A Tale of Two Tickets

I got a speeding ticket last month.  I was on my lunch break, going to switch cars with my dad for the weekend.  They were taking a bunch of kids from the youth group to the lake and needed a bigger car.  (I seem to always be on a "good mission" when I'm speeding.  Why is that?)  So there I was, on I-35, caught going 75 in a 60.

I'm used to the speed limits on the Toll roads being 70, so it didn't feel to fast at all.  But this officer caught me.  I'm pretty sure I had the music up loud, and I was singing along, not really paying attention to my speed.

I have today off from work, and besides sleeping late and cleaning the apartment, I decided to do other riveting things like go pay my ticket.  Prior to heading to the courthouse, I deposited my bonus check, knowing full-well that I would use at least some portion of it to pay my ticket.  Isn't being an adult fun?

I was the only one in line, and I must admit, this was a pretty nice place.  Not exactly what I expected.  I was given the option of paying $107 and agreeing to take defensive driving, or pay $297 and not have it on my record or take defensive driving and just be done with the whole blasted thing.

Honestly, it didn't take me two seconds to calculate the cost of defensive driving was less than the $190 difference, but I did think about it, if only for a millisecond, when I remembered how I really wanted to spend my bonus check (it does not include paying for a ticket, in case you're curious).

I debated dressing nicely for this occasion, wondering if they would treat me differently if I came in wearing a t-shirt.  But since it was my day off, I decided that I didn't really care, and the ticket was going to cost the same no matter what.  I ended up choosing one of my favorite Baylor shirts, and had the nicest conversation with the lady behind the glass about a time she met our mascot, only to later discover the other bear killed it.  Sad story.

But, I must say that paying this ticket and having a nice little conversation with Barbara was much more pleasant than the time I got caught going 62 in a 40 down Valley Mills road in Beverly Hills (a tiny town at the edge of Waco) on a cold Sunday afternoon, had to visit their old, dirty and dark courthouse twice, for reasons I've apparently blocked out of my mind.

Today was much more pleasant.  So, here's a valuable lesson: if you have to get a ticket, don't get one in Beverly Hills, Texas.  Or just don't get a ticket at all.

Book Recommendation: Crossing to Safety

I'm sitting in my "rainy day clothes:" a faded pair of jeans and a Baylor t-shirt that smells freshly of laundry detergent.  I'm feeling quite cozy on this rainy Wednesday afternoon, and I thought it would be a good time to recommend a book that I just finished called Crossing to Safety, by Wallace Stegner.  {And sorry, you can't really "look inside," but it's the only photo of the cover I could find on Amazon.}

Someone else recommended this book to me, and I'll just take a snippet from the back cover to tell you about it.  "Tracing the lives, loves, and aspirations of two couples who move between Vermont and Wisconsin, it is a work of quiet majesty, deep compassion, and powerful insight into the alchemy of friendship and marriage."   

I've been so busy lately that it's been difficult to find a book that would hold my attention, and I also find it difficult to read regular fiction (as opposed to Christian fiction) that is not, um...dirty.  But I had a chance to read on vacation, and I would highly recommend it.  

The part that stuck with me was the couples' friendship that lasted their entire adult lives.  It reminded me of our Baylor Summer Bunch, and how my parents and their friends have been friends through thick and thin.  

I'll leave you with a quote.  This was as the narrator, Larry, and his wife, were leaving their good friends.    

"Our hands were out the windows, our necks craned for a last look at the people who above any other two on earth made us feel good, wanted, loved, important, and happy."  (p. 215)

An Unexpected Weekend

I guess this blog title is a little misleading because it implies that I wasn't aware that the weekend was coming.  Oh, I always know that the weekend is on its way!  I suppose it was "unexpected" because I did not realize all the fun things I would get to do and, more importantly, all the fun people I got to see.

The greatness of the weekend all began Friday afternoon, when I happened upon a little shop in Frisco.  I found a fun shirt (bottom left) on sale because the shop owner thought it was "too springy."  I, however envisioned it with turquoise jewelry and a brown belt, therefore, making it Fall-ish.



Friday evening, Adam and I went running and then he mentioned he had a surprise.  I truly had no idea what the it entailed, but walked out wearing jeans and my new shirt to beautiful flowers and the smell of homemade lasagna.  I was speechless.  And dinner was delicious.



The floral shirt and good food quickly became the theme of my weekend, as I enjoyed lunch with Claire and a new friend of ours at Chip's Hamburgers down in Highland Park.  It was a great girls-day-out, and the burger and cheese fries hit the spot.  We all commented how much we loved the spontaneity of Saturdays.



Saturday night, I got to eat with Smoo and her parents who were in town from Fayetteville.  Once again, the food (this time at Kenny's Woodhouse Grill) did not disappoint.  We sat there in the restaurant until 11 p.m. catching up.  It was DE-lightful.  (And, yes, I wore my new floral shirt again.  Different jeans.)



Sunday afternoon I attended a baby shower for my lifelong friend, Allison, and soon-to-arrive baby Madeleine.  It was rather surreal in that three years ago, I sat in the same house, celebrating her upcoming wedding.  I love having lifelong friends, and it is so special to me that we can celebrate the milestones in life!  It was such a fun shower because I got to see friends I went to Baylor with, and also Baylor Summer Bunch friends (pictured above).  Quite a treat.



To complete the weekend, I donned my floral shirt once more to head to church.  I was particularly looking forward to it because we were having dinner afterwards with the BSB grads that now live in Dallas.  Unfortunately I don't have a picture of the six of us that headed to Dickey's BBQ after the service, but it was really a great way to end the weekend.  It felt rather monumental to me because we got together on our own, without the rest of our families.  I love that we have all chosen to be friends as adults, and it especially warms my heart that we ended up all at the same church.  (See, parents, you raised us well!)



I'm so grateful sweet friends and weekends full of seeing them.  I'm looking forward to a short work week and a long Labor Day Weekend.  But this four-day week is filled with many things to be excited about, and hopefully I'll be sharing some of it soon!

Crazy Nails and Other Random Things

I walked outside this morning for work and stopped dead in my tracks.  And shivered.  It was a cool 71 degrees when I got in my car this morning, and it was glorious.  I even rolled the windows down and turned on my heated seats.  (Seriously.)  The best part was that it was completely unexpected.  Just last week, I was wishing for Fall.

I haven't been running regularly since the two-mile relay a few weeks back because it has been SO unbearably hot.  (And I was still a little scared to run outside, since the last time I ran, Lyndsy scared me half to death.)  But I decided today that it would be a great day to lace up my running shoes, so that's exactly what I did.  Who knows how long this weather will last, but I'm grateful for it while it's here!

And I'm generally creeped out when people take pics of their feet, but I had to show you my blue toes. (And I figured people tend to read posts when they have photos in them.)  No, they are not blue from the cold.  Ha.  I actually chose that color from roomdog's ever expanding selection of nail polishes.  It's really loud for me, a typical pink/red girl, but she told me that color was "so in," and what's a girl to do but listen to her little fashionista roommate?!

{Blue toes and running shoes = first run of "Fall"}

And I was recently tagged in this strange/funny/fabulous picture on Facebook from Natalie's wedding last month.  

{There was A LOT of dancing that night.  And some crazy facial expressions, apparently.}

And in other news...Claire is back teaching at school, which means that we have a typical evening routine again.  I'm really enjoying it, because it means more chances at having dinner plans together in advance, and also I tend to go to bed earlier because she's already asleep, and it's not fun when you don't have someone to talk to!  

Her class this year seems to be much better than last, and I'm so glad for her.  It's amazing what having a year of teaching under your belt will do.  I am so impressed with how she has grown as an educator in just one year, just from things I've heard her say and different ways she's leading her class this year.  Way to go, Claire!  Those kids love you already, I'm certain.  (After all, who else rocks purple nail polish on the first day of school??)

Kind words

Kind words go a long way with me.  Seriously, I could live on a compliment for a good week and a half.  Write me a note, and I treasure it.

{Case in point: I've saved almost every note my mom put in my lunch box since I was in first grade.}

I was recently stalking my brother on Facebook, just for kicks, and I read this status update from the previous week:

Things I am thankful for: Wade Bogdon, Hershey park, my beautiful sister, Skippy, my 2002 Yukon.

It caught me off guard that I made Troy's list.  I think I'm still living off of it a few days after the fact.  :-) It was so sweet and unexpected that I teared up when I read it out loud to Claire.

Our family is big on personality tests, spiritual gifts analysis, the Five Love Languages, etc., so I've filled out several little tests in my short life.  Of the five love languages, {Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service & Physical Touch}, mine are definitely Words and Time, and Troy just made my week with a few words!

If you want, you can take the five question test here to find out what yours are.  I always think it's interesting to find out what others' Love Languages are, so let me know if you take the quiz!

Less is More

I have a Baylor friend that just recently returned to Haiti with her husband after living in Dallas for the Summer.  They have taught at a Christian school in Haiti since January, arriving just days before the earthquake hit.  You can read about Ben and Katie here.

 

One thing that they have commented on over and over again is how fast-paced life is back here in the states.  Their tone was not condescending, as they spent the entire summer going and going and going, but just more of an observation.  Katie's most recent post linked to a New York Times article about people who are choosing to live more simply, even in the U.S.  Tammy Strobel and her husband decided to downsize to 100 things and a 400 square foot apartment.  Whoa.

 

After getting back in town from vacation, my Mom offered to come help me get my apartment organized, since Claire and I were having a bunch of people over Friday night.  It was quite a helpful treat!  Needless to say, Mom brought to my attention the large amount of clothes that I have in my closet.  (I think we all know that I have a slight obsession with Target.)  As I write this, I have a huge urge to go home and clean out anything and everything I don't need.  (And I honestly don't need a whole lot.)

 

The news article suggested that people are happier when they spend money on exprieces rather than actual stuff, because you're creating memories instead of hoarding more junk. And I see where theyr'e coming from.  Personally, I'm happiest when I'm hanging out with my friends and family and we get to sit around and talk, or go to a park or hang out at the lake--things that actually cost very little, if anything at all.  (See BSB Weekend, Spending time with friends in town, or a Saturday filled with a run and hanging out).  It really doesn't take much.

 

More importantly than any article, though, this is what Scripture says about stuff in Matthew 6:19-21:

 

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

 

That's really what gets me, when I think about it.  With cars that don't always work and ceilings that leak (both things have happened to me this week), I am reminded that things can and are destroyed in a blink of an eye.

 

I realize that I have quite a long way to go in the less-is-more scenario, but hopefully this is just the beginning of something new.  And don't think this is easy for me!  I must confess that I cringed when I read in the article that Tammy "owns four plates, three pairs of shoes and two pots."  I'm not sure I will ever get to that point (but I've learned to "never say never!").  At least a seed has been planted. 

 

And now I'm off to clean out my closet...

 

Mile Zero

I've been hiding...in Key West.

It was wonderful, and I enjoyed my five days without even thinking about work very, very much.

The sounds of summer were all around, and we had a great time with Adam's family on this little island, just 90 miles from Cuba.

{The Southernmost Point of the U.S.}

Adam and I went parasailing with his brother, and it was so much fun!  The three of us all went up together, and they pull you up in this parachute thing while you're sitting in a swing, almost.  I'm pretty sure I squealed during take off, but after that, you just hang out in the air and looked down at the incredibly blue water.  

See?  Very blue water.  We went snorkeling one day, and we got to see so many cool things!  Adam saw a barracuda, and we both saw a jellyfish.  There were tons of colorful fish hanging out near the coral reef.

{Think this chair is big enough??}

{With Adam's brother on our last full day in Key West}

Adam and I rented bikes and rode out to Fort Zachary Taylor, where there was a beach and the fort.  It was great riding around...I'd forgotten how fun bikes can be!  I loved having a little basket and a bell.  I'm telling you...it's all about the little things!  {And I must confess, we just posed by these bikes on our way home from dinner so we could have his dad take the pic.  I did not ride a bike in that skirt.  Ha.  That would've been quite the adventure...}

This week was full of laughter, lots of sunscreen, sandy beaches and salty water.  Adam's family made me feel so welcome, and it was great to get to all hang out together.  And I really enjoyed spending five days in a row with this guy...

This was one night on the resort's pier before we all went to dinner.  I think it's my favorite pic of us right now.  Maybe because I have pockets in my dress.  (Come on, who doesn't love dresses with pockets?!)

I came back to a two day work week, and was pleasantly surprised by how quickly another weekend rolled around.  I'm for two day weeks more often!  I'm off to enjoy it some more.