Random Facts

We just got back from Orlando tonight, having spent the last five days in Florida for a work conference. We had a blast and got to eat lots of amazing food, buy lots of wonderful (discounted) items, and go lots of awesome places (Universal Citywalk and The Magic Kingdom), but those were certainly not the reasons for our visit. Nope. Instead, we were there for work, and we got to attend a conference on Hospice and Palliative Care Physician Billing. Don't get me wrong, it was actually pretty interesting, and I learned so much on the topic that my head is STILL spinning, but I have to say that the best thing I learned all week is that TURTLES CAN BREATHE THROUGH THEIR BUTTS. Yes folks, I said it....and now you know. 

BTW, I learned this from one of the physician presenters at the conference.

Reach for the Stars

When we were little, my brother and I had dreams.  These were serious, serious aspirations; we were reaching high, aiming for the stars. I was going to become a Broadway chorus girl, and I planned to ride back and forth to my big city job in my electric wheelchair. Does that make sense? Of course not, but as a 10-year-old I thought an electric wheelchair would be the best gift ever. It was on my wish list for many birthdays and many Christmases, but I never got one. Can you believe it; what on earth were my parents thinking by not buying their sweet little girl and electric wheelchair?

My brother, on the other hand, had the incredible wish to spank a black cow. Anytime we passed a pasture, he asked my mom to stop the car so he could fulfill his long-time dream. She would, and he would try to muster up the courage to actually do it, but he never did. I don't even think he ever got out of the car. Yes people, the children in our family dreamed big.

J and I recently made a day trip to Woolaroc in Bartlesville (a.k.a the Big City to Pioneer Woman fans), and when J got the chance to spank a black cow, I made him take advantage of the opportunity. He didn't understand, but it has significance for my family, and that is why I love this picture.

I also love this picture. As creepy as it is, it reminds me of my last visit to the museum as a middle schooler. These are THE shrunken heads. Yes, they are real.

W-O-W! That's all I can say!

I have had the best day today! Got up and had breakfast at the Blue Dome Diner with hubbins, did a little shopping, spent time in my scrapbook room, and got many, many donations for the silent auction part of my fundraising effort. Yep, that's right....many, many donations.

So, here's how it happened. I was bored last night while Josh watched a borderline inappropriate/scary movie called Alpha Dog. I couldn't bare to watch it because it was all about drugs, sex, more drugs, and murder. Oh and did I say drugs? Not my kind of movie. Anyway, I was playing around on the Internet and I got the bright idea to make a post on a particular site asking for donations. Don't worry- it's a reputable site. Anyway, I didn't think anyone would respond because after all, I have been posting on my blog and on myspace that I am trying to raise money and no one is donating. So, imagine my surprise when I checked my email this morning and had over 30 people trying to donate to my project! Wow! That's all I can say.

Since then, I have had many more offers, and they just keep coming...everything from jewelry to clothes to paintings, etc! I am so thankful because I believe this is an indicator of what to expect from this fundraising effort! The kindness of total strangers....

Oh No, What Have I Done?

Ok, so the title of this post makes me sound a little scared, a little apprehensive of the journey ahead of me. Well, I'm not. In fact, I'm nothing but excited. For anyone who has not been reading my blog, I will catch you up to speed. Here it is: I have signed up to walk in the Susan G. Komen 3 day 60 mile walk in Chicago this summer to raise money for breast cancer. In signing up, I also made the commitment to raise a minimum of $2300, and as a team, we will raise around $12,000. This is a lot of money, but I am incredibly excited for the challenge. I even considered making a deal with my co-workers where I would shave my head if they could collectively raise $1000 for the cause. Haha; you think my husband would like that idea?  Probably not, so maybe that's not the best idea, but I would certainly dye my hair pink if it would encourage people to donate.

Anyway, why on earth am I doing this? Why would I make the decision to not only raise all of this money, but also to put my body through the torture of walking 20 miles three days straight and sleeping in a tent each night? Of course, the simple answer is that is is fun, it is for a good cause, and because I can and believe that I should. But that's not really it. The truth is...

another family will have heard the words "it's breast cancer" by the time you finish reading this, and that family will be forced onto a journey they would have never envisioned for themselves or their loves ones. I walk because within the next 13 minutes another family will lose their mom, their sister, their daughter, or their friend, and they will be thrust into a "before the cancer" and "after the cancer" life. I walk because just within the last 10 years, over 400,000 families have faced both of the situations I just described. I walk because I cannot walk away.

Together, we can make a difference. 

Please click on the 3 day icon on my page to make a donation. Any support is greatly appreciated! Also, if you are unable to make a financial contribution, please consider making a donation for a silent auction. Our team is planning an event/silent auction, and we would welcome any donations. Thank you for reading!

P.S. For more information on the 3 Day or the Susan G. Komen Foundation, please check out the3day.org.

VIP

Listen here, parents. I want to give you some advice.  I am not a parent myself (yet), so parenting advice is something I don't give. Ever. It's not my place. It's not my business. Until now. But today, I want to share something with you, and I really hope you will listen because it is something that made a huge impact on me (for the better). Here it goes...

One day, during my junior year of high school, we were all crammed into the auditorium for a lecture. Ugh, another lecture, how boring does that sound? Yes, there were many grunts and groans among my 17-year-old cohorts, but we went anyway, only because we had no choice. Our speakers for the day were strangers; people we had never seen before in our small school. One man and one woman sat at a table in the front of the room, and once they were introduced, the room fell silent. These were people whose lives had been forever and drastically changed as a result of drunk driving. 

Did you know that someone is killed every 32 minutes by a drunk driver?

The woman spoke first. She told the story of her experience with a drunk driver. She said that she and her husband and children went to the car dealership one sunny day to buy a new van. Once the purchase was completed, the decision was made that the kids could ride in the new car with dad because they were excited and mom would follow them home in the old car. They never made it home Somewhere on the highway, a trucker crossed the median and collided head-on with dad and the kids, killing all of them. Mom witnessed the accident. She saw her family perish before her eyes. The truck driver was drunk and didn't have scratch on his body. He immediately began throwing beer cans out of the window and into the ditch below, hoping to hide the evidence.

The gentleman followed her story with his own, only his was told from another perspective. He was the drunk driver. He took an innocent life, and as a result, he spent many years behind bars. He missed out on seeing his child grow up; he even missed his high school graduation. His poor judgment had ruined many lives.

The program concluded with a very graphic video. It showed several pictures of the mangled remains of vehicles involved in drunk driving accidents. It also told the stories of several other people whose lives had been tragically lost. By the time this "lecture" was over, there wasn't a dry eye in the room.

Now, I don't know the impact the event had on my peers; I can only tell you about my own experience. I am not claiming to be perfect; I have gotten behind the wheel after a night out, when I have known that it was not the right decision. But because of these visitors 13 years ago, I try to ALWAYS plan ahead and make smart decisions when it comes to drinking and driving.

If you know of anyone who might benefit from this presentation as I did, please consider having these people come to your child's school. For more information, check out vipofok.com.

BTW, the reason I wrote this post today is because when J and I went to lunch yesterday, we got behind a drunk driver. This man was back and forth across two lanes of traffic, up on the sidewalks, and weaving in and out of oncoming cars. We called 911 twice. By the time the cops pulled him over, it took five police cars surrounding his car to get him to stop. Since he was unable to stand without two people holding him up, he was immediately placed in handcuffs. This was at 1:00 on a Monday afternoon.

Thank you for reading. I will now descend from my soapbox!

My Trip to the "Spa"

Remember this guy? If you ever watched Seinfeld, you are probably well-acquainted with the Soup Nazi. I never was a huge fan of the show (didn't quite get the humor; maybe I was too young for it hehe), but I definitely know who the Soup Nazi is. In fact, I now know who is twin sister is too. She works in a salon in Bixby, OK; she gives pedicures.

Now, I am one of those people who considers a pedicure a rare treat, almost a reward, if you will. I go for the leg massage. I go for relaxing the hot towel wrap and sea salt scrub. I do not go just to have my nails painted. I can paint them at home. Yes, they will probably be sloppy, but I will have saved my hard-earned money.

Anyway, my friend Elle and I went to get pedicures yesterday, a plan we conjured up when we learned the boys would be spending the day on the golf course and doing other very manly things. That was fine with us; a day at "the spa" and shopping would suit us just fine. Now which "spa" should we choose? Mind you, I am using the term "spa" very loosely here. 

Naturally, we chose one in close proximity to THE yogurt shop because if we couldn't sip champagne while having our toes done, then yogurt would be the next best choice. So, yogurt in hand, we sat down in our spa chairs to have our spa pedicures, and the beautician thrusts the menu in our faces. Yes, there are 8 pedicures to choose from, and they start with having your toenails painted for $23 to having your toenails painted for $53, and I chose to have mine painted for $28 plus tip. And that's exactly what I got. I got my nails painted and a whole lot of attitude from the Spa Nazi. Wait, I didn't order the hateful pedicure, just the deluxe pedicure, which apparently comes with a side of  anger. I even wondered to myself at one point if I might be on candid camera. I guess I wasn't, and Belle and I sure had fun anyway. Next time I visit the Spa Nazi, I will definitely say yes to the flower she was wanting to paint on my toe.