Tonight I went to dinner with some folks from last semester’s grad school class. It was such a good time. The only thing we all have in common is all of the pain and suffering we’ve had to go through on our quest for our master’s degrees. Don’t get me wrong, I’m enjoying (most of the time) my classes. But, they’re a lot of extra work, and there’s a lot of other things I’d rather be doing with my extra time (and money!) besides write research papers. But, like the tortoise, I’m doing this at a slow and steady pace, and someday, it will all be worth it.
My highly retouched movie star photo
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A few months ago I had to have my picture taken for one of the boards I sit on. They needed our photos for the directory or website or something, and even though I already have a professional headshot for work, I was forced against my will to get my picture made yet again.
The day we were scheduled to take this photo, I got a huge zit on my chin. And somehow I popped a blood vessel in my eye (yes, that was lovely). I was having a bad hair day. I felt pale. And really, really not cute.
So I jokingly asked the photographer to “retouch” my photo. I encouraged him to go crazy with Photoshop and do whatever it takes to make me look presentable. Well by-golly, Photoshop is a wonderful thing! Because after he was finished, I ended up with flawless skin (where’d those freckles go?), perfectly white teeth, perfectly clear eyes, and not a single hair out of place. Even my shirt has been whitened.
So now I know how those celebrities must feel after those big magazine covershoots. There’s no way they could possibly look as flawless in real life as they look on the covers of those magazines. As someone who dabbles in design, I know how to tinker with a photo to “enhance” it. But this one of me just made me laugh.
And trust me, I’m going to use this photo forever.
Blonde moment… and the chair
Tonight we went to the best little Italian restaurant in town… it’s called Taverno, and it’s like you’re stepping back into Italy. Even the bathroom is “authentic” European. Last summer when my family and I traveled across Italy & France, our big joke was trying to figure out how to use all of the bathrooms. Some were coin-operated, some had flushers in the form of peddles, for some had a push-button flush, others you pulled a rope from the ceiling. Most were co-ed (not cool for a modest Texas gal), and all were tiny. And this one was a lot like that… only it was free. In Italy, that’s a bargain!
I had a major blonde moment–I left mom’s birthday gift at home on my desk. I also forgot the thing I was supposed to bring for my dad. I was too busy chatting with my friend on the phone and worrying about doing my hair, and just left it. Which of course means that now I look like I didn’t actually buy a gift. But mom… I promise, I did! And it’s going in the mail tomorrow!
I also talked a few weeks ago about my big furniture purchase. I’m big into symbols that represent life changes. And since my life has changed over the past few weeks, I decided to commemorate it with a new piece of furniture. My very own Ethan Allen chair. According to sister Sarah, it’s their #2 selling chair of the year. Apparently I have good taste. Even better, I got it 40% off the retail price because it was a floor sample. I guess that means a lot of strangers’ rear ends have sat in that chair, but then again, a lot of strangers’ rears will sit in it in the future. so it doesn’t really matter, now does it? So anyway, this is my “life is not complicated” chair. Isn’t it cute?Two’s
My blogs seem to come in two’s. I think it’s my A.D.D. side. I get to writing one thing, and something else pops into my head. And I hate long blogs. I also hate long research papers. And I have one of those due next Friday. Bleh.
Since I worked all weekend, I took the afternoon off. Originally my plan was to go home and do homework. But that changed about the time I left the hospital parking lot, and I decided I’d rather go home and take a nap. But then, after a good lunch, I realized I wasn’t tired, and decided to hit the gym instead. There’s nothing better than working out at 3:00. There was nobody there. No gawking middle-aged men, no beefy teenagers. Nobody’s sweat splattering onto me as they run on the treadmill to my left. It was total workout peace.
I was in the mood to push myself extra hard (my workouts are totally driven by my mood… I think today’s inspiration had to do with the rockstar soundtrack playing in my iPod, or maybe it was seeing all of those people conquer the marathon this weekend), so I ran on the treadmill, then rode the bike, then lifted weights. Hard. And now, as I sit in bed typing this, I feel like my rear end is going to fall off. Or explode. I think I overdid. Which means tomorrow I’ll be hobbling around like an old lady, trying to keep up a sleek, sophisticated facade, while trying not to waddle around like a pregnant lady with a wedgie.
On another note, tomorrow is my mom’s birthday. I’m so excited to celebrate one of my very favorite people. Ever. If I can grow up to be half the woman (and mom) that she is, I’ll be happy. She combines grace, style, wit, intelligence, a great Christian character and a spot-on sense of humor, with perfectly accessorized outfits, sass, and a cup of Starbucks. She’s the strongest woman I know. I’m glad she’s my mom.
And, lucky for me, I don’t think she’ll care if I waddle into the restuarant tomorrow night as we celebrate her birthday.
Promises
“So the Lord gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their forefathers, and they took possession of it and settled there… Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to the house of Israel failed; everyone was fulfilled.” (Joshua 21: 43, 45)
How great is that? God delivered on every single one of his promises to his people (the Israelites). I’m sure when they were wandering in the desert for 40 years, or when Joshua was leading his people into all of those different battles (it seems like everybody and their dog had to be defeated before they got the promised land), or when they were being chased by Pharoah’s men through the Red Sea, that God’s promises must have looked pretty far-fetched. I mean, God couldn’t possibly deliver on every single one, right? It was just too hard. There were too many limitations. God only had so much to work with.
Oh yeah, but he did. Crazy, huh.
So when I try to put my God into that little box, and try to characterize him with all of my limitations, and lack of imagination, and lack of perspective, it helps to see that verse. Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to the house of Israel failed; everyone was fulfilled. Every single time. No matter how unreachable, how improbable.
So what does that mean for you?
1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME (first pet, current car): Lady 4-Runner
2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME (fave ice cream flavor, favorite type of shoe): Rocky Flip-Flop
3. YOUR NATIVE AMERICAN NAME (favorite color, favorite animal): Pink Moose
4. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME (middle name, city where you were born): Anne Victoria
5. YOUR STAR WARS NAME (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 of your first name): Spuba (I like this one!)
6. SUPERHERO NAME (2nd favorite color, favorite drink): Blue Soda
7. NASCAR NAME (the first names of your grandfathers): Jerry Scottie
8. STRIPPER NAME ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent,favorite candy): Romance Butterfinger
Snicker
9. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME (your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter): Laughlin Laredo
10. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower): Fall Rose
11. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing rightnow): Cherry Yogapant
12. HIPPIE NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree): Sausage Biscuit Dogwood
Ok, so now everyone else must do this as well!!! This means the three people who still check this site and the 4 people who lurk. Yes, I will be checking up to make sure!
What’s in a name?
I’m mainly doing this because I don’t want to start on my homework just yet…
1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME (first pet, current car): Lady 4-Runner
2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME (fave ice cream flavor, favorite type of shoe): Rocky Flip-Flop
3. YOUR NATIVE AMERICAN NAME (favorite color, favorite animal): Pink Moose
4. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME (middle name, city where you were born): Anne Victoria
5. YOUR STAR WARS NAME (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 of your first name): Spuba (I like this one!)
6. SUPERHERO NAME (2nd favorite color, favorite drink): Blue Soda
7. NASCAR NAME (the first names of your grandfathers): Jerry Scottie
8. STRIPPER NAME ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent,favorite candy): Romance Butterfinger
9. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME (your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter): Laughlin Laredo
10. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower): Fall Rose
11. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing rightnow): Cherry Yogapant
12. HIPPIE NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree): Banana Muffin Magnolia
Cowtown… whew!
I volunteered out at the Cowtown Marathon all weekend. What a fun time! Those crazy marathon runners have such contagious spirits that it almost makes me want to try to train for one.
Almost.
Yesterday I was on my feet handing out timing chips to the runners for about 12 hours. I came home and went straight to bed by 9:30. Then, I was back up at the sinful hour of 4:20 a.m. (on a Saturday… yikes!) to go back out to the race to help out again. Today was even more fun–I got to escort the winners of the half-marathon and full-marathon back to the media tent for their interviews. I’ve always wondered what someone who runs a 6-minute mile for 26.2 miles must be like… and now I know! Let’s just say they don’t have much in common with me. But most were very nice.
I also saw several people puke at the finish line, and I didn’t even get queasy!
It really did inspire me to start training for something again. It reminded me of the old days, three years ago, when I was running in these things (okay, technically I was running marathon relays, but close enough). I always bought a cute new running outfit to inspire myself to run harder and faster. Seeing everybody achieve their goals this morning made me want to join in. So now it’s time to set a goal… and go shopping for some new running shorts.
A first
For the first time ever, I’m atually watching a democratic presidential debate. I can’t believe it.
Caleb
So I was reading in Joshua the other night, and it described Caleb this way:
…”because he followed the Lord, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly.” (Joshua 14:14)
Caleb was one of the spies who went to check out the promised land the first time, when 10 of the 12 came back scared and telling tall tales of giants, instilling fear in the Israelites. Because of their lack of faith, the Israelites were forced to wander in the desert for 40 more years. Caleb was one of only two who had faith. And because of it, he still got to see the promised land. Because he followed the Lord wholeheartedly.
Someday, I’d like someone to describe me that way. I want them to say, “Bethe was a cool girl because she followed the Lord wholeheartedly.”