Author / Bethe

by Bethe

Community party girl

For awhile it seemed like I was cutting back on all of those community events that come with my job. I only went to a handful of formal events last year, and it was good to take a break. But now the break is over and I’m back to being a community socialite.

Tonight was an auction. I bid on a few autographed baseball pictures and a hot stone massage. We’ll see if I won anything. I strongly considered bidding on being “Mayor for the Day” for one of my local cities. It would be interesting to play politics for a day, and it’d be good publicity for my hospital. But, I decided I’d rather go for the massage. A girl has to have her priorities.

Last week was a volunteer appreciation dinner for the Cowtown Marathon at a ritzy Fort Worth country club. They served the most fabulous salad I have EVER had in my entire life at that dinner. If you want a good salad, visit Mira Vista Country Club. Seriously.

I’m not sure what event is next… I should check my calendar. I need an excuse to buy a new dress!

by Bethe

A load off my shoulders

Working on my masters is kind of a beating. Yes, it makes me smarter. And yes, I actually like it at times. I enjoy being in class if I have a good professor who’s passionate about her topic, and good classmates who are nice and offer different perspectives than mine. The last two semesters I have lucked out and really bonded with the other people in my classes. Heck, I just had a reunion with the gals from last semester. That part is fun.

But when it comes time to do the homework, I’m so bored by it. I’ll admit, though, I think it has stretched me. I remember my first paper four semesters ago, I was terrified to turn it in. Ironic, since I write constantly for my job. But it’s different when it’s graded.

Which explains why I feel such relief tonight. Ten minutes ago I emailed my research paper over to my professor, a full 24 hours before the deadline! Woo hoo! I feel like going for a run or something to celebrate. Except that it’s almost 10:00, and since it’s daylight savings time, it’s more like 11:00, and I have to get up in the morning and teach Sunday School. And then put in a patio. So I think running this late might be a bad idea. But I’m still really excited to be finished. At least, until the next assignment.

by Bethe

Snow… again

For the second time this week we had a “snow storm” here in North Texas. This one was as anticlimactic as one a few days ago, but it did leave my yard covered with a beautiful sheet of ice. This morning when I let Harley the Wonder Schnoodle out to do his business, it was so cute to watch him prance around on the icey grass, with his little paws punching through the thin sheet to the frozen ground below. I could tell that he was both confused and thrilled with this foreign experience.

The 10 bags of concrete sitting on my back porch, waiting to be poured into my new patio, also survived the storm. I was worried they might get wet and solidify into something I’d never be able to lift, but luckily

by Bethe

Music

I downloaded the P.S. I Love You soundtrack tonight from iTunes. I absolutely love it. The movie was a huge cry-fest, but the soundtrack is really sweet and happy. Thanks to my sister Lindsay for recommending it to me!

by Bethe

It’s good to be a girl

Tonight my sister and I went and got pedicures together, and then grabbed coffee afterward. It was one of the best nights I have had in a long time. She makes me laugh like nobody else, and when the two of us get together, trouble brews and stories flow freely. Anybody watching us at that coffee shop probably thinks we’re strange girls, because we laughed and waved our arms and gestured excitedly while telling stories, we encouraged each other, and had an old-fashioned good time.

So now my toes are painted a cute shade of pink, my stomach is full, and my heart is content. A pretty good night.

by Bethe

That white stuff falling from the sky

Today was pretty boring… I took the day off of work and wrote a research paper ALL DAY. Bleh. On my list of things I want to do on any given day, sitting at my computer analyzing articles on weight loss surgery and the accuracy of advertising and Web sites is not very high on my list.

But then it snowed, and everything changed. It’s so beautiful, it almost makes up for an otherwise dreary day.

by Bethe

The ever-expanding home improvement project

My dad came over tonight to check out my back porch and help me formulate a plan for my new stone patio. He brought his resourceful friend John with him, and between the three of us, we have come up with a “grand plan.” My tiny back porch is going to be a beautiful oasis in only a week or two. I had intentions of only adding a few feet to the existing concrete patio, but we’re going to extend this bad boy out, curve it, and dress it up a little! I’ll be having backyard barbecues in no time! (which reminds me… I need to find a grill!)

But my dad is a lot like me. He doesn’t stop with one project. He’s ready for me to do MANY projects. And because I’m just like him, I’m completely on board with his ideas. So after we finish the stone patio (which instead of taking only a morning will probably take us several days, but it will be oh-so-worth-it because it’s going to be beautiful!), he’s going to help me put in my new rose garden (which will include a rock border), and then he wants to put up crown molding in my living room, kitchen, dining room, and breakfast nook. Woah. It’s going to look amazing, but I may need to drop out of grad school to pay for it all. Which is awfully tempting, since I have spent almost my entire day working on a silly research paper (that’s due next Friday… aaak!).

Anyway, the crown molding may have to wait a bit. But it is fun to dream and plan and come up with new ways to improve my house, which I do love so much. Maybe I can sell a kidney or something to pay for all this.

by Bethe

New York… here we come!

One of my favorite things to do is travel. My family did a lot of traveling when I was younger, and once I got out of school, I made it my personal goal to travel as much as possible while I’m not tied down with a family of my own. Since I graduated from Baylor, I’ve been to L.A., San Diego, Colorado (several times), Florida, Boston, Washington DC (twice), Nashville, Mexico, England, France (twice) and Italy. Not bad for less than five years!

I’m always looking for my next trip. Since I’m saving most of my money for school (and trying to make upgrades on my house), this year we’re planning a short, less-expensive but still fabulous trip… to New York! This is the last season for the Yankees to play at the old stadium, and I’ve never sat my hiney in one of those famous seats. I’ve driven by and taken pictures, but since I’ve only been to New York in Dececmber and March, I’ve never seen Derek Jeter in his home jersey. I’ve never tasted New York cracker jacks. Or run from a mugger in the Bronx (oops).

But this summer, we’re doing it! New York or bust!

Even better, I was telling a friend of mine, who happens to work for NBC, about my trip. He said that he may be able to get us tickets to watch Conan or another show tape LIVE! How exciting! It’s not a done deal just yet, but we should know for sure in the next few weeks. This little trip is turning into something fun!