Santa Baby

After a whirlwind Christmas "break", the husband and I are now finally settling back into reality. We visited friends and family over the holidays, and Santa was very good to us indeed. One of my gifts was a brand new digital camera given to me by my husband! Look below to view some of my handywork over the holidays.


Jason's grandmother and her Peek-A-Poo dog Maggie.


Maggie enjoying the Christmas rawhide bone we gave her for Christmas (she was very protective of her new bone).


Our 2007 Christmas tree.


Sydney enjoying her Christmas rawhide bone.

Time Disappoints

Sigh...If you read this blog on a regular basis, you probably know how I felt when I saw the cover of Time magazine.

I was literally stunned when I saw that Time had chosen Vladimir Putin as man of the year. Our relations are not really good with Russia at the moment and Time - an AMERICAN magazine - chose to put Putin on its cover and declare him man of the year.

Time states that Putin has stabilized the Russian government and taken strides to make it a strong country. Of course the magazine doesn't go into exactly how Putin accomplished all this - by imprisoning and poisoning dissenters of the Russian government and Putin's policies. And Russia is against sanctions against Iran that would disclose their nuclear weapons program. And on that note, there is no way that I believe for one second that Iran does not have a nuclear weapons program. So, lets see...Putin's tactics would get him arrested in America AND his government is in cahoots with Iran. Yes, I think that is the absolute most perfect reason to name him man of the year. Thanks, Time, for showcasing this upstanding world leader. Maybe next year you can choose Hugo Chavez as man of the year.

What about a true man of the year? One that has actually done some good? What about Moses Mathis of Fayetteville, NC who gave away 700 bicycles today to children of need in Cumberland County, NC. And he has been doing this for the past 16 years. What about LaDainian Tomlinson of the San Diego Chargers, who is 28 and spends his time off the field coaching youth football camps, handing out toys to inner city children and telling kids to work hard - it pays off. What about honoring Dustin Jerome Lee and his German Shepperd Lex, the 20 year old Marine who was killed in Iraq, and Lex (himself injured) stayed by Lee's side as he lay dying. Lex today was adopted by Lee's family even though Lex still had two years left of service. What about a school teacher, an animal rescue worker or a nurse? What about one of the Virginia Tech student who tried to save other students during April's massacre.

There are so many OTHER men and women of the year that Time could have chosen. So many other real, and deserving people that could have been on the cover, or at least named in the magazine. But these are the unsung heroes, the ones that you don't hear about because Time is too busy profiling people like Putin. While I am thoroughly disappointed in the magazine's choice, I'm not surprised. A runner up was Al Gore. And the other week Barbara Walters declared Hugo Chavez as one of the most fascinating people. It's the way our liberal media runs these days - highlighting and idolizing people that should not deserve their accolades. Maybe next year Time will actually profile a deserving person.

Christmas Frazzle

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

And the busiest time of year. And the coldest (depending on where you live - tonight the temperatures are suppose to get down into the 20's). My husband told me that today was the busiest shipping day of the year for the post office, and Wednesday is suppose to be the busiest delivery day of the year. I'm glad I'm not out driving a brown or white truck in 30 degree weather.

Side note - I just heard on TV that Jessica Simpson may be to blame for Tony Romo's poor performance in yesterday's Eagles v. Cowboys game. Damn you Jessica Simpson and your over sized sunglasses in an indoor stadium and your bleach blond hair! How dare you distract Tony from his game!

We just finished writing, addressing and labeling all of our Christmas cards. We have only done a little Christmas shopping, and we still have no idea where we are going to spend Christmas day. We know that Christmas comes the same time each year, yet every year it's a rush to get everything done! But, that is part of the charm of the season (in my opinion). I do love the holiday hustle and bustle.

Speaking of bustle, my husband picked up my wedding dress the other day from being preserved. It's in a box, with one side of the box having a clear plastic window so that one can gaze upon the dress. Except the dress is stuffed and formed in such a way that the bodice of the dress looks like it is being worn by someone. So, it's kind of creepy looking. Kind of like looking at a body. My husband and I only looked at the dress briefly, because it kind of weirded us out.

Needless to say, we are on the go everyday and Christmas is only getting closer with every passing minute! I'm hoping that come January, North Carolina will see some snow and we'll have a couple snow days to relax in the comfort of our home.

BFFs: Presidential Candidates and Hollywood Stars

If you have been keeping up with the news at all regarding the presidential race, you'll notice that most of the presidential candidates have some heavy hitters backing them up. And these heavy hitters aren't just other politicians; they are Hollywood heavy weights who are putting their money and their name behind the candidate they believe in.

Since the days of Frank Sinatra and John Kennedy, Hollywood and Washington have been close friends despite the geographic distance. Money, power and fame go hand-in-hand with being a movie star and a political star. Hollywood actors and actresses who become stars want more influence, credibility and name recognition outside of the movie business. Political figures are drawn to the glitz and glam of Hollywood and the sex appeal of being associated with a hot actor or actress. It is only natural that these two worlds have collided on so many occasions.

Barack Obama has Oprah Winfrey. Oprah has been supporting Barack for quite some time now, having Barack and his wife Michelle on her show at least a couple times. Oprah has even hit the campaign trail with Barack, giving speeches on why she believes that Barack is good for our country. I find it not surprising that Oprah chose to support a Democrat and the only candidate that is African American. It almost makes me tune this duo out completely. Now, if she had chosen to back Edwards or Richardson, I might have said to myself, "What? Interesting. I wonder why" and then I probably would have tuned in to her show. To me, she chose the obvious candidate to support, and thus I really don't give any credibility to her decision.

Hillary has Barbara Streisand. And Bill Clinton. Let me first address Bill, who is a political rock star in his own right. As much as I am NOT a Democrat and don't support Bill or Hillary, I can't deny the fact that Bill is the "come-back kid" and is a super star in American politics. I am convinced that Bill could run for president now and destroy all the other candidates, including his wife. The public loves Bill, and this bodes well for Hillary. And Barbara Streisand has been longtime friends of the Clintons for years. Babs is an icon in American music, and she is going to belt out her support of Hillary all the way until November.

Mike Huckabee has Chuck Norris. Now, I like me some Mike Huckabee. He is a good, Christian man who I think has the best interest of the American people at heart. Although the more I learn about his political stances on important issues, I'm not quite so sure his politics are in line with true conservative principles. But that is another post for another day. Mike has Chuck. If you are a YouTube connoisseur, you'll see the ads featuring the duo, and I think they are great! And Mike is smart. Chuck is a super star on the Internet, and we all know what group is savvy with the Internet - the coveted 18-34 year olds, the group who doesn't have a very high voting percentage but a group who is desirable nonetheless.

Check out other Hollywood heavy weights supporting presidential candidates. You'll instantly notice that the Dems have a lot of stars backing them up. Not surprising. Hollywood is so liberal and out of touch with reality, it makes sense that they throw their weight to the Democratic party. (list courtesy of TheHill.com):

Clinton
Candice Bergen
Christie Brinkley
Chevy Chase
Hugh Hefner
Christine Lahti
Barry Manilow
Marla Maples
Rosie O’Donnell
Jerry Springer
Barbra Streisand

Obama
Jennifer Aniston
Jackson Browne
Morgan Freeman
Tom Hanks
Dennis Haysbert
Tobey Maguire
Barry Manilow
Branford Marsalis
Eddie Murphy
Ed Norton
Ben Stiller
Gene Wilder
Edie Brickell
Michael Douglas
Steve Martin
Lorne Michaels
Paul Newman
Elisabeth Shue
Paul Simon
Joanne Woodward
Edwards
Larry David
Seth Green
Don Henley

Kucinich
Mark Ruffalo

Richardson
Michael Douglas
Rosie O’Donnell
Rob Reiner

Giuliani
Kelsey Grammer
John O’Hurley
Adam Sandler
Ben Stein

Who Are You Like?

Take this quiz to see which presidential candidate your views are most aligned with.

Candidate Quiz

My result? Tom Tancredo

Hollywood Writers Beware

Last night as I was laying in bed trying to keep warm and trying to fall asleep, my husband and I flipped on The Tonight Show. With the Writer's Guild strike in full swing, we expected yet another re-run. What we didn't expect was a re-run from 1995. Jay Leno's hair was black. The jokes of choice were about the OJ Simpson trial...remember, the one about the murder, not about breaking into the Las Vegas casino. And the first guest was Jennifer Anniston from the "hot new NBC series Friends."

Wow. I expected a re-run, but NBC really out did themselves. I mean, they didn't just run re-run, they ran a "I can't believe Jay Leno ever had any other hair color other than gray and wow Jennifer Anniston's nose looks big and I can't believe we ever thought that outfit she was wearing was in style - cool scrunchie - and man the economy is great - go President Clinton!"

I wonder what will appear next on the air? Could this be the beginning of a new era in television - classic TV all day, every day? Could prime time showings of Saved by the Bell and Hanging With Mr. Cooper be next? Will Johnny Carson be hosting The Tonight Show this evening? Will I be able to watch classic episodes of Law & Order on regular network television and who the hec shot JR?!

Maybe the writers should be worried. Maybe American television viewers will say "good riddance to all your new hot shows, you spoiled Hollywood writers!" and hold out for Perfect Strangers, LA Law and Life Goes On to appear in prime time. Hollywood writer, I'd watch your back if I were you. You may be withholding your wit and quips right now, but DJ Tanner, Zack Morris, Doogie Howser and Paul Buchman might just have the last laugh.

Merry Christmas and God Bless Us All

The Christmas season is upon us, and I for one could not be happier. I love this time of year. It's cold, there is a hustle and bustle in the air that I thrive off of and friends and family come together again. I always hope for a white Christmas, though I am usually disappointed in that regard. Holiday parties are almost every weekend and all the stores are decorated for the season.

However there is one thing I don't really like about this time of year. The fact that we feel that we can no longer say "Merry Christmas." Rather, we have given way to saying "Happy Holidays" and "Seasons Greetings." These two terms are used so often, found in so many greeting cards, that I fear most people don't even give it a second thought. I fear that Christmas, the time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, has become another commercialized holiday.

Now, I'm not going to get into a discussion about how Toys-R-Us and Hallmark have captured this holiday (and honestly, Hallmark really holds captive Valentine's Day more than Christmas anyway). People forget. Or they are of a different mind set or belief to think about or understand the real meaning of Christmas. "Christ's mass", as I once heard a minister break down the word, is the time when Christians remember the greatest gift ever given to man - the birth of a Savior that would take on all the sin of man, would die on a cross, so that we might have life everlasting.

Life everlasting. Yeah, that is a pretty long time. If you think about the average age of any man or woman, that seems like a long time. Seventy to eighty years of life on this Earth is a long time. But when you consider 70 to 80 years in the span of eternity, it's hardly even a blip on the time line. So, the fact that God sent his only son to Earth for a mere three decades so that we might live forever...wow. That has to make you stop and think about the real meaning of Christmas.

Forget all the political correctness that plagues our society today. Forget all the different political and world views. Forget religion. Yes, that is what I said. Forget religion. Because it's not about having a religion, it's about having a belief, one in God and in Jesus, and walking that faith every day, even when it's hard. Even when life sucks. Because you know what? Your most terrible day here on Earth cannot in anyway compare to the worst day for Jesus. He died on a cross, perhaps one of the most painful and terrible ways to die. And he did it willingly (although not without agony and pleading for mercy) for us so that we could live forever, if only a blip of that time was here on Earth.

Remember the real meaning of Christmas. A Savior was born. Hope was established. Grace was given. All you need to do is just ask for it.

Merry Christmas, and God Bless Us All!

Thanksgiving 2007 - A Success!

The husband and I made it through our first Thanksgiving as the host, and I must say that everything turned out really well! We had more than enough food and plenty of conversation. As always, I learned a few things this past Thanksgiving that I believe helped make our holiday a successful one.

I learned that five burners is better than four when cooking a Thanksgiving meal:


A fried turkey tastes really good AND doesn't take up valuable oven space:


A nicely decorated table makes the food taste better (but costs a small fortune at Bed Bath and Beyond):


Prep work is KEY to planning a Thanksgiving meal (beginning the night before and continuing early the next morning):


We were pretty happy with how our meal turned out. We planned accordingly, and didn't skip a beat on Turkey Day. With our first Thanksgiving meal under our belt, I think we are just about ready to handle Christmas.

Oh, I also learned that my dog is very shiny in pictures:

For The Holidays You Can't Beat Home Sweet Home

Thanksgiving is almost here, and the husband and I are preparing to have family come to our home for the holiday. This will be our second Thanksgiving together as man and wife, and our first time hosting the holiday. I am really excited about preparing a traditional Thanksgiving meal. We have a full menu that will ensure plenty of leftovers. We have folks traveling in from out of town. We have a brand new stove and microwave that is (almost) ready to be used (we're still in the process of installing the new stove).

Our to-do list is long. Last night I worked on perfecting the guest bed, having bought a new bedspread, shams and bed skirt to accompany my new snow flake sheets. Actually, I HAD to buy a new bedspread, shams and bed skirt because last week Sydney decided to eat my old bedspread and bed skirt. Jason worked on installing our new microwave, hooking the stove up to the gas line and working on a bunch of stuff in our office. I bought new table linens and made name cards, and tonight we will venture out to the grocery store to purchase all the food needed for the big day. I'm taking Wednesday off so I can clean the house and make pies. And while my whole family can't join us on Thursday, I'm looking forward to spending time with the in-laws and my brother, and celebrating Thanksgiving in our home.

Things I've Gained My First Year Of Marriage

Now that Jason and I have successfully made it through our freshman year of marriage, I feel as though I have learned a lot these past 12 plus months. With marriage comes many things - happiness, joy, companionship, comfort. Below are some things I have gained since becoming a "wife creature":

Patience
Living with another person can test your patience. It is hard, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Of course I wouldn't trade being married for anything in the world, but I have had to learn to become more patient (as I know Jason has too). Someone taking too long in the bathroom? Just shrug it off and let them be. Are there clothes strewn about in an otherwise clean bedroom? Pick them up, hang them in the closet, and move on. Does it take a little longer to decide on how to decorate a room, or what dishes to buy because you have to discuss the issue? You're discussing it so that you will both agree and be happy. Trust me, a little patience can go a long way.

Wisdom
In addition to learning patience, I really believe marriage makes you smarter. After all, you always have someone there to talk with about the issues of the day, what's going on in the news, and can you explain what a first down in football means again? Of course, I wonder if you actually have to marry someone smart to become smarter yourself as a married person? I mean, I see stupid people all the time who are married, usually driving recklessly through the Wal-Mart parking lot, only to emerge from their beat-up van with four dirty kids and a pack of Virginia Slims in hand. But that is neither here nor there. I definitely know that marrying Jason has made me more aware of this world, if not smarter about it.

Stuff
Oh my God. Your stuff, his stuff, the stuff you get from the wedding and the stuff that is handed down to you. It's freakin' everywhere! You bring your boxes and boxes and boxes of books, he brings his boxes and boxes and boxes of computer accessories. You have a lot of shoes? He has a lot of ties. And shirts. And shorts. You have little knick-knacks and decorations, and pictures of your college gal pals? He has the xbox, the Nintendo, the game cube and the Wii. And then there is all the stuff you registered for. And didn't register for. Like the silver tray you received...twice. And the strange candy dishes that relatives gave you (that I have actually come to love and really enjoy, especially with Dove mini chocolates in them). All this stuff leads me directly into the next thing you gain your first year of marriage...

A New House
To contain all the aforementioned stuff, the married couple must purchase a new, preferably bigger, home. We did. We bought our current home in January, and filled it quickly with all of our stuff. We were bursting at the seams in our old house (which I loved) and now we have room to breathe and enjoy all the stuff we brought into the marriage and acquired from our wedding.

Weight
Yes...weight. I can't speak for my husband, but I am victim to the marriage freshman fifteen. I realized this a couple months ago when my fat jeans no longer fit me. After stepping on a scale for the first time during my freshman year of marriage, I discovered that I had gained about 11 pounds. Argh! I'm currently doing something about it, and please to report that the 11 pounds are gone (and then some).

I have several theories as to why a married person gains weight. Married people don't eat cereal for dinner, as singletons do. Married people have less time to go to the gym. Married people are comfortable, and thus less likely to try and maintain the elusive abs of steel because they have already secured their mate. (Although I still try to look good for my husband, and I know my husband tries to look good for me. I think that is something we'll always strive to do).

Understanding
Standing right up there with patience, I have gained understanding whilst being a wife. You know the old saying, "You don't know someone until you live with them"? Well, you don't know someone until you are married to them. Being married to Jason, I've come to understand him more as a man and as a husband. I'm even amazed when I learn something new about him, even after all this time of dating, engagement and marriage. I think this processes is continual. As the years go on, Jason and I will only learn more about each other, become more understanding of one another, and ultimately our love will grow even deeper.

So there you have it. Lessons in life and love that I have gained by taking the plunge and moving into the "married" category on my tax forms. I love marriage and I highly recommend it. Just watch what you eat, have a few extra clothes hangers on hand, and by all means, don't be afraid to return doubles of items you receive from your wedding (lest you want to end up buying a bigger house).

Move Over Courier and Ives...

...Christmas comes to Cary! This past Saturday morning, I got up early and ventured out to Target to run some errands. Most Saturday mornings I sleep in. But I decided to take advantage of the crisp fall air and go out and about in the morning.

On my way to Target, I stopped by my local Starbucks and picked up my grande soy latte. Christmas was in full swing at the 'Bucks, and I was quickly overcome with the intoxicating mix of "The Christmas Song" by Nat King Cole and caffinated coffee aromas wafting from the coffee bar. Mmmm...I should work there.

When I hopped back in the car to continue on to Target, I discovered that one of the local radio stations is playing Christmas music too! Now, I am ALL about some Christmas and holiday cheer, but thought to myself that it was a little too early to hear "Please Come Home For Christmas" by the Eagles. However, already high on Christmas from Starbucks, I shrugged this "it's too early" nonsense off and decided to embrace the Christmas music. After all, Thanksgiving is next week and that is the real kickoff to Christmas.

By the time I arrived at Target, I was fully caffinated and singing right along with Burl Ives on the radio. Burl! You're a classic! When I pulled into the parking lot, I found myself surrounded by two dozen geese! There is a pond near the shopping center next to Target, and I guess the geese were making their way over to it! I had to proceed cautiously to my parking space, as many of the geese were walking right into the road. The geese were so cute, and I couldn't help but feel as though I were in a Courier and Ives Christmas card (minus the snow, the Christmas tree, the ornaments, and more. Oh well. I was still in my Starbucks induced Christmas stupor).

I ran my errands quickly (it's amazing how quiet Target is at 9:30 am). I did make one indulgent purchase (which I completely blame on the intoxicated state I found myself in at Starbucks): brown flannel sheets with light blue snowflakes! Not only are the cute snowflake sheets the colors of our wedding, but they are cute snowflake sheets! Knowing that we were having overnight guests for Thanksgiving, I couldn't help but buy some fun sheets for the guest bed.

After loading up the car with my goodies from Target (yay, sheets!), I made my way back home. I was still in a great holiday mood, although I was quickly brought back to my senses when I heard John Mellencamp's "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" on the radio. That song should NEVER be played on the radio. In fact, I would go so far as to say that the Cougar should have never made a Christmas album in the first place. I guess when they start playing all the crappy Christmas songs on the radio, you know Christmas can't be too far away. Happy Holidays everyone!

Cheers!

Sonny

Yesterday Sonny left our family. He was a wonderful pet. I miss him terribly. He was always a faithful friend, and constant companion and a very loving animal. I remember bringing home Sonny from the pet store with my mom and brother the summer before I started fifth grade. I was so happy! We finally had a pet! We named him Sonny because of the color of his fur, golden yellow, like the sun (although we probably should have spelled his name "Sunny").

Mom was with Sonny and the vet yesterday when they put him down. It was his time. It's hard for me to believe that he is gone. I've had Sonny the majority of my life. Sonny taught me how to love a pet, and I will always remember that. He was one of my best friends growing up. Although he got into his fair share of trouble - like the year he climbed up the Christmas tree and knocked it down, breaking many ornaments - he was always a good pet.

Sonny, I love you. I know you are in a better place now. I'll never forget you!

Jack Will Not Be Back

This morning I learned that Fox's "24" will NOT return in January for Day 7 because of the strike by the Writers Guild of America. OK. Now I'm really mad. Take away Desperate Housewives and Dave Letterman. I don't care. But do not take away Jack Bauer. Keifer Sutherland should don his Jack Bauer bullet-proof vest, bomber sunglasses and canvas nap sack, storm the offices of the Writers Guild and demand that they start writing scripts again. After all, he would tell them, the future of the world rests on their shoulders and, dammit, if they don't start writing, the life of the President may be in jeopardy!

Maybe I'm a little too into "24", but with good reason. It is an awesome show. Just when you think the concept of real-time television might get stale, the writers (now former writers) always came up with an awesome plot twist. Now, the twist is that there is no Day 7 awaiting me in January. I understand that especially for a show like 24, (that starts in January and ends in May so that there will be no repeats) it is imperative to have a full season written out before filming starts. And this is why they went ahead and postponed Day 7. But that still does not sit well with me.

I heard somewhere on the radio that television writers have a starting salary of about $200,000. And as my husband pointed out, they are not paid on commission. They are paid for their product, the script, and once they are done writing, then that is the end of that. After all, writers aren't punished monetarily if they write for a television show that doesn't make it. The studio absorbs the costs of sucky shows, not the writers. The worst that happens to a writer is he or she moves on to another show. And if they happen upon a hit show, then kudos to them.

I just hope it ends soon. I don't pretend to understand all the details of the dispute between the writers and the studios. They just better not cancel Grey's Anatomy, or I might have to don the Jack Bauer bullet-proof vest and storm my way into Hollywood and change some minds. After all, the future of the world depends on it.

My First Pet

This is a close up shot of my first pet, Sonny. Sonny is a yellow tabby cat who is going on 17 plus years. He has been a wonderful pet, and I love him dearly even though he lives in Winston-Salem with my parents.

Sonny is sick. Last night, my mom found him on the couch on his back whithering in pain. She scooped him up, placed him in a laundry basket with towels and drove him to the emergency vet. The doctor said that Sonny had suffered the human equivalent of a stroke. They checked his other vitals, and they were all strong. Sonny is back at home today, and Mom is taking him to the vet later this afternoon. While I am praying for the best, I know that Sonny has lived a long and happy life. Mom is suppose to call me later today to let me know what his regular vet determines about Sonny's condition. Until then, I'm just hoping for the best. I love you Sonny!

Dog Loves of My Life

There are three dogs in my life that I love: Sydney, Maxwell and Tucker.


This is Sydney and Tucker chilling at my brother-in-law's house. A few weeks ago, myself, my husband and my brother-in-law took a trip down to Atlanta to visit my mother-in-law. Sydney stayed at Tucker's house while we were down in Georgia. We had a great time, but I think Sydney and Tucker had an even better time. Sydney adores Tucker, who is a four year old yellow lab. She tries to copy everything that he does. I think she might have a little crush on him. Sydney likes to tackle Tucker in the backyard and steal the ball from his mouth (literally) and she follows him around everywhere. They are really cute together.


This is Maxwell. Maxwell recently went to doggie heaven and is happily chasing squirrels and rabbits. Max was a very sweet dog and I miss having him around. He was Jason's dog growing up, a chocolate brown lab. Although I only knew Max for about three years, I've heard many stories about his younger days and growing up with Jason. My favorite story might be how Max use to take a ball to the top of the stairs, let go of it and watch it fall down, and then he would go down the stairs, pick it up, and start all over again. His own game of fetch. Very clever.

These are the dog loves of my life. Truly a man (and woman's) best friend.

Episode 1: Bostic Family Halloween

As you can clearly see from the photo above, we like Star Wars. Jason has loved the series since he was a little kid. I only recently began to appreciate and love the series. This year, we decided to do a Star Wars theme for Halloween. I transformed myself into Princess Leia, and we brought out the cardboard cut out of Yoda and the robotic R2D2 to accompany me.

We acquired R2D2 last Saturday at Southpoint mall in Durham. They had dozens of R2D2s in the window of The Sharper Image, and we just had to go in a take a look. R2D2 responds to your voice commands. He can sing, talk back to you, go on patrol, turn right and left and even monitor a room! R2 is pretty fun to have around, and it fit our theme quite nicely. Sydney is still a little wary of R2, but we've made a lot of progress from the initial barking and jumping fit last weekend.

We had about 20 or so trick-or-treators last night, and it was fun to see the kids' reaction when a costume clad adult answered the door and gave them candy. When we weren't handing out candy, Jason and I (in keeping with our theme) watched Episode 4: A New Hope on DVD. We had a fun night and decided to keep with our Star Wars Halloween tradition for next year.

PS - Can you spot Sydney in the background of the picture?

How Fast Does A Year Go?

A year goes by pretty darn fast when you are married. Yesterday, my wonderful husband and I celebrated our 1st year anniversary! We went out to dinner on Saturday night to Rey's Restaurant (the site of our rehearsal dinner). We had drinks, dinner and dessert - my three favorite D's.

Before dinner we exchanged gifts. My wonderful and talented husband gave me a framed poster of 96 pictures from our wedding. Think of it as a large collage of our wedding day. It's wonderful. He also gave me a beautiful Tiffany charm bracelet. I gave him a Tivoli radio, a Christmas ornament and a tissue dispenser (for paper anniversary; also sort of a gag gift but hard to describe online).

Yesterday, we ate a piece of our wedding cake. Now, this cake was not the topper we had frozen in the back of our refrigerator. Our cake baker made us a brand new cake topper for our anniversary. She does this for all of her couples. It's one of the many reasons we decided to use her as our baker. The cake was delicious, and she even decorated it in our wedding colors, light blue and dark brown.

We had a wonderful wedding anniversary, and even got some things done around the house! Thanks to Restoration Hardware, we have a new door bell, a new door knocker and new house numbers! Now our house is ready for those trick-or-treators on Halloween!

Happy "Paper" Anniversary!

The Rain Has Come...Has Fall Come Too?

FINALLY...we have rain in Cary. North Carolina, as most of the southeast, is in a severe draught. We finally got a day of rain yesterday and it has continued today. We are expected to get rain through Saturday. Somehow our lawn has stayed fairly green despite the fact that we never water our lawn (the city is on water restrictions anyway).

The weather has also turned a little cooler today. Yesterday, we had a high somewhere near 83 degrees. In October! I love cooler weather so this loooong summer has been particularly annoying. I'm actually wearing a long sleeve shirt today - go figure! I hope we make up for it the winter with some snow. I love the snow, and a couple snow days off from work would be fun.

Sound Selections

Can you tell a lot from a person by the type of music they listen to? Probably so. When I bought my new Ford Explorer last year, one of the features I was most excited about was a six disc CD changer. My previous car (an older Nissan Sentra which I loved) had no such feature. I was at the mercy of the radio and (gasp!) a tape deck. Since acquiring my wonderful new ride last summer, I have thoroughly enjoyed the wonders of having six CDs available to me with the single touch of a button. Currently this is the music I am enjoying (in order of how they live in my CD changer):

"Inside in/Inside Out" by The Kooks. I discovered this wonderful British indie rock band on iTunes about two months ago. Love them! The band members are almost 10 years younger than I am, but those British accents sure do make them sound older. The talent these kids have - I mean, what was I doing at age 17? Deciding what pair of Gap jeans to buy? Sadly, yes.

Billy Joel classics. My husband does not like the Billy Joel, so I crank it up when he's not with me. "The Longest Time" from the An Innocent Man album is literally the first song I ever remember listening to. My mom had the record, and oh yes, I had the moves at age six.

Fleetwood Mac's Greatest Hits. Who is cooler than Stevie Nicks? NO ONE.

Mel's Mix, circa 2006. My own burned CD featuring The Fray, The Knack, KT Tunstall, Maroon 5 and more!

Mel's Mix, circa 2005. Featuring Ambulance LTD, Hoobastank, Incubus and more!

"FutureSex/LoveSounds" by Justin Timberlake. This kid continues to make awesome records and very cool songs. Clearly N'SYNC was limiting the stylistic and lyrical genius that is Justin Timberlake. Congrats JT on breaking free from the boy band curse.

Organic vs. Conventional: The Debate Goes On

I was knocking about on the World Wide Web this morning and stumbled upon this website from the Environmental Working Group regarding pesticide levels in fruits and vegetables. This website ranks fruits and vegetables according to the levels of pesticides that are found in them. The worst foods - containing the most pesticides - have a high number and the better foods - containing the least amount of pesticides - have a low number. I was not too surprised to see some of my favorite fruits and veggies listed high on the list (darn it)! Those fruits and veggies are typically the ones that we consume with the skin - apples, strawberries, grapes and lettuce.

The website lists 43 fruits and veggies, and ranks all of them. It then gives a handy little breakdown of the 12 worst produce items and the 12 best produce items regarding pesticide levels. The website encourages consumers to purchase organic produce of the 12 worst, thereby decreasing your consumption of pesticides up to 90%! That is awesome!

If anyone eats organic, or has researched it, you know how expensive organic foods can be. Places like Whole Foods and Trader Joe's help with price, but I'll be darned if I'm paying close to $2 a pound for organic bananas. But reducing pesticide consumption by 90% just by purchasing a dozen organic produce items is pretty tempting to follow.

If I had more time and money, I would eat exclusively organic foods. They do taste better and I don't have a weird aftertaste in my mouth when eating certain organic foods (seriously, compare organic grapes and conventional grapes. You'll know what I'm talking about). But alas, I work for a non-profit and my funds are limited. Also, I don't have time at night to spend two hours cooking a fully organic meal for the family. Alas, I just try to do my best by eating what I think is healthy and purchasing relatively healthy food for my husband (organic chocolate rocks by the way - ROCKS!). But I think the handy little produce guide on the EWG website may influence my next trip at the grocery store. After all, the more people that buy organic, the lower the price should come down (eventually), right? (Wow - would my Econ 101 professor be proud).

Where Have I Been?

I realize that I have not made a post in over a week. What, you ask, has taken me away from A Coffee To Go?


Work


Taking care of our home


A weekend trip to Atlanta to visit my mother-in-law


More work

Being so busy can take it's toll, so yesterday I made sure to sit back, relax and take a break.


Ahh...this is nice...

Republican Presidential Debate

Tonight, CNBC, MSNBC and The Wall Street Journal are hosting a Republican Presidential debate that will focus on economic issues facing our country. This should prove to be a lively debate, now that we have Fred officially in the running and Chris Matthews moderating the debate. More information regarding the debates can be found here.

Law School Comes To Raleigh

Campbell University's Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law announced today their plans to move the law school from Buies Creek, NC to downtown Raleigh, NC. The Board of Trustees of the University unanimously voted to approve the move to the State Capitol. This is exciting news for this area, as Raleigh is one of the largest cities that currently does not have a law school. The school is set to embark on a $20-$25 million dollar upgrade and renovation of a current building downtown to house the law school. The law school plans to be completely moved to Raleigh by fall 2009. More information can be found below:

Campbell Law School Moving to Raleigh

Campbell Law School Announces Move to Downtown Raleigh

Local news covering the press conference

I Like Fred

This is why I think Fred Thompson should be our next president.

Go Fred!

A Midnight Conversation

In a previous post about my dog, I mentioned how Sydney likes to sleep in our bed at night...with us in it. Never mind the fact that I bought her a nice and cozy bed online from Drs. Foster and Smith. We've tried different methods of trying to get her to sleep in her own bed at night, but no avail. Usually Sydney starts out in our bed and then I move her to her bed on the floor when I get into bed (she usually tries to occupy my side on the bed). If only that were the end of the story.

Me: Goodnight honey. I hope you sleep okay.
Husband: Goodnight sweetie. Sleep good too. Where's Sydney?
Me: Oh, I think she's in the other room. No, she's in her bed!
Husband: Good girl, Sydney!
Me: Good girl! You're such a good girl!

Several peaceful hours of sleep later...

Thump! Sniff, sniff! Lick! Wag, wag!

Me: Yawn....Sydddnnney...what are you doing?
Sydney: sniff
Me: Sydney, please don't lay on my head.
Sydney: sniff
Me: OK, let's go. Get back in your bed.

Sydney back in bed, asleep. Husband and me, back asleep.

An hour later....

Thump! Sniff, sniff! Lick! Wag, wag! Shake, shake!

Me: Sydney....please go lay in your bed.
Sydney: shake, shake
Me: Sydney, please don't...ow! Don't claw my back!
Sydney: stretch....strreeeeettttcccchhhh....
Me: OK, let's go. Get back in your bed.

Sydney back in bed, asleep. Husband and me, somewhat back asleep.

Twenty minutes before alarm goes off...

Thump! Sniff, sniff! Wag, wag! Shake, shake, shake! Lick! Lick! Lick! Lick!

Me: Sydney! Yik...My face is all wet!
Sydney: lick! lick!
Me: Huuuuuhhh...sigh....
Sydney: Yaaawwn....
Me: Sigh...I give up. Goodnight Sydney. I hope you sleep okay.
Sydney: sniff!

BRRRIINNG! BRRRIINNG! BRRRIINNG!

Me: Stupid alarm.
Sydney: sniff!

Seriously...Seriously!

I am a HUGE fan of Grey's Anatomy. Tonight is the season premiere. Thus, I am one happy camper. I just love how realistic the story line is and watching an accurate portrayal of how real-life surgeons and surgical interns perform their job.

Yeah, right.

Grey's Anatomy is tantamount to a sophisticated soap opera. Granted the acting is extremely good, the writing is wonderful, the story lines are fascinating, so in that regard, it is nothing at all like a soap opera. However, it has the interpersonal drama of the soap opera that gives house wives and nursing home patients an addiction spanning decades.

And yes, I am addicted to Grey's Anatomy.

I don't watch soaps. They are cheezy! But I do admit to LOVING Grey's Anatomy, The O.C., Sex in the City and Felicity (that's right, I wrote Felicity. What?). I love dramas. I love watching the characters interact with each other and the mess the usually end up getting in. The human drama - I love it. I love the story lines, the romantic drama, who will end up with who. It's a great escape! But I am sad that Dr. Burke will no longer be on the show. Man, Isiah Washington got the shaft but that is another post for another day.


And I'm not afraid to admit that I would kick ass on this board game. That's right...and take names too.

A Girl and Her Dog

This is my dog Sydney. She is a 15 month old lab-boxer mix that we adopted from the Franklin County Humane Society. Family members will remember when we first adopted Sydney about a year ago this month. She was a mere sixteen pounds and barley stood as high as my knees. Now some 64 pounds later, she is almost fully grown but still has the heart and mind of a puppy (that would be the lab influence in her).

As you can plainly see from the picture, Sydney also has an extremely long tongue. I'm not sure if this is boxer or lab, but in any case, I receive comments on it almost every time we take a walk. I imagine her tong rolling up in her mouth like one of those old window shades that snap and roll up to the top when you pull the bottom. Honestly, I don't know where she puts it all - it's a really long tongue.

Sydney loves to walk. She would probably be most happy if we walked twice a day, but alas her momma doesn't have the time or energy to do two walks in a single day. We do however try to get outside at least 3-4 times per week. This summer has been brutally hot, so we've taken up to walking in the morning before work. I'm still amazed at how she can go from dead asleep, snoring in my ear (don't get me started on how we can't get her out of our bed) to full on wide awake, tail wagging and ready to hit the sidewalk. Meanwhile, her blurry-eyed momma is stumbling to the bathroom to put on whatever T-shirt and shorts she can find and scrape her hair back into a ponytail. If I had a tail, it would certainly not be wagging at 6:15 in the morning.

This morning we had a great walk. It was actually pretty cool outside and that made Sydney and me very happy. When it finally starts to cool down here in North Carolina (today's high is suppose to be around 90 degrees), we'll switch to walking after work. At either time of day, Sydney is still very excited to get out an walk, tongue flapping in the breeze and tail wagging all the way.

Putting The Smack Down

By now, most of you know about yesterday's visit to Columbia University by President Ahmadinejad. Amid tens of thousands of protesters, Ahmadinejad was given a platform by the University to speak about current events in Iran, and not so current events such as the Holocaust (or, in his mind, the "theory" of the Holocaust). While I am thoroughly disgusted that an American university gave this man a platform and a podium, I couldn't help but smile a little when Columbia University Lee Bollinger put the smack down on Ahmadinejad by launching personal attacks his way. Bollinger called him a petty man, and a dictator. He questioned Ahmadinejad's statements on wiping Israel off the map and about the Holocaust. While I don't agree with Columbia's decision to bring this man onto US soil, it really shouldn't surprise me that they did. After all, Columbia invited one of Hitler's top men to come speak back in the 1930's.

Columbia wasn't President Ahmadinejad's only stop in America. Earlier on Monday he spoke to the National Press Club via satellite from New York.

Between Columbia University (housing the top journalism school in the country) and the National Press Club, is it any wonder why our media is so left focused? Hello?

Even if you are the most liberal journalist out there, even if you are the biggest Bush hater among them all, why in the world would a journalist want to listen to a man who's country has EXECUTED journalists. I know the very nature of journalism is to seek out the truth and report the facts, to get both sides of the story, but sadly traditional journalism has fallen to the wayside of grossly opinionated op-ed pieces and stories so skewed with liberal bias that is hard to know what the truth is anymore.

But I digress.

After speaking to the National Press Club and Columbia University yesterday, President Ahmadinejad is speaking to the UN General Assembly today. President Bush is slated to speak some two hours before Ahmadinejad takes the podium. Will Bush lay some smack down on Ahmadinejad? Let's hope so.

When the day is done, I hope that Ahmadinejad will swiftly find his way back to Iran. Columbia and the National Press Club may have welcomed you to America, but I certainly did not, and neither did thousands and thousands of others.

Is This Really News?

Most mornings I flip on The Today Show to get a brief update of what is going on in the world today. This morning I had the fortunate timing to tune in right as they began yet another story about Britney and K-Fed (or Fed-Ex, personally my favorite moniker). This time, Meredith Vieira had an exclusive interview with Federline's divorce attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan.

As I watched this interview (with the graphic "Exclusive Interview" up at the top of the screen), I couldn't help but ask myself outloud, "Is this really news?" The interview focused on the heated custody battle between Brit and Fed-Ex and which parent (and I use the term parent very loosly) would have primary custody of the two boys. There was a recent court order that stated that Brit had to have eight hours of parental counseling per week, could not use drugs or alcohol at least 12 hour prior to a visit with the kids, and Brit was subject to random drug testing.

Are you freakin' kidding me?

The fact that the court had to order that Brit take classes on how to be a parent and to not use drugs before being with her kids is proof that Brit doesn't need to be around her kids at all. Is it really hard to decide for yourself that one lay off the crack pipe before you watch your own children? Come on!

Kaplan went on to say that Federline was seeking primary custody and was concerned about the welfare of his two young children. Riiiiigghhht.....Fed-Ex is obviously the best choice in this scenario. Again, are you freakin' kidding me? Why not take the children away? We've all seen their track record played out on national television. What a sad, sad world we live in.

What most people fail to realize is the root of all these problems goes back to parenting and personal responsibility. I'll say it again to make myself clear:

Parenting and personal responsibility

No one gets those two concepts anymore. And I'm not just talking about celebrities. Everyday people in the communities we live in are plagued with bad parenting skills and a sense of entitlement. That's right - if more parents actually disciplined their children, I serious doubt our society would be plagued with the problems that we are facing today. Take responsibility for your children, and your own life. No one owes you anything. Take personal responsibility for your actions. No one owes me a driver's license. I earned that by passing an eye exam, passing a written test, paying the fees and not getting DUIs or accumulating speeding tickets. I earned my driver's license.

Now, I am not a parent. I hope to be one someday, and when I am, I can guarantee you that my children are going to understand the concept of personal responsibility. And I can guarantee you that my husband and I will lay down the firm hand of discipline whenever necessary. I can also say with fair certainity that I will be screening everything they watch on television, including the so-called "news."

The Wonder Pets!

When life gets you down, I would suggest tuning into Nick Jr. and watching The Wonder Pets! I promise you will feel much better afterwards.

Ace of Cakes

No, you haven't stumbled upon the Food Network's Web site - this cake is from the kitchen de la Bostic. For several days I've had the urge to make a cake. Why you ask? Yeah, I have no idea. I just wanted to make one. I didn't even really want to eat it. I just wanted to make it.

Right...sure you just wanted to "make" one and not dig into it the minute it was frosted with a large spatula and a glass of milk in hand...

It's true! I just had the need to bake! Actually, I must confess that I did have a modest piece of cake to taste my skills. Not too bad. I've made a few cakes in my day, and a few from scratch. I really prefer to bake from scratch - cakes, brownies, cookies. Mixes are great, and easy, and predictable. But the "old fashion" way is the best.

What's up with the blue dots?

They're not blue dots. They are cobalt blue polka dots, and I find it makes my cake fun with a touch of whimsy. Retro meets edgy. Blue meets white. Oh, who am I kidding. I had leftover blue icing from a cake I made a couple months ago. At least I am a resouceful cake baker!

Constitution Day

Hey kids! Today is Constitution Day, a day set aside to honor and celebrate the document that gives the American people life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. If you have never heard of Constitution Day, then shame on you - you may no longer call yourself an American. Just kidding. Congress just created Constitution Day in 2004.

Of all the things that Congress has (or hasn't) done in the past few years, creating a day to celebrate this legal document is something I can stand behind. Lest you end up on a Jaywalking segment sometime in the future, I would advise you to check out the list of factoids about the Constitution written in this St. Cloud Times news article. Enjoy - I will be quizzing each of you at the end of the semester.

Windy Wedding Day

Periodically I will post wedding pictures on the blog so friends and family can take a look. Now a days, a couple receives their wedding pictures back on a DVD, so it is a little hard to show the pictures to people who are interested in seeing them. This captures exactly how windy it was after our ceremony! Do I look like a bride or The Flying Nun? Take your pick.

The Greek Zone

Our friends Kelly and Champ invited Jason and me to a UNC football game yesterday. The opponet was UVA, and though we were pretty evenly matched, we lost by two points. Our seats were not that great, so we decided to sit in the open seating student section. Five rows up from the field, we thought we had found the perfect spot to enjoy the game. Unfortunately, we got trapped in the Greek zone...

For those of you not familiar with the Greek scene on any given college campus, let me first address their attire. Now, I can only speak from a UNC perspective, but at every game, the guys and gals come dressed as if attendeing a summer wedding in Cape Cod. Decked out in their Rainbow flip flops, Vineyard Vines khaki pants, J.Crew sundresses and Alexander Julian bow ties, these guys and gals are dressed to impress. With airplane bottles of liquor strapped to their upper thighs (gals) and a strategically placed cigarette above their ear (guys), the brothers and sisters are there to drink, yell, flirt and fall down concrete steps. Hey, at least they look good doing it.

Properly attired for the game, the guys and gals set forth to flirt, gossip and socialize.

Oh, are we suppose to be paying attention to the game? No? OK, did you hear about Mary Beth's new Range Rover and how it has NO built in GPS? Ohmygod, what were her parents thinking buying her that piece of crap?

As everyone knows, most of the Greeks live either in a frat or sorority house. At UNC, we have Frat Row and Frat Court. Living together, one might assume that when you meet up with you friends later, you wouldn't act so surprised to see them. But no, these Greeks (especially the gals) greet each other with the energy and volume of shrieking hyenas.

Ohmygod!!! Where the [bleep] have you been? I have been, like, texting you for like, an hour!

Nevermind that these gals saw each other just hours before at the sorority house. No, there are more important things to consider

OK - Thad and Britt went to go grab us a couple Diet Cokes so we can totally put some Captain Morgans in them. Ohmygod...I'm going to get so [bleep] wasted today! Do you think Thad likes me?

OK, by now I'm sure that you are thinking that I'm making fun of my University. No, I have great love for UNC. I'm only making fun of the crazy Greeks that we were around. In the course of one football game, my husband and I watched as a gal flashed us, bow tie clad guys got drunk, some other gal got hit in the head with a plastic cup, and a guy tried to give his drunk gal pal a piggy back ride up the concrete steps of Kenan stadium (and thus holding up everyone else trying to exit the game).

Despite the rowdy Greeks (who may read this and think I'm just a boring old thud), my husband and I had a good time and we were glad to spend our afternoon with our friends. We'll definitely head back to Chapel Hill for another game, but we'll make sure to sit far away from the Greek zone.

The Final Goodbye

Today was Tony Snow's last day as White House Press Secretary. After 16 months on the job, Snow is leaving his post because he has run out of money (wait. government jobs don't pay well? get outta here). Snow brought humor and quick wit back to the Press Secretary's office, and made himself a household name in the process. Journalist on both sides of the political table seemed to always enjoy press briefings as much as Snow. We've watched as his cancer came back and he endured another round of chemotherapy. We've watched as he gracefully and candidly acknowledged he struggle with cancer and the toll it has taken on his body. And on NBC Nightly News, I watched footage of Snow leaving the office (the White House), brief case and bags in hand, with dozens of people clapping in his honor. A man with respect, with honor, kept the American people informed and entertained for 16 months. Best wishes, Tony.

Through The Eyes Of Coca-Cola

Apparently this is what the Coca-Cola Company thinks I look like based on a Vanilla Coke quiz. Try the quiz for yourself! It's a whole lotta caffinated fun!

A Grey Day

When I got home from work yesterday, I was pleased to find that my package from Amazon had arrived. In it was the third season of Grey's Anatomy.

Hurrah! Happiness is a box in the mail from Amazon!

Though I have seen every episode of season three (and two and one), I couldn't help but fall for the teaser email I received in my inbox about three weeks ago:

"Pre-order your copy of Grey's Anatomy: Season Three, the Seriously Extended edition!"

Pre-order? Of course! Free shipping? Fabulous! I immediately pulled out the 'ole VISA and keyed in my credit card number. Amazon is wonderful, and dangerous all at once. On any given day, one can visit Amazon's Web site, type in oh, I don't know, lets say the first and only season of My So-Called Life, and in the words of Emeril, BAM! You have Claire Daines and her red hair coming to you in DVD format in just a matter of days! Any whim can be catered to. And need (aka want) can be satisfied with the click of your mouse and the keying in of credit card digits. And don't even get me started on how you can purchase shoes and clothes through Amazon. Will its wonders ever cease to amaze me?

Number Eight

Tonight President Bush addressed the nation in what was his eighth address to the nation specifically on Iraq. Speaking only for about 15 minutes, President Bush commented on the state of affairs in Iraq, his agreement with General Petraeus' recommendations on reducing troop numbers overseas and the call for Iraqi citizens to make a plea to their leaders about the future of their nation and its democracy.

Brit Humme and the panelists on FOX News generally all agreed that the speech was a little repetitive of speeches in the past, and that President Bush paled slightly in comparison with General Petraeus and John McCain in terms of war expertise and assessment. I do agree that Bush's speech was a little "speechy" and I'm certain that Petraeus and McCain should be considered the experts on war compared to Bush. But then again, that's why they have Petraeus in the first place. The General's job is to carefully and strategically examine our efforts in Iraq and make the best recommendation to the President he can possibly make. The Bush administration does not want or expect failure. This is something the left doesn't understand. No one wants to lose in Iraq. No one wants more people die - whether it be American soldiers or Iraqi citizens - than are absolutely necessary. And yes, death is necessary in a war. It's a fact. As President Bush stated tonight, freedom is not free.

Iraq is unstable. Iran is a scary place. And the Middle East as a whole seems to be in peril. But just as our own country was so fragile some 250 plus years ago, so is the infant democracy in Iraq. We fought hard for our freedom. Colonist died on the soil we live on today so that we could enjoy every last single freedom promised to us in the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. Think how wonderful it will be when the Iraqi people can enjoy such freedoms. When a woman's testimony in court won't be considered half that of a man's testimony. When the children of Iraqi can carve out a future for themselves, without having a government tell them what they will become. The sweet taste of freedom is on their lips - and we as America have had a hand in that. How proud would our forefathers be of us now? The surge that began in Iraq back in January worked (much to the dismay of the liberals who wished its failure). Our efforts worked. And it's never too late to champion freedom. It's never too little too late when people's lives and freedom are at stake. The surge worked, and now we are bringing home more of our brave men and women. How sweet is that? Pretty awesome. And one thing is for certain - our world will be safer for the next generation, both American and Iraqi.

Life Is Good

American Elephant

Do you welcome open political debate in public and possibly an angry liberal or two whispering about you the next time you visit your local coffee shop? Then I have the perfect Web site for you: American Elephant. God bless Al Gore for inventing the Internet so that Web sites such as American Elephant can exist and prosper in this digital world that we live in.

The Web site features conservative quips and slogans emblazoned on everything from T-shirts, hats, buttons, bags, underwear and dog shirts. Why hold that wonderful conservative sentiment in when you can literally wear it on your sleeve? I have a couple T-shirts myself, and I love them! Browse around when you have a moment and pick up a few items for yourself and family. And remember kids, free speech rocks! And so does the American flag.

America the Beautiful

As you many know, The Today Show is doing a series called America the Beautiful which profiles ten natural wonders throughout the country. The number one spot was revealed today, and it is no surprise (at least to me) that the show chose the Grand Canyon. I have yet to see this natural beauty in the flesh, but I can only imagine how breath taking it is in person. The layers of sediment etched inside the canyon, the water twisting and turning down below, the birds soaring above the vast openess - a sight that one can only hope to view by helicopter. Amid all the CRAP that is shown on television these days, it is refreshing to have a series that reminds us all of what a beautiful country we are fortunate enough to live in, and what a wonder God has created. God Bless America

A Coffee To Go

Hello World! I want to welcome you all to my new blog, A Coffee To Go. The reason for the title you may ask? Well, in the life of a twenty-something year old, one is always on the go. At least that is how I feel. And I might as well tackle the world with my favorite coffee drink in hand, a soy latte from Starbucks.

The reason for the blog you may ask? There is so much going on in the world around us today that I felt the need to jump in and voice my opinions and beliefs! Hey, everyone else is - why shouldn't I? Also, I have a lot of close friends and family (including my husband) who are blogging and I wanted to participate in the dialogue. My friends and family have so many wonderful things to write about, and one of the reasons for creating this blog was to promote their writings, musings and ponderings as well! So, take a look around at the blogroll I have. You've already stumbled upon A Coffee To Go, so you might as well take a look at who I keep company with. Enjoy!