The End of an Era

I've been playing the same game of Speedy Bubbles for about a week and a half now. Anytime I had down time or was just plain bored I would go and play for a while.

I realized today that I am going to have to turn off my computer in order to get it to Florida with any type of battery left to speak of, so I decided to sit down and finish until the bubbles caught up with me.

But they never did! I even increased my level to "very hard" and speed to "very fast" and I still ended up just throwing the game.

Here's my ending score. Pretty impressive, eh?

The Paint Spot

In a few words, this was a great night! (Click the picture to enlarge!)

Florida Here I Come!

I just got off the phone with my good friend Andrea, and the reality has sunk in: she's moving and we're headed to Florida in just a few days! I haven't even started packing!

Take a look at this forecast:

I don't care if it's a stinking monsoon I will go to the beach! So help me!

Also on the agenda we are going to Orlando to see:

Bon Iver!

And we're staying here:

Even though I am poor and broke... it's awesome to be able to take off with a friend to Florida! Can't wait!

Threat Level Midnight

You earn 20 coolness points if you can tell me what show the title of this blog is from. And coolness points go a long way when you're my friend.

Tomorrow is Pay Day. I capitalize Pay Day because I'm so friggin thankful for it. As we are on one income right now (mainly because I'm a failure) and we only get paid at the END of each month (you read it right, once a month) Pay Day is my favorite day of the month.

But this Pay Day is different, because this Pay Day ushers in our new, improved budget.

Actually, it just ushers in a strict budget in general, complete with spreadsheets and an itemized list of what we can spend.

Here are some things that we've done to save money:

• We have neglected to get a satellite dish, as was the original plan. I think we get along rather nicely with our rabbit ear antennae and Hulu.
  
• Netflix. I know this sounds weird, like "why are you adding another cost?" but here's a little secret that you may not have heard me complain about in the last day or two: We live in the middle of nowhere! I'm always wanting to go see a movie or go do this or go do that and to get to the nearest town requires at least a 20 to 30 minute drive. Now when I want to "DO SOMETHING!" we stream a movie. Best $8.99 a month we can spend!
• Limited our eating out. It's no secret, Dusty and I are foodies. We love eating out! However, the new and improved budget caps our "eating out funds" and lends more money to our "grocery" fund. And it's really that simple.
• Scour ads to "comp" at Wal-mart. For instance, this week I bought milk. At Wal-Mart it was $2.19. But if you tell them at the register, "At Kroger it's $1.98" they'll pull out the Kroger ad and viola! You've done comp-ed yourself.
  

Here are some things that I would like to do, but haven't yet:

• Find a cheaper cell phone plan.
• Become a crazy coupon lady. We were buying sunscreen recently and there was this lady checking out in front of us who had a stack of coupons about a foot tall. I was nosy and peeked at her receipt and she saved $137! Are you kidding me?!
• Sell Dusty's car. Note this hasn't happened yet and probably never will. But I can't remember the last time we used that thing. It's just been sitting in the church parking lot for months. Dusty has some good arguing points about not getting rid of it, so for now, it stays. And 9 times out of 10, Dusty is way more logical than I am.
  

So what are your money saving ideas? Any advice?

Go Over There

Hey to the 4 people who read this blog, I have written a guest blog for my good buddy Adam T. For those of you at my wedding, he was the really tall guy doing music.

Take a look at it over here. And please excuse him for putting my maiden name. I don't know who Emily Hamlin is...?

Peace.

What the What?

I've been debating on whether or not to blog about this, but after looking at my recent posts and noting the gross lack of substance in each one I figured why not?

I went to the doctor yesterday about some issues I've been having and he came to a conclusion that I never saw coming. He thinks my body is insulin resistant. I definitely had to look that up when I got home. Click here if you are interested.

Sounds scary huh?

Wouldn't it be nice to weigh what you did in high school? I take that back, even just a few years ago? That would mean I would look like this:

If my calculations are correct this was taken the summer of 2006. I could still fit into my favorite pair of Express jeans, Sarula. (Anyone, Sarula?) I could get used to that again!

I guess my tidbit of wisdom for the day is: You're never as fat as you thought you were. :)

So get off your butt and go walk or something!

Random Stuff

There is literally nothing to blog about. Well, okay, maybe a few things. But nothing coherent. Let's see...

I leave for Florida in a little over a week! I'm pretty excited to get to spend a few last days with one of my best buds, Andrea B before she relocates. And we're going to see Bon Iver, which is awesome, to say the least!

I have officially lost 6 lbs. following the Weight Watchers point system. It doesn't seem like much, and I haven't seen a vast difference in the way my clothes are fitting. But one thing I have started to realize is how poorly I've been eating! That's being remedied by lots of fruits and veggies.

I'm getting ready to start reading a book that I bought about a year ago. It's called Light Force: A Stirring Account of the Church Caught in the Middle East Crossfire.

I have really high hopes for this book! The Lord has given me a heart for that region, not only for the people who live there but for the local church here in good ole U.S. of A to cast down the veil of ignorance that has been passed down from generation to generation and to develop a genuine capital "L" LOVE for the M.E.

So I'll let you know if it's any good. To read more about it click here.

Here is a recent picture of Dusty and me. We've been married for one year and 8 days. Impressive, eh?
Here's a recent photo of Gabby and her daddy, JP. This was taken at JP & Aubri's percussion ensemble concert and if I recall correctly they are dancing to Thriller while this was taken. I hate that Gabby's face is so bright, but she is smiling!


Ah and really that's about it. OH! Also, Rudy the Cat With Thumbs ventured outside for the first time today. He lasted about 2 minutes and then clawed the door until we let him back in. If you were a fly on the wall and heard D. and me talking while he was out exploring you'd think we'd just sent our only child to college:

Me: "I'm nervous..."
D: "Yeah, me too."
Me: "What if he doesn't come back?"
D: "He'll be back. We have his food. We just need to let him explore" *sideways glance at me* "Let's go see what he's doing."

And there you have an account of the slow life out here in the sticks.

Humor Me, Please

This is a video of my almost 7 months old niece Gabriella. We got to play together today and her reaction in this video is the most precious thing I've ever seen.

Enjoy!

Have A Heart

I recently read about this on Boo Mama. Having a child sponsored through Compassion myself and through the Buck Grove youth group, I know it's a great organization and I have full faith and confidence in them and the work they're doing for the Kingdom.

That said, there is a child named Alexander who needs heart surgery and needs it soon.


The surgery costs $8,303 and his family lives on $13.70 a month.

Do the math.

You can read about his condition here and make your one-time contribution here.

Even if you don't regularly sponsor a child you can contribute to Alexander's surgery. Give $5 and don't go to McDonald's tomorrow, it's as simple as that.

If you find yourself making excuses right now, let me share with you a little testimony.

Dusty and I have a very, shall we say, lean budget but here's a truth the Lord taught me at the beginning of our marriage: you will never be poor enough to disqualify you from helping others.

So let's help get this kid well, ok?

Guest Blog//Adam Truax

Emily asked me to write a guest blog for this lovely site, but her original request was a little daunting. "Top 10 songs that I am Glad Exist." Ridiculous right!?! How am I supposed to pick only 10 songs? So I narrowed the idea to "10 albums That I Couldn't Live Without." And after careful examination of my albums I couldn't narrow it down to 10. So I have changed the title of this blog post again, without asking Emily's permission, drum roll please ....

"5 albums That I Own That are Best Listened To In the Summer"

And here they are in no particular order.

Dave Barnes - Brother, Bring the Sun

This album pulls you in on the first 4 beats and just makes you smile. It's all about having fun and falling in love. 2 great summer motifs. When I listen to this in the car I can't help but dance and sing along, full voice, which grants me some strange looks and a little laughter from my fellow road warriors.

John Mayer - Room for Squares

I know a lot of people don't care for this guy, but this, his first album, is my favorite. Apart from one song (Your Body is a Wonderland) it does not disappoint. "Why Georgia" is poppy, catchy, and all around fun. And "Neon" has one of the coolest acoustic guitar riffs of all time. If you don't have it, go get it, roll down your windows, and go on a long Sunday afternoon drive.

Ryan Adams - Gold

When you hear the name Ryan Adams you probably don't think summer fun, but this album is the exception. A great soundtrack to a Saturday evening BBQ with friends this album is a fun album, but it doesn't go too crazy. "Answering Bell", "When the Stars Go Blue", and "Wildflowers" are the highlights.

Derek Webb and Sandra McCraken - Ampersand EP

When I was in Kentucky last May for Emily and Dusty's wedding I was driving from Louisville to Campbellsville and this album was my soundtrack. Kentucky is beautiful and this album fits perfectly. "When the Summer's Gone" is the standout but the other 5 tunes are wonderful.

The Ting Tings - We Started Nothing

Alright I know what your thinking, "The Ting Tings? Why them?" Well 2 words, they rock. This album doesn't slow down from the word go. It is fun and light and an easy listen if your cleaning the house, going on a run, or walking the dog. If the sun is shining and your listening to The Ting Tings, all is right with the world.

Well there you have it "5 albums That I Own That are Best Listened To In the Summer". Let me know your thoughts, criticisms, likes and dislikes.

Adam Truax

Still Going Strong

One year and the vows ring true.

Thanks Lord!

The Tarop of God

So I just finished Peace Child by Don Richardson. A good read. In the story Don bridged a cultural gap by showing the Sawi people of Indonesia that Jesus was a tarop or peace child. This originated with his realization of how the Sawi, a cannibalistic tribe, achieved peace with neighboring tribes: they exchanged children. The following quote is from one of the Sawi believers, Amhwi:

" 'Look here! God has placed the spirit of his Peace Child, Jesus, within me. If that peace child had died or gone away and left me, I might be free to do the evil you suggest. But He is not dead! Nor has He deserted me! He still lives within me to keep me in the way of goodness, and His hand is strong! I am not free to do the evil you advise.' "

What an appropriate reminder for believers in this country, in this time. Jesus didn't stay dead. He didn't desert us. We are not free to do evil. He lives within us and His hand is strong.

I also was reminded of Psalm 145:4. The Lord left a testimony of himself through the ancestral acts of the Sawi in giving a peace child. The whole story bears witness to God's mercy.

You should read this book.

A Short Anecdote

Yesterday we spent the majority of our day watching 30 Rock season one.

To say my brain felt like pudding at the end would be an accurate assessment. I went to bed humming the theme song but something really pathetic happened during the night.

I woke up having to use the restroom, but somehow my brain was telling me I couldn't get out of bed until I finished writing this week's episode of TGS. So I stayed in bed and a half alive, half dream state (mainly dream state?) until I had "finished" writing.

Moving Right Along

After having just finished this book:

I find myself in need of some good, serious non-fiction. Like this:

I believe I first heard about this book a few years ago from my too-cool friend Andi. If I recall correctly it was a book that definitely made an impact on her life.

I need to read more books like that.

For a synopsis, click here (even though it's a synopsis for the book on cd. I'm aware. Same thing though right?)

Baby Makes Three!

I have these friends who are super cool:

Josh and Devon Hamilton!

Devon and I met in college when we discovered that we lived down the hall from each other. I watched her freak out because she failed her first paper and was convinced her college career was ruined (freshman year!) She became my sounding board, and I her's. Eventually we became housemates in the legendary Duffy Street house.


I'd like to think that I had an integral part in her and Josh's beginnings. If not that, I definitely had an integral part in their engagement, but that is a story for another day.

Devon and I have had many adventures in the past but she's about to embark on the biggest of them all:

Motherhood!

Congratulations to two great friends who I know will make two great parents! December can't come soon enough!

Current Fave

This commercial is my current favorite. Enjoy!

Guilty Pleasure: Guest Blog

It wasn't long ago that I confessed my television guilty pleasure. In honor if it's season premiere next week, with an all new Bachelorette lookin' for love in all the wrong places, I've invited Dusty Snyder to guest blog about his most recent TV guilty pleasure. Enjoy!

Well I've been shamed into sharing this with you all. Yes I have a guilty pleasure when it comes to a certain television show and now that it's over I'm driven to confession. Before I confess which program I am referring to I have to say that I'm not exactly sure why I've followed through with watching it all season, but I'll try my best to explain. The show is none other than The Celebrity Apprentice.

Here are a few reasons I've come up with to explain myself

• There were some crazy celebrities on the show this time around (Dennis Rodman, Joan Rivers, Melissa Rivers, Tom Green, Jesse James, etc.)
• It's fun to watch Donald Trump boss around celebrities
• They've raised a bunch of money for charity

I thought it was really interesting to watch these celebrities try to meet the challenges of the show while seemingly completely forgetting about their public image. Joan Rivers, for example, completely lost it several times and went on a rampage calling other contestants some hateful things. Weirdly enough, at the same time I didn't lose a ton of respect for Joan.

The finale was Sunday night, but we hardly ever watch anything when it is actually aired. I went back and watched last night on Hulu. The finale came down to the ultimate rivalry on the show. Anne Duke, a famous poker player, played the game famously, raised a ton of money single-handedly and played everyone to the end. In the process she took down Melissa Rivers and incurred the wrath of the mother hen. Joan Rivers got by on her amazing stamina, charisma, and business smarts.

Personally I was hoping Jesse James would make it to the finale because I'm a fan of his from Monster Garage (whatever happened to that show?), but ultimately he ended up playing to close to the chest and didn't show enough soon enough to prove he was a real player.

Now with this rivalry I wasn't exactly sure who I was rooting for. Anne was a smart, smart player, but became extremely vindictive. Truly she held in her bitterness for too long and it got to her in the final challenge. Joan came off as crazy at times, but I felt like with her she was really trying to do the right thing. In the last challenge there were 5 criteria. Anne won 2 and Joan won 3. Donald Trump claimed to not have made up his mind until the final "live" boardroom on national television last night. In the end Joan Rivers overcame the wily Anne Duke and was declared the Celebrity Apprentice.

It was a crazy season with crazy drama (though not as much drama as Em's guilty pleasure, The Bachelor) and it was interesting to see these celebrities actually accomplish something. One of the more inspiring moments on the show was a challenge in which the celebrities were asked to record a new jingle for the tuna company Chicken of the Sea. Clint Black, a country music star, was assigned project manager for one team, while Anne Duke and Brandi Roderick were the only two contestants on the other team. Of course a musician should have the upper hand in a song writing contest over a poker player, but somehow Anne Duke found a song within her, impressed the executives and won the challenge over Clint Black (who had a good song, but the executives didn't like that it was done in the style of country music).

It's great to see those kind of achievements and to see someone like Joan Rivers, whose 76, run around with all kinds of energy and win the whole thing (The prize, btw was $250,000 for her charity God's Love We Deliver). Honestly I hope that I'm able to work that hard when I'm that old. I don't know what I'll be doing, but I want to be able to do everything I can to further the Kingdom of God while I'm still here before I die, because for us as Christians there is no retirement age.

And there you have it folks! And I must say, his post is a little more introspective than I could ever be about the Bachelor/Bachelorette!

the Abe Lincoln

This Sunday, May 17, is our one year anniversary!

I'll save the sappy, "we're still in love" blog for later, BUT

I had to show you this:

We are going to a little B&B at an undisclosed location. Do you see the hot tub? In the room?!

I'm probably never going to leave that thing, not gonna lie.

Part of me is a little paranoid that I've already shared this picture on here. If so, just chalk it up to excitement about the hot tub.

In the room.

Summer Means...

all of you know what's around the corner.

Dusty and I have been talking about it lately, tip-toeing around the actual words so it won't hear us.

In fact, I'm not even going to breath the words onto the pages of my blog. It jus wouldn't do.

I will let you click here to find out what I'm talking about. He does a much better job of explaining things.

Agh.

Ain't No Sunshine//View From My Backyard III

Kentucky does this thing during the spring that I don't think I ever noticed Missouri doing.

It's been overcast like this for about 5 days now, and is supposed to continue for another two. There is a gross lack of sunshine during the spring here.

I thought maybe this was something specific to Campbellsville, because it happened every year, without fail! Now that I'm in a different part of the state I realize I was wrong.

Ho hum. Another dreary day.

Better Late Than Never

I have just realized that I didn't really blog anything about my trip home a few weeks ago. I honestly didn't take very many pictures, so here are a few favorites out of the whole tiny lot:


I think motherhood suits Andi quite well!

Customers of the Week: Final Edition

Dear Old Guy With American Flag Suspenders:

I'm happy that you are happy there is an American flag in the banquet room. I realize from your old man hat that you are a Korean War vet. Also, I've just come to realize that we attend the same church. Thank you for taking me aback with the following comment: "They don't even have the American flag displayed at the front of the church. I've raised more hell about that to the preacher than you'll ever know! I fought for that flag! Hmph!"

I have a song for you, American Flag Guy: A King and A Kingdom by Derek Webb

Dear Guy With Huge Beard:

Security! Complicated order, this guy got to go!

Dear Too Tan Lady:
Your skin looks like coal. Lighten up. Literally.

Dear Anyone Who Likes Country Music:
Go away.

Dear Party Room Guy:
It's not my fault you all can't count and showed up with way more people than you had told us. The buffet looked fine while I was in there, and I don't believe you just "ran out of food." I also don't care if you don't want to pay, Billy Bob. That's no way to treat a woman, let alone multiple women. You should be ashamed of yourself.

Dear Guys on a Double Date... With Other Guys:
I get it, really, I do. To the point where you have no idea. But I promise, you will not get swine flue from touching the menu. You probably will not get it at all to be honest. Also, and this is just a simple rule of etiquette: If you stay 30 minutes past when the restaurant closes, leave the waitress a good tip. $1.50 is an example of a not good tip.

Zumba//Starving

Last night's Zumba workout was interesting! It was me, my fabulous cousin Hannah, and our pastor's wife Barb. Watching us church girls "shake it and shimmy!" was a sight to behold I'm sure. Especially coupled with the fact that the rest of the class participants were older black ladies who had rhythm!

Question: Will I go back next week?

Answer: Yes, absolutely!

This is also my third week on Weight Watchers. I've lost 4.8 lbs. The first two weeks have been a breeze eating-wise. For some reason this week I "could eat the bark off a tree!" (quoted from Barb, see above).

It's not even that I'm stress eating or bored. I'm literally hungry, like stomach growling hungry.

Week three is not looking so pretty, folks, and neither am I:

Now don't you want to bake me a cake?

Zumba!

Tonight I'm going to my first Zumba workout class!

I'm not going to lie: I'm a little nervous. I've never been much of a dancer. I have the Bollywood Dance Workout DVD and I make sure to do it in the privacy of my own home with the blinds securely shut and the front door locked.

On the other hand, I get more Weight Watchers Points if I work out. And we're having chicken carbonara tonight.

Go here for more details!

Just Some Random Thoughts

• Sometimes, I do stuff just for the sake of cohesion. For instance, I put money in to the Derby pot at work. Is this gambling? Yep. Did I win, no. Did I have something to talk to co-workers about, sure did. 
• I have absolute days, where I am absolutely determined that my plans are concrete. Today was a concrete day, and I concretely believe that we will move back to Campbellsville. We'll see what happens tomorrow.
• I freaking love wearing big flowers in my hair lately. 
• Dusty just said, "Sometimes, I can't contain the rebel inside me!"
• Sam is showing us p90x moves. They don't look like p90x moves. One is called the dive bomber. It's duuuurty!
• If I could choose anywhere to go on a weeknight next week, I would go to a Royals game. I want to experience the new stadium. 
• I am surrounded this weekend by 4 great friends that I never see , and I really, truly, and honestly miss them. 
• My friend Andrea is graduating next weekend and I'm excited to meet her family! And, also, to see her walk across that stage!
• I'm done being a waitress now. Tonight was my last night. I'm just really happy.

The End.