavern and then spent the next Saturday at Day in the District, a day when all the Fort Worth museums are free and ready to entertain.

It was a really fun day and it was really good to get to know a new friend and run into this guy (who wears a watch on his ankle, mind you) a couple of times. We went to all the museums, from the Cowgirl Museum to the Modern and saw some things we liked and some things that were kinda weird. Towards the end of the day, I convinced Katie to take some "senior pictures" by the Kimball Museum:





I remember when I took my "original" senior pictures, my moom had creased my jeans and I about DIED when I saw them and my aunt rescued me at the last monute by whipping out the iron and getting those creases out.

Glad to have a friend and a fun day taking advantage of some VISTA friendly activities!

INTERACT: Tell me about your senior pictures experience.

This is what a 26 year old looks like....

Today I turned 26 year old and it feels so good. When I was a child I remember that I always wanted to be in my twenties and I have been loving every minute of it all. As I think back on birthday after birthday, I am drawn to my birthday 10 years ago...

My sixteenth birthday was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. My parents threw me a luau complete with a limbo stick, grass skirts, and coconut bras. (I wore a Hawaiian shirt.) I was so scared that no one would come to my party, that I passed out flyers to everyone I saw and met. People came and it was a great time. My grandfather cried when he gave me my first car, a White Ford Escort (1980's) with grey interior. I LOVED that car. and I loved my grandfather.

Now when I was 16, if you wanted to drive a car you had to have your permit for at least 3 months or you could go to drivers ed on Saturdays for a price and get your license after a mere 9 hours of driving time with an instructor. We are procrastinators so drivers ed it was. I went every Saturday for a month- ALL day. I made some weird friends and had an even weirder teacher. She gave lots of hints while we were taking the written test, I passed and mom took me down to the DMV to take my picture. It was a terrible picture(I mean like, the worst), but out of fear of having a worse one, I didn't change it until last year.

So, that next Sunday morning I woke up, got dressed, got in that White Ford Escort, drove it down the driveway and headed to church- alone. I can still remember that feeling. You know the one I'm talking about, that freedom feeling. You know when you are doing something that you are ALLOWED to do, but for some reason you don't think you should be allowed. (I'm sure some people feel this way on their wedding night.) I drove that car SO fast down those country roads and played my music so loud. It was the greatest moment of my life. My life had begun.

I stayed out all day and into the night. It took me a few minutes to figure out how to turn on the windshield wipers as it started to rain, and a few weeks even to figure out how to light up my speedometer at night. But that car was beautiful and that life was beautiful and nothing could compare to the doors that being 16 opened. I could get a job, a boyfriend, start thinking about college, stay out later, babysit, and God knows what else.

As I get ready for my 26th year, I find it out fitting to reflect on how so many things have changed, but also on how many things stay the same. I'm still a little worried that no one will be at my party, and my now car -a Ford Escape was a gift given in my Grandfather's death. I love that car...and I still love my grandfather. In a few weeks, I will load up that car with all my belongings and hit the road alone on my way to a new job, a new city, a new life. After a YEAR of anticipation, my life has begun. Nothing could compare to the doors that being 26 will open.

INTERACT: What do you remember from your 16th birthday?

Welcome, Mr. President

I woke up earlier than usual today to make sure I could caught the inauguration of our President, Barack Obama. What a significant day in the history of the free world. I will mot bore you with my thoughts and musings about the inauguration ceremony and speeches, but I will tell you this: the benediction was my favorite part. I also really liked watching Malia take pictures with her digital camera.

Celebrate the inauguration by making your own Obamicon like the one I made today above! Do it here.

Lyndon B. Johnson claimed, "A president's hardest task is not to do what's right, but to know what's right." May you, along with our President, know what's right and do it.

INTERACT: Did you watch the inauguration? What were your thoughts? Were you as unimpressed as I was with CNN's "long anticipated" synth photo of the "moment?" Leave comments below.

Okay, so here's the dealio, yo-

Friends- and enemies alike,

I have not forgotten you. Since I have been home (in Tennessee) for the holidays for over a month, I have not had consistent access to the internet. Or to you, for that matter.



Speaking of Christmas, let me tell you a little about the people in the photo above. Those are my cousins, Ashley, Shelby, Johnna, and Joey. Also is my brother Keith, Ashley's son- Jackson, and my Grandma. Oh yeah, and me- I'm the one with the dark hair.

This year, I had 5 Christmases and I am going to tell you about them:

December 23rd: Christmas Dinner at the Norfleet's. Larry is my mom's boyfriend and the Norfleets are his parents. We had steak AND they had stockings hung up with care- with OUR names on them! I really enjoyed meeting this family and had a wonderful time. How sweet of them to include us in their celeration.

December 24th part one: Christmas at Grandmas.IT is tradition for my LARGE extended family to exchange gifts on Christmas Eve at my grandmother's house. When she wasa child, her Christmases were very small, so she aims at being the center spoke for celebrations.
December 24th part two: Christmas at Oma's and Grandpa'sMy brother and I then joined my Dad and his family at his parent's house in Kentucky where I am THE girl to hand out the presents. This is always fun because my dad and brother are SO good at guessing gifts. Oma tricked them this year by wrapping up $100 worth of quarters in a tight fitting box. Surprise!

December 25th part one: Family Christmas.MY dad came over in the morning, so the four of us exchanged gifts. Some highlights: I got a rockin serger and a cool clutch made out of coke tabs, my brother guessed a lot of his presents, and my mom and I watched Mama Mia- well I watched AND danced.
December 25th part two: Movie Date with COusins.It is tradition for the cousins to go to a movie on Christmas Day. This year we saw Marley and Me- which was actually pretty good. We loaded up the purses with snacks and drinks and I did a little knitting during the previews (Much to my cousins shock).


So what were your favorite holiday traditions that played out for you this season? Comment and let me know, yo.

Election Day: highs & lows

Election Day brought with it many celebratory moments and many sad moments for me. I have been debating whether of not I should hash any of these things out in this forum. I have decided to list a few of my highs and lows- so that you can be let in to this semi-private part of my life.

This was the first time I have voted in a presidential election(high). I never cared before, because I am a fairly cynical person. However, the last few years of my life, I have become even more civically engaged and I have been very involved in being informed about this year's election. Since I was not anticipating being in Texas at the time of the election, I voted absentee. Since my ballot came a little late, I had to attempt to overnight it. The post office said it would cost $18 and they could not assure me that it would get there in time to be counted (low). I cried in my car, and I sent it in anyway.

I had the choice of tracking it and after a lot of consideration I looked it up online and...

MY VOTE COUNTED!!!!!!! (high)

This was very important to me because I really thought hard about my choices.

I was/am a major Obama supporter. There, I said it. I am a Christian who voted for Obama...and I didn't vote for him despite my Christianity. I voted for him BECAUSE of my beliefs.

It was a great night when we found out he won. Tears of joy and relief were shed as we realized that we were experiencing history. I was so happy to be in a safe space while watching the election returns, so that I could soak in a great moment (high).

I am very excited about our new president and I hope that iindiviual citizens continue to stay as involved in democracy as they have been in the elections.

I will say this: I was very hurt on Tuesday by many of my "friends" implying that I was not a good Christian (or a Christian at all) because I voted for Obama (low). It really disturbs me when "Christians" feel obligated to attack someone's character based on the choices they make that differ from their own. I was embarrassed last week by many dear friends that I know and I regret that there is no time or opportunity to sit down with them individually to discuss how they have wounded me and to hear them out as well.

Let me say this though: As long as you are comfortable with me being me, I am comfortable with you being you. I am not going to let our differences spur me to lash out at you and I will try to keep the ad hominem arguments to a minimum.

Dad says, "Voting is groovy."

Well, since I voted absentee I was a little bummed that I wouldn't get to feel like I was part of something bigger than me by standing in the lines at the voter's booth. (And there wasn't even a line at the post office to mail out my ballot.)

Fortunately, my friend Kathryn was still registered in Waco, so she came up last night (from Houston), spent the night with me and we stood in line at 7:00 am so she could vote. Kathryn swiped me a sticker so I could represent. We then headed to Starbucks to get free "I voted" coffee. Delicious. I was VERY glad to see her and I felt like a true American today...even if I am a socialist.

I had lunch with my old priest, (from the Episcopal Student Center) Alex and his wife. I was very encouraged by this time with them because it reminded me how special people in my life think I am and I was encouraged in some decisions I have made for my life. Alex is one of the most influential people of my adult life and I am blessed to have passed through his life and to have been a recipient of his ministerial spirit.

Tonight it is wine and cheese and the calling of the states. I am very excited and I am hoping for the best.

Please vote- and get the free coffee so you can stay awake for the results.

Barn Yard Ice Cream Sandwiches

So, JT bought me this ice cream sandwich maker. It's pretty amazing and it makes barnyard shapes!!!

Here's how they turned out:
We used butter pecan ice cream and chocolate chip cookies.


Don't they look delicious?


Oozey. They were a lot better after we stuck them in the freezer a bit.



If you wanna see the step by step photos Click here.

Brad Pitt Sighting

I promised that I would mention the Brad Pitt sighting soon, however- I am tired of typing so I'll give you the next best thing (probably a better thing) and post my friend tiffani's post about the incident. Her excellent blog can be found here.

Tif says:

It would be weird to start a post with "Brad Pitt" except we saw him today at the Texas State Capital!



My cohort had a field trip today to Austin, to visit the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (in the AM) and the Director of Research for the Speaker of the House (in the PM). In between we had lunch at a great place near the Capital called "Serranos."


Anyway, when our van got to the capital we walked over and while we were trying to figure out how to get in, some guy with a walkie talkie asked us to walk away a bit, about 20 feet from the entrance. We weren't sure what was going on, but soon a couple people and some sheriff's deputies were walking into the building. Katie T. said she thought one of them looked like a movie star, but I poo-pooed her. Well, I was wrong. We found out immediately after that, that it was Brad Pitt.


Brad (as I call him, though I don't know him...) is in Austin right now filming a movie called, "Tree of Life" and apparently part of it takes place at the state capital. When we got inside we got to stand around (because we had to - they wouldn't let us walk through until they were done with their shots, but overall the crew was polite) and watch them shoot the scenes which mostly looked like Brad walking - we couldn't see them filming any dialogue.


It will be interesting to see what those shots look like when the film comes out.


Later we got into our meeting and Al asked me to round up the girls (who were using the rest room) and Carrie and I got stuck as they were filming in the hallway right outside our meeting. That was fun because we got to see him even closer. But alas, no photos (well, we are working on one, but it remains to be seen if we can get it to look good) and no interactions other than watching. Interesting, though! What a fun day!


p.s. They were also filming in Smithville, TX, which was also the location for Hope Floats (I just found that out yesterday)

Posted by Tiffani R at 11:42 PM 0 comments

Impossible to ignore

Above is a photo of Lovelace 1 (bottom floor) and Lovelace 2 (top floor- the setting for my best, and worse, college memories. With a perfect view of the Sugar Shack (a gathering place for students) we would trun out the lights and watch newly formed relationships blosson from our video as we giggled and tried to identify who it was the we were "stalking." Rachel would call downstairs to tell me my guitar playing and singing was "too loud" and I would scream out the window, "Herd of cattle!" at the neighbors as they noisily climbed the stairs. Stefi would call on Sunday to borrow the hair straightener or catch a ride to church or to figured out an excuse for not going. Alice and I would sit on the counter of the kitchen and exclaim that the reason we had no boyfriends was because we are too eccentric for the area. The windows read in my day, "It's all good in the hood!"

As you may know, my undergraduate institution, Union University was devastated by a tornado recently. Since the tornado, I am surprised about the effect this has had on me. Its reallhy hard to be here, when people I love are there. Its really hard to see the destruction of the physical without experiencing the embrace of the community and the spiritual.



If you would like, you may give to the disaster relief fund by clicking here.