Lazy Circles

Ever had one of those days ...

... when good and decent people get bad and unexpected news?

... when something you read in passing triggers a really painful memory and you can't control your reaction to it?

... when technology is not your friend?

Welcome to my day!

All I want to do is go for a power walk to clear my mind, but my current leg brace prevents me from doing that.  A power gimp walk just wouldn't be the same. (I also want to throw my laptop out the window into the Bricktown Canal, but that isn't an option. Don't think our insurance covers that type of water damage...)

So, instead of the power walk, I'll do some power quad sets, weight shifters, step overs and whatever else my physical therapist wants ... because I'm determined to get my life back to some semblance of normal because it hasn't felt normal in a really, really, really long time!

Now, life isn't all that bad. A friend and colleague announced that a new little one will be joining the world in December.  What a blessing!

I'm going to see wonderful, dear friends in Dallas this weekend at a co-ed couples baby shower and good times will definitely be had.

Sometimes you just need to type it out, focus on the good instead of the bad and enjoy the lemonade you've just made from your lemons.

Princess Lane

From birth until my family moved to Midwest City in 1983, I lived at 4748 Princess Lane in Del City. When I lived there, it was a brick house with white trim.  It had a huge backyard with a drainage creek behind the fence and a big tree in the front yard. There was a storm cellar at Jim and Di-Di's house across the street, and I played garage band (think tambourines and drums, not on my game system) and Private Benjamin with the kids down the street. I loved that house, because it was my first home.

So, imagine what I felt like on May 3, 1999, when I thought a tornado had destroyed this special place from my childhood. Would I still have those memories, even though I couldn't conjure them up by driving by the house? Thankfully for me, 4748 Princess Lane survived the storm, though every house on the other side of the drainage creek was flattened to their foundations. Don't get me wrong:  My heart ached for those who lost everything in that storm.  I can't imagine what that would be like.

You see, places that you call home - even if just a short while - hold a special place in your heart. Last night, I found out I'm not the only one who feels this way.

R-Dizzle, the man in my life, spent three years of his childhood in Haiti. (His dad was sent to Haiti as part of the USAID's efforts to reforest the island.) Upon hearing the news of the earthquake, we began watching news coverage. He showed me where he lived in Haiti on Google Maps, so I could get the lay of the land.  He began telling me of the devastating poverty he remembered witnessing in his childhood. He told me that the media isn't grasping the gravity of the situation ... that there would be hundreds of thousands of casualties. He does not know if his Haitian house survived.  This tragedy touched him, as its location had a direct link to his childhood ... to one of the places he called home.

I know I cannot fully comprehend the chaos and sadness in Haiti today; but, I do know there are hundreds of thousands of men, women and children who no longer have a home ... even if that home was nothing more than a meager cardboard box.

I know I am blessed to still have my childhood home, and I want to help those who no longer do in Haiti. I chose to make a small donation through the One Great Hour of Sharing International Disaster Relief Fund, which is the Disciples of Christ (DOC)/United Church of Christ (UCC) mission in Haiti. If you value your memories of home and want to help, please consider making a small donation toward the relief efforts.

Text HAITI to 90999 to make a $10 donation to the Red Cross.  Text "Yele" to 501501 to make a $5 donation to Wycleff Jean's Yele Haiti Organization. Check out these other Haitian Relief Options.

Long time no blog ...

OK ... I'm a slacker in the blogosphere ... so much has happened since my last post, I thought I'd give a status on the latest in LAB Life ... and, since this is the busy festive season, I wanted to let everyone know I may just wait until 2010 (or twenty-zen, as a friend called it) begins to start providing regular random musings ... so, if you don't hear from me before then, have a safe, magical, fun & blessed holiday season!

There's a delightfully quirky new man in my life, and he shall be known as R-Dizzle in blog world. I'm meeting his parentals in Arizona over New Year's.

I was supposed to have my other knee surgery next Tuesday but have wisely decided to postpone it until late April.  Hopefully, by that time, I'll be able to go down all stairs correctly ... not just the really shallow ones at work.

I have become a GLEEk as many of you have if your Facebook and Twitter feeds are to be believed.  Still think "Hate on Me" is my favorite, though "Gold Digger" is the one I find myself singing.  Volume 2 of the soundtrack comes out next Tuesday ...

Decided to host a brunch at my house to see some friends and to make myself tidy up my house.  Now, if I can just think of a good reason to tidy up my car ... Pearl's Sonic peppermint addiction is just a wee bit on the messy side ...

Managed to demote myself from Co-President to Secretary for one of my volunteer boards. I'll be rethinking some of my extra-curriculars in the coming months.

I did join the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oklahoma Board recently, and I'm excited to help out such a great organization.  Some of you may hear more about this from me in the near future ... learn more about BBBS and consider making a small donation to help give a deserving kid a better chance for future success.

That's all for now, as I must run and get gussied up for the company holiday party.

Happy! Happy!

Book Addict

My name is Lee Ann, and I have a problem.  I'm addicted to books.  I wish I was addicted to checking books out of the library.  I do check them out every now and then, but, for the most part, I buy books. 

I have a complete bookshelf full of books I've yet to crack open.  Now, I did purchase most of these at the Friends of the Library Book Sale for $1/piece. Despite this abundance of unread tomes, I found myself buying not one, but two new books today, when I'm currently in the midst of reading three books.  Of the three I'm currently reading, I bought two and was given one. I've been trying to read the two I purchased for months now.  I hate giving up mid-book, but my interest in these titles has apparently waned. I'll probably put them down again,when my new books arrive.

I think the Borders folks have totally figured me out ... give me $5 in Borders Bucks and free shipping, and I feel like it is my duty to buy the new books I know I want immediately.  Patience was never my virtue.

I suppose there are worse vices.

Currently reading:

1. The Wordy Shipmates- Sarah Vowell (Love this author...this book, not so much)
2. Pride & Prejudice & Zombies - Jane Austen & Seth Grahame-Smith (Love P&P...getting used to the zombie angle)
3. A Moveable Feast- Ernest Hemmingway (Just started...love Paris, so there's promise)

Purchased today:

1. Her Fearful Symmetry- Audrey Niffenegger (Loved The Time-Traveler's Wife)
2. The Lost Symbol - Dan Brown (Liked Angels & Demons better than DaVinci Code)

Happy Fall!

Fall officially arrived when I was in Vegas last week for Sonic Convention.  Thankfully, by most accounts, Convention was a success.  Yay!  It is a labor of love for so many peopl that it is always a thrill when things come together as they should.

But, enough about Convention...this post is about my favorite season - Fall!

Maybe it's because I was born in the Fall...maybe it's because I've always been a huge nerd and adore school supplies...maybe it's because I love college football...whatever the reason, I love Fall.  The weather is sunny and brisk, and the leaves start to change color.  The mums at OU are gorgeous. What's not to love about this season?

So, I wish you all a happy autumn!  We should get together for pumpkin dip, ginger snaps and hot cider soon.

When did I become ...?

Growing up, I used to spend a couple of weeks each summer with my aunt and uncle in Houston.  They had a 30-ft. sailboat, so we spent a lot of time at the Houston Yacht Club.  Driving from their house in Seabrook, which was close to my uncle's job in NASA administration, my aunt, who was a concert pianist and owned a piano studio, made me listen to either classical music ad nauseum or NPR. I. Hated. Both.

Maybe I hated them because they made the drive seem longer.  Maybe I hated them because my aunt couldn't quite hear it when the station got all staticy.  Who knows? I just remember that listening to talk, talk, talk and Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin made me awfully antsy in the backseat of her Lincoln. (I don't remember what we listened to in my uncle's Camaro, but I'm pretty sure it was much cooler.)

Fast forward to the present:  Now, what do I listen to every morning, most evenings, even occasionally on the weekend?  NPR.  And, if I'm in my car at 6 p.m., I turn over to the classical station to catch BBC News and catch a song or two.

I am not a fan of talk radio ... don't really care for the drama. NPR is different.  It's reporting. It's calming. It's actually quite random and interesting.  So, if you don't listen to it, I do recommend it.  If you do listen to it, I do recommend supporting your local station with your dollars.

Now I wonder ... When did I become an adult?  When did I become my aunt?

Back to Reality

I am not a fan of reality television.  Never have been. Doubt I ever will be.  However, I have been spending some quality time watching HGTV's House Hunters and House Hunters International. I like the latter, because I love to travel and enjoy learning about how the locals live in exotic locales.  I like the former, because it reaffirms how lucky I am to live in OKC where you can get a lot of house for your buck.

While I am going to be selling my condo in the near future, this post isn't about real estate. 

I am not known for my decisiveness, and I like the idea of having a "professional" help; so I'd like for there to be a Nice Normal Educated Male Hunters show for me and my single friends. But, I can't decide if the "professionals" should be professional matchmakers or good friends.

I know that in this world of all things online, this is basically what every online dating site is about.  But, you know what, that's not really my style. I admit to having tried it, but the filters are not great.  I mean you can chat with a hysterical guy who likes to travel, but then you find out his education and profession leave a lot to be desired. Or, you get winked at by a 52-year-old man who has a photo of himself from 1977 in a Speedo with swim medals around his neck.  Or, said swimmer e-mails you with the message, "I have no chance."  That swimmer is a smart one.

I know people who met their spouses online.  I know people who have had their hearts broken online.  I'm trying to pretend I'm a totally modern gal, who is OK with the impersonal nature of the whole business.  I think I am just old-fashioned. I hope the right one will cross my path or that a friend or acquaintance will introduce me to someone nice.

For now, I'm going to try to take care of me for once and be the best person I can be. My life has been filled with one storm after the other this year, so I'm due some blue skies.

(However, if you'd like to play online matchmaker, do let me know. :))

Coping

My hero died yesterday.  My grandfather, who was 93, and who I have posted about previously (If I could figure out a way to insert links here, I would), quietly passed away yesterday with his two sons and wife by his side. I found out after I returned from a great weekend in Florida, where the weather cooperated for the perfect beach wedding (even though I had to go down steps during the processional).

I'm devastated, but I'm strangely calm ... much calmer than I was when my Granny passed away in April (been a hard year). Maybe because I've had lots of practice coping this year.  Maybe because I have a to do list a mile long to distract me. Maybe because I know he's been ready for a while now. Maybe because I know he's in a much better place and can possibly work with the Big Guy to pull some strings with my love life.  Whatever it is, I'm at peace.

I will be a blubbering mess come Wednesday morning at the funeral.  I know this about myself. But, I will cherish all the wonderful memories I have of him and all that he taught me.  His influence on my life was huge, and I will always love him dearly.

Third Week

Third Week is kicking my butt.

In a normal month, I have two standing board meetings during the third week of the month.  On the third Monday, I have Theatre Guild.  On the third Thursday, I have House Corp.  Both involve a trip to Norman.  I'm currently president/co-president of both boards.

That's my schedule in a normal month.  Apparently, August isn't a normal month. This week, which is Third Week, I did have Theatre Guild on Monday night. However, instead of having a break between evening activities, this Third Week has been power packed.  Tuesday, I got a mani/pedi, but then hit the road for Mustang, Okla., and a Convention video shoot.  Wednesday, I met a friend to catch up. Tonight, I have a trivia contest for charity. Tomorrow, I will be in Florida at a wedding rehearsal. On Saturday, I'll be Maid of Honor in a sunset wedding. On Sunday, I hope to be home.

Whew...I never realized just how much I need a down night or two to recharge.  If the weather cooperates, I may have some beach time tomorrow afternoon to make myself more beige and take a catnap.  If the weather doesn't cooperate, well, does anyone know the nearest Starbuck's location to Ft. Walton Beach?

Rain

I love rain.

I especially love the rain that comes with thunderstorms.  Maybe it's because I grew up in Oklahoma, where you do tornado drills in elementary school. Rain is cleansing. Rain is relaxing.

I lived in Scotland for a year, and it rained just about every day (except for those days I had people from America visiting me...then, blue skies...I mean c'mon!).  I learned to really not mind being soaking wet.  I learned to enjoy watching fireworks in the pouring rain and wondered why the Scots could pull off the amazing pyrotechnics in the wet but not bonfires. (Yes, my one-and-only experience with Guy Fawkes' - Bonfire - Night in the UK was sans bonfire.) Rain doesn't appear to dampen the Scots' spirits....or maybe its the spirits that don't dampen their spirits...

My dear friend S is getting married in Ft. Walton Beach on Saturday, and, for once in my life, I'm praying that it doesn'train. Or, if it must rain, let it be in the morning and not at sunset.  It's hurricane season in Florida, and this week there have been three tropical storms/hurricanes in the vicinity. Needless to say, it's been rather damp in FWB this week.

I don't mind if it pours on Friday, the day I'm supposed to veg on the beach to soak up some rays in my quest to not be the whitest person in the wedding party. I think someone can Photo Shop some color onto my arms in the wedding pics; so if the remnants of these storms just need to let it all out, let it be on Friday.

Everyone, please help me pray for blue skies on Saturday. S&G deserve a sunny start to their life together.