Murder Incorporated

For Chris’ birthday on Aug. 27^th, I bought tickets to a Murder Mystery Dinner Theater in downtown Dallas – actually at the Texas State Fair site. It took place at the Old Mill Inn restaurant and we had to dress up for it! The tickets were for Saturday night, Sept. 5^th and I was super excited to see how much of the mystery Chris would figure out.

It started out as a reception with drinks and appetizers, during which the actors were mixed in with the attendees so the ‘game’ had already begun! We were supposed to mingle, ask a bunch of questions of the other people there and take notes for later.

Once that was over, we all moved upstairs to the dinner room. They had a hostess that explained how it all worked and there was a big empty ‘evidence’ table in the middle of the room. They had us walking around looking for evidence, analyzing handwriting on notes, etc. There were 3 people who were killed during the night and one of them got ‘shot’ right in front of our table!

By the end, we had to solve all three murders and write out an explanation of who did each one and WHY. The murders were all intertwined and there were a LOT of details to consider. We got about ½ or more of the details right, but we did miss one big piece. It was a lot harder than I thought! As I expected, Chris did much better at solving the murders – he is very good with details.

Plus, we took our first pictures together – plenty have been taken of the dogs and each other, but none of just the two of us. So these are the first! He looked so handsome in his new blue shirt and tie!

And now that the Texas State Fair is starting up, we'll have to come back here for the fair now!

And for a little randomness today, I'll show you Chris' "Father of the Year" picture.....I opened his freezer and saw a bottle of Jagermeister next to the kiddie popsicles for TJ. NICE. :)

Don't FEAR The Reaper

"Fear is your friend. Fear is an indicator. Sometimes, it shows you what you shouldn't do; more often than not it shows you exactly what you should do. And the best results I've had in life, the most enjoyable times, have all been from... asking a simple question, 'What's the worst that can happen?'" - Tim Ferriss


I saw this quote and instantly loved it! For pretty much my whole life up until a few years ago, I have been the kind of person who shies away from big uncertain situations – scared of a LOT of ‘what if’ scenarios. But every time I go through something I never thought I could, I gain some confidence that comes in handy for the next “I can’t do this” situation. I have made it through and accomplished more than I thought I would, most of it on my own and I’m still here to talk about it, so what really is there to fear?

I love the idea that fear shows you what you SHOULD do, not just things you shouldn’t do. Just because we are afraid of things doesn’t mean they aren’t the best choice. I was PETRIFIED to make the leap and quit my job, move to Texas and buy a house, but I just KNEW that I had to do it, despite the fear of total failure and regret. Man, am I ever glad I pushed through the fear and DID it! Now I just wonder how many other things I didn’t do because of fear, that I would’ve been glad I did. UGH – can’t think of that – only look to the future and the next set of fears I can conquer!

Gas Pump Conspiracy

Over time, I have experienced something that, in the grand scheme of life, isn't a huge deal.....but I still think there is a conspiracy going on. OK - here it is:

Whenever I put gas in my car, I use the pay-at-the-pump feature so I can just fill up and go and it's easily put on my debit card. Perfect invention, right? Right! Here's where the conspiracy comes in: Why is it that at least 25-30% of the time, the receipt printer is 'out of paper' or 'broken' so that you get that annoying message on the screen - "See cashier inside for receipt."

While I am a rational person who understands that those printers WILL run out of paper by nature, why at a gas station that does most of its gas sales through pay-at-the-pump would they not be checking those printers periodically throughout the day to make sure they are operational?? I have NEVER EVER seen an employee replacing the paper in one of them - over all the years that I have been putting gas in a car (16 years of driving - man, I'm old!).

OK, here's my theory: Either gas station employees are incredibly lazy & incompetent OR gas stations don't regularly check those printers (and keep paper in them) so that you will be forced to go inside the store to get your receipt...a place that is stocked with tons and tons of impulse purchase opportunities, prominently displayed on your path to the cashier.

I am very susceptible to impulse purchases, so that is one of the reasons I like pay-at-the-pump so much - I don't even go in the store to get tempted.....so I've been protesting their conspiracy. I will just write down the amount on a piece of paper so I can write it in my checkbook later. I'm not falling victim to impulse purchases!!

Thoughts???

Tex-ified!

Last week, April and I had dinner at Saltgrass - a steak restaurant chain. It was AMAZING food, but I think I was more excited about the MAJORLY "Texified" decor!

Before we even walked in the door, they made SURE that we knew we were in Texas! I loved it!

And in the sidewalk as you come to the front of the restaurant, there are horseshoes to guide you to the door!!

And right by the bathrooms, I saw this sign - LOVED IT!

April thought this one was funny, so I have to include it:

I kind of thought my weird fascination with the great state of Texas would've worn off some now that I have been here for a year and a half, but it just hasn't - I'm still obsessed with 'all things Texas'! Besides the summer heat, I LOVE living here!

Not Going Down Without a FIGHT

About a week or so ago, I 'took one for the team' and watched a UFC fight for the first time. Chris gets together occasionally with his friends from the gym and they watch UFC fights at Humperdinks in Arlington.

Well, this time he asked me to join him. I wanted to meet his friends and spend time with him, so I agreed to go. Chris knew that I would probably have to cover my eyes for a good portion of the fight, but appreciated that I would go with him anyway.

Well, on that particular night, there was a Cowboys pre-season game going on (and ironically, it was being played at the brand new Cowboys Stadium right across the street, basically!). So for the most part, I was trying to concentrate on the game and not the barbaric fighting that was on the TV right above our table.

But, when the game was over, it also happened to be time for 'the main event' - the BIG fight of the night. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be in some aspects, but then there were predictably some moments where I just cringed and had to look away. When the mat started to have blood spatter, then I knew I was just about done with this whole dog-and-pony show!

I made it through, but barely.

PS - Now THIS is the kind of 'fighter' I'm TALKIN' ABOUT!!

And a sidenote: Chris and TJ decided it was time for TJ to get a haircut, so they both decided that a mohawk was the best choice. Doesn't he look so tough?? LOL

Spare No Expense for Cowboys!

OK, this picture has taken the "Texas cowboy" thing to a whole new level, hasn't it? My friend Erin sent it to me - it's a real picture and hasn't been doctored or photoshopped....and I think it's FABULOUS!

I don't think I have ever seen the 'logo' for handicapped parking altered in any way until I saw this one. I'm sure the government would have a hayday with it, but who cares! It gets the point across AND it's fun. Afterall, there is "expectant mother" parking, "Curbside-To-Go" parking, why not handicapped parking for cowboys??

Silence is Golden

I'm sure everyone has heard the story about the guy who recently 'shut someone's kid up' in Walmart by grabbing the child and smacking them repeatedly. I am pretty opinionated about this topic, but not to that extreme.

While I absolutely do NOT believe in touching someone else's child or yelling at them, I DO believe that kids need more discipline or consequences and many many parents are not doing their job (at least in public anyway). I have been in stores where kids run into me without saying they are sorry or 'excuse me'.....and the Mom is standing right there and does NOTHING! WHAAATT??? How about teach your child how to have manners and show respect by saying you're sorry?!
And don't even get me started on screaming, obnoxious kids in restaurants.....It's one thing to have obnoxious, loud kids going crazy at Chuck-E-Cheese or somewhere like that. If you are going to that restaurant, you should expect that. However, if I am going to drop $50+ on dinner at a sit-down restaurant and you think it's "cute" to have your kid wailing, screaming, throwing things, running around, etc. and/or are just trying to 'ignore' them until they stop as a clever parenting tactic, you should be taken out back and...........(fill in the blank).

Why do these parents think that the world revolves around them and their loud children?? What if the couple next to them is having their first 'date night' after having a child and were looking for a peaceful dinner out of the house? Then they get stuck next to your traveling circus of a family who is so wildly rude that you don't even take your misbehaving, crying, screaming, rude child out of the restaurant to discipline them or quiet them - or better yet - LEAVE if they get too out of hand.

It's as if parents think that 'the general public' is their free babysitter when they leave the house. Cashiers, store employees, waitstaff and other patrons are NOT your babysitters, so be a PARENT and keep your child in line!

The End....Or Is It?

It's all going to be okay in the end. If it's not okay, then it's not the end.

I found this quote recently and I just love it! Sometimes we feel like it's 'the end of the world' and that there is no solution, no relief or no solution in sight.....but that is just not the case. Now, it's easy for me to get all philosophical about it right at this moment, because I'm actually really happy and things are going pretty well for me. But there were times where I was in total despair and those times weren't long ago. I remember thinking that my life was over and things would never be the same. I was half right.

Things most certainly were never going to be the same, but my life was far from over. Why is it SO difficult to see that when you're in the midst of the pain or hardship?? I liken it to the concept of hills and valleys across a landscape. When you're at the top of a hill, things look majestic and beautiful, you feel powerful and in control of your destiny.....and then for one reason or another, you find yourself in the valley right in front of that hill and the scenery has most certainly changed.....and NOT for the better!

You no longer feel like you are in control of your life, you feel powerless, the next hill looks daunting and insurmountable. You often feel alone in that valley, even though there are tons of people around you. I've definitely been there.

Now, I feel like I am at the top of another hill in life - I'm enjoying Texas, my new relationship, hope and excitement for the future and happiness.

However, I'm not naive enough to think that I will always stay right at the tippy-top of that hill. I know there will be more valleys in life and I will suffer setbacks, hurts, losses and endure some not-so-great things. But that's just part of the landscape of life and with each valley I manage to climb out of, I learn more skills that will help me get out of the next valley sooner, easier and stronger. So while we would all like to curse the valleys and avoid them like the plague, we should really be thankful that God gave us the tools to get out of them if we just trust that He is in control and that there's a way out!

Living Heirlooms

When my Mom was visiting in April (on her way back up to Minnesota for the summer), she helped me plant some aloe plants that she gave me from south Texas near the Mexico border. They have big aloe fields and she got some of the plants.

She definitely has a green thumb (I do not, typically) and so she told me what to do in order to keep them alive. All but one are still alive!

It reminded me of when my Mom told me that the tiger lilies in the garden at our house in New Hope, Minnesota (that I grew up in) were actually transplants from my Mom's farm that SHE grew up on in Rosemount, Minnesota. It's almost as if the tiger lilies were a family heirloom! And when my parents retired and sold the New Hope house to move up north, she took those tiger lilies with her and planted them along the garage up at their new house in Crosslake. As far as I know, they are still blooming each year - they are SO OLD! HA!

I have many items that I plan to keep as heirlooms, but how fun is it to have an actual LIVING heirloom that is passed from one generation to the next?! I think I might ask my Mom to give me some of the tiger lily seeds so I can plant them down here and see if they grow. Then it would be 3 generations that are enjoying the same tiger lilies! Love it!

Spell My Name!

Something happened the other day that really bugged me....but it's something that hasn't really bugged me in a while - a person who sees my name OFTEN (emails, Facebook, co-worker) spelled my name "Laurie" in an email. I know, I know - NOT the end of the world or really something to get all worked up over, but it just irritated me that day.

To me, it's like talking to someone name John and calling them Jack right to their face - just a total lack of attention to detail. I can understand it when you are just getting to know someone and they don't know how you spell your name, or if it's the kind of relationship with someone where they would rarely or never see your name in print - totally understandable and that doesn't bother me. It's when the person SHOULD know better and they are just lazy or don't care - it just says that you don't value details and that's not cool.

OK, I'll get off my soapbox now.....

A Case Of POP & A Pair Of Choppers

My friend Holly sent me this picture and I think it's hilarious since I am constantly in the battle of "pop" versus "coke" down here - and then you throw in those that call it "soda" and you have a real beverage debate! I have NO idea why I think regional vocabulary is so interesting, but I'm absolutely intrigued by it - as well as regional accents. LOVE it!

I'm having a hayday with Chris since he was born and raised until age 10 or so in Pennsylvania (YANKEE!!) and then moved to Alabama to live out the rest of his childhood and college years. So he has an east coast-ish accent with southern habits and vocabulary. He also lived in Wisconsin and Michigan for a while, so he 'gets' the northern/midwest thing too. He has experienced the hellishly cold temps in Wisconsin, but also thinks that the sun rises and sets with sweet tea! haha! Gotta love it.

I guess I've made it one of my hobbies to find out where people are from and then talk about the similarities/differences in accent, culture and language!

Keepin' The Faith

Faith is not necessary when you know how things are going to work out, - that's knowledge. It's in the time of unknowing that having faith is what sees you through to the other side.

Faith is what gives you strength. Faith is that light in your heart that keeps on shining even when it's all darkness outside. Now is the time to keep that faith alive!