Who says safety has to be an issue!!

Did you know the Blue Angels were in town? If you live in Alabama and didn't know that, welcome back from under that rock you've been living underneath. It has been a very fun week in Tuscaloosa! Always something flying over!

Except for the Blue Angels...

I've been teased all week long. You can hear them, but where I work, you can' see them! So many of my friends send me texts:

Friend #1: I just saw the Blue Angels fly over!!

Me: Oh! Awesome! I can hear them, too! Maybe they'll fly over the dealership soon!

Friend #1: Well they scared [Child] to death! They are loud! I didn't know what it was!!

Me: O I hope 2 c them soon!! Tell them to fly over here!

Friend #2: The Blue Angels are practicing over my building!!

Me: Oh neat! Wat r they doin? I'm going 2 c them Sun! Can't wait!

Friend #2: Flying upside down!! You should go Sat! It's going 2 b beautiful!

Me: Can't. Have 2 work. Chance of rain down for Sun, tho.

Friend #2: They are flying so low you can see the pilot! They just waved!

Another friend of mine from work went on Saturday, too. It was a beautiful day yesterday! The sun was out, not a cloud in the sky, you could hear the planes, people were everywhere in Tuscaloosa. My friend correctly predicted this would happen. When James Spann says "storms" in the forecast, people duck and run. Storms are in the forecast for today...

So while my friend was hanging out at the airport, grilling out, drinking a beer at Tuscaloosa's small airport Saturday - on the most beautiful day we've had in weeks - I was working, waiting impatiently for my turn to see the much heard of Blue Angels!

I wake up this morning, fix my coffee, sit down with dog, turn on the computer and enjoy the silent hum it makes while it boots. Then, a familiar sound of thunder starts to rumble. Are the planes already coming in? It's a little early... Then a huge flash of light, a loud clap of thunder and the April showers start.

I can't listen to the Blue Angels all week and NOT see them.

Gates open in one hour and 39 minutes. It's not raining near like it was earlier...but given the slight chance that it could continue, I'm going to have to demand that the Blue Angels and all other stunt and show planes fly today. I feel like I'm being teased... Safety? What safety! A little rain never hurt people jumping out of planes with parachutes!!!

The last you heard about...

Last month I went on a ghost hunt and I said then that I would have more information to detail later. I know I haven't done that yet and I apologize. I haven't because I was asked to write the actual story for the paper that got us invited.

Once it prints, I'll post the story for you. You'll get to read all about the evidence and experiences I had that night. It was so much fun and I can't wait to share it with you!

The Six

Six things about me you probably don't know:

1. I have OCD. I went to get medication for it and the doctor told me it was all in my head. I don't like to step on lines, all of the nutritional labels on my boxes of food have to face me when I open the pantry, I like even numbers of objects unless it is divisible by three, I don't get in the bed unless it's completely made, I fold clothes without wrinkles in them, I don't like for my food to touch or I don't eat it, I like straight lines i.e. pictures can't be crooked or the TV has to be in a straight line with the table, yada yada yada. There are more to list but it would take over the six things you don't know about me.

2. I don't like Christmas that much. It's too commercialized for my taste. It should be about Jesus' birthday and being a gift to others; not how much you spent or how much you can't spend because of the economy.

3. I sang in Carnegie Hall, twice. Small, unimportant fact about me, especially considering that there were 500 other people my age singing with me both performances.

4. I have this strange ability to remember most actors' names and filmographies, including some movies I haven't seen, after seeing them in just a few movies.

5. Along the same lines, I have another strange ability to be able to remember the words to most songs; the ability is even stronger for songs that I really hate!

6. I have a fear of drains. That's embarrassing to admit, but you never knew it about me did you? I'm not only afraid of the drains in pools but I'm afraid of the drain in tubs and sinks. I prefer my sinks come with garbage disposals so I don't have to get any additional bits of food out of the drain...wraeahgh! My skin is crawling thinking about it!

Mental Health Day

I am so excited today! I have the day off from work! While it doesn't take my mind off of some of the stresses there, it does help me relax in a big way. I already have a packed schedule this evening and work on top of it was pulling me thin. So yesterday, when I asked if I could have the afternoon off a little early, I was very surprised when Clint said, "Just take Tuesday off."

That means I have a whole day to get stuff done today! Here's a little why I was getting stressed about this evening. Every month, my girlfriends and I have our Supper Club. Usually it's the second week of the month but with the holidays and all, it was much easier for all of us to get together the third week of December. We are having an ornament swap and eating dinner at a nice restaurant. We'll catch up with each other, ask how the babies and husbands are and then we'll laugh, cut up, relax and enjoy each others' company with no husbands or children around. I look forward to this every month! Especially since I work around 11 men all day, every day! That's not even counting my husband!

Tomorrow is our Christmas at the dealership. Not that I've been procrastinating at all, I haven't, I just need to get the ingredients to make my dish. I wasn't able to get to the store on Sunday and I have gotten to where I refuse to go to Walmart or Food World by myself at night over here. There was a mugging not too long ago and I don't particularly want to be the next victim. That being said, tonight, I would have to go to the store tonight to get the stuff I need for my dish. That's why I asked Clint if I could leave a little early: I wanted to be able to leave before it was dark, get my ingredients, go to Supper Club and come home to mix it together. Plus, tonight is the Biggest Loser Finale so I didn't want to be up late watching it or make my dish - a Paula Dean dish, no less - while watching people tell me how dishes like mine made the fat! Go Michelle!!

That being said, my schedule today is as follows:

• Call the radio station check
• Eat oatmeal check
• Play on the internet while oatmeal digests checking
• Go run three miles Maybe I'll run outside today, weather permitting...
• Circuit train Or maybe I'll run four miles outside today and say I had a good enough workout
• Eat egg whites Breakfast of champions!
• Grocery Shop Home and Holidays shopping!
• Cook But don't eat!
• Eat chicken and salad lunch of champions...
• Play on the internet some more
• Go to Supper Club
• Watch Michelle win the Biggest Loser! Or Ed - not Heba or Vicky! BTW, I voted for Ed!

Date Night

I'm so excited! My husband and I are going out tonight!

Every year in Tuscaloosa, the city holds its annual Christmas Afloat program. It's where people sign up to decorate their boats and parade down the Black Warrior River. Folks from all over the city line up along the riverbanks to watch. We've gone every year we've lived here, I think.

The first year we went, Trey actually judged the boats. It was when he was working for the radio station. We had to meet the other judges at a house boat by the Cypress Inn. A little bit of information about me you might not know: I get motion sick very easily! I wasn't surprised when Murphy's Law kicked in that night and the judges were to sit on top of the house boat and judge the parade...I don't know what was worse. The fact that it was absolutely cold outside or the fact that I eventually had to get off of the boat and sit by myself to watch the fireworks at the end.

Tonight won't be like that, though. It's going to be just us, as far as I know. It'll be nice to spend some time with my husband outside of the confines of our apartment...

#1 Fan

Text message from Stephen: Hear about Wicked?

Me: What about? Coming to Bham!!!!! Make trey get tickets!!! I want to go sooooo bad!!!

S: I can get tickets now

Me: What????? How much??

S: I think 30 thru 78 this is a presale too could get some really good seats!

Me: I can't say yes to that! I've got my half marathon to register for this month! Early Christmas present?

S: What r u asking me? half marathon?

Me: I'm running in a half marathon and I have to regsiter this month. Costs money. How long do we have for presale?

S: I don't know! think [Trey] would go? i was actually thinking of getting tickets

Me: All I know is that I'm going if I have to sneak in!!

Conversation with Trey:

"Hey, baby," stay sweet! "What are you doing??"

"Working. Just got off the phone with a client."

"Oh, that's great! I'm glad! Busy day?"

"Yes, busy." He knows somethings up! Dammit!

"I talked to Stephen just now." Just keep smiling!

"Oh yeah? What'd he say?" He knows I'm about to ask for something...

"Oh, that he can get presale tickets to Wicked now and I really want to go, I hear it's awesome, I really want to go see it -"

"No."

"But it's WICKED!"

"What's Wicked?"

"It's the Wizard of Oz. On. Broadway." duh!

"How much?" shit!

"I don't know," 'attagirl! Keep smiling! "Talk to Stephen! I don't know how he's got the connection or how long we have. All I know is there is no "NO" to Wicked."

"When is it?"

"April."

"Can it wait?"

"There. is. no. "NO." to. Wicked."

Multitasking

I'm having a difficult time putting down my Blackberry today.

I headed to the apartment gym to get my easy run in today and I played with my Blackberry while I was warming up.

While I was waiting for the water in the shower to heat up, I was playing with my Blackberry.

I was cooking some egg whites (diet of champions!) while playing with my Blackberry.

I walked to my car while playing on my Blackberry.

I was popping some popcorn in the popcorn machine. While I waited for the kernals to mature, I was playing with my Blackberry.

I have a list of people to call - a BIG, LONG list of people to call today - and I'm playing on my Blackberry.

I'm typing up the message right now and staring at my Blackberry!

I feel at peace.

Time keeps on ticking slowly

Only 5.5 hours to go till I go see Twilight! I'm so embarrassingly excited about this movie, it's not funny!

I've heard exciting things: It's raked in $35mil on opening day, it's as good as the book, it's fantastic, Twilight fans will be happy...all sorts of good things that make me even more excited.

Another thing I'm excited about: NO MEN TONIGHT. It will be me, and a few other women, for girls night with margeritas (Ole!) and Edward Cullen. Trey, when I come home tonight, I'll have higher standards of you for a couple of days. Be sure to have the house clean and be a slave to my every request. I love you!