Life in the fast lane...

I'm not a very good blogger. Here's the last 6 months in short.

• New Job
• Lots of travel
• Got pregnant
• Had a miscarriage
• Trying to get pregnant again
• Life is really, really good

The fact of the matter is, I just don't have time to keep up with this blog! But I will try. I promise.

In the mean time, here's a couple of nuggets for you to mull over.

In the past two weeks we've lost Bea Arthur and Dom DeLuise. Two of the funniest people I remember from my childhood. They were brilliant at making people laugh - in two different ways. I'd like to think that I've learned a little something from both of them. Bea gave me an appreciation for the dry, sarcastic wit. Dom taught me how to laugh, really hard, at myself. Both of them were great at not taking themselves too seriously. You HAVE to not take yourself too seriously. It's crucial to success. I believe this with all my heart. If you don't have some humility - you'll waste a lot of energy getting mad about things that don't really matter. Who has time for that?

Take care friends - I'll talk to you soon.

I know - I suck....

I just don't have time. I want to blog - I think about blogging, I desire to blog, but alas - it doesn't happen. I had a thought today though - and thought I'd share. I left a message for Rhett Miller on his MySpace today b/c I had just spent 38 minutes listening to him on the radio. Hope you like it - I love you crazies...
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Rhett - finally got to listen to your interview with Terri Gross on Fresh Air. Listen - I followed you around for about 2 years one night (ha ha) and then saw you in Tulsa in June. Baby - you have aged beyond well. You look amazing and you are such a critical part of the soundtrack of my life. Your voice takes me back to a time in my life when I was crazy and learning and I'll always love you for that!

Here we go - the catch up.

So, let's see. It's been since March that I blogged. I can only say that the March to May reason would be working on my company's HUGE fundraiser, The Good, the Bad and the Barbecue.

The organization I work for is able to have a good ole time at the Mullendore Cross Bell Ranch every year. This year was our best yet.

Here's me with my new best friend, Frank. (He donated a lot of money to Elder Care that night) My Mother-in-law Elaine and my husband Stu are on the right. They were in the middle of trying to decide whether they actually wanted to be in this picture when the photographer shot. At least everyone looks happy. Here, we're in the ranch house on the property. That house has such great history everywhere you look. The chandeliers are adorned with the spurs of cowboys that went off to war and never returned. Isn't that just beautiful?

You should really Google Mullendore Cross Bell Ranch, especially if you've ever spent any time in NE Oklahoma. It's got an amazing history and the greatest part about the ranch (for me anyway) is that they host this party for us every year. This year we grossed over $110,000. Yup, that's right. Impressive, huh? Well, maybe not if you live in a big city but for us folk here it was a good show! This year was my first year to MC the event. Ya know, I know people think that if you're a performer it just comes easy - but I'm the kind of performer that wants to be good, and funny. It was a lot of work. The standing up for the entire presentation and auction was tiring enough! I'm not complaining, I just feel the need to let you know that it wasn't all just cowboys, a purty night (we were in the country so it was not pretty, it was "purty") and jokes. I actually tried to put some effort into my MC duties. So there.

Here's a picture of what I did after the BBQ. It was great to have all my friends over to Jumex Acres.

Here's my favorite people. Sara P, Omar, Julie, Hollie, Scott and Charla. This was pretty much right after the BBQ and definitely our first big social gathering since then. Oh wait... I forgot one. Technically, this event was right before, but it was pretty gosh darn significant.

My 35th birthday was 3 days before the BBQ. My best girls had planned on taking me out to dinner and that was all I expected - really. Very low key - I had a BBQ to work on for pete's sake, no time for a party. But this is what happened. WARNING, the photo I'm about to show you is not flattering in any way, shape or form - but it pretty much captures my surprise...

So I walk into Senor Salsa and there were a WHOLE BUNCH of my favorite people and they yelled surprise and well, I was! WOW! I haven't had a surprise party since my 21st. It was just a bunch of people sitting around and enjoying eachother's company. It really was heaven on earth. I was so happy to hang out with so many great people!

Here's a more flattering picture of me and the crazy chicas that threw me the party. Sneaky b*tches. (Not really, man I love them)

So that's catch up part one - not too witty or insightful but I've got to bring you up to speed. Next one, June - and that was a month I tell ya. Complete with the hottest wedding I've ever been to - and I do mean HOT. But also beautiful and sweet.

Let me know what you think - new survey/quiz on the front page too!

Um...hi?

Wow, sorry - needless to say it's been busy. Well, not so busy I didn't have time to blog. But... I just didn't. Oops.

Not too much to catch up on since I've been here last. Work is work, life is good, Stu is still hilarious in his dry, sarcastic way.

I am committing to getting back on board. But for now I have a work assignment due. But I promise, every day - ok, every other day. Ok... let's just not make any promises.

Thanks for sticking with me during the dry spell.

What do these three photos have in common?

Although it would appear that the only thing these three photos have in common is that they have something to do with music and the above photos are in black and white - there's something more.

All of them were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this month. The Ventures are known for their rock-and-roll instrumentals, like the theme to Hawaii 5-0. Although not in the photo, John Durrill is also in the group, and from my home town. I had the opportunity to perform with him on stage last year for the Oklahoma Centennial. Fun, random trivia.

Leonard Cohen is a singer, songwriter, poet, artist, philosopher and more. My favorite line from a Leonard Cohen song is "Like a bird on a wire, like a drunk in a midnight choir, I have tried in my way, to be free." That line is near perfection. A lot of people may not know this but Leonard Cohen also wrote "Hallelujah" which was recorded by a lot of people, including Cohen. One of the well known versions was by Jeff Buckley.

And then there's Madonna. I love Madonna. When her book "Sex" came out I was in college. I bought it. It was liberating, I mean it. It was artistic and sexy and pornographic and silly and edgy and over the top all at the same time. She has been with me through (and influenced) some of my fashion ventures, like net shirts and black rubber band bracelets. I even remember the first time I heard her music. I listened to Lucky Star in the back of my friend Karla's van as her dad drove us around town. She was shiny and new (ha ha, Like a Virgin!) and she was one of the first independent female artists that was with me as I grew from little girl to young woman. I know there were so many people that thought she was evil incarnate, but she has been a huge influence in pop culture and music. I don't like everything she's done, but there is no denying that she is a prolific artist. Sure, sometimes she seems like she takes herself too seriously - but she's Madonna. She's kind of a big deal.

These three musical artists are very different from each other - but they're all being inducted. They also have all influenced me in very different ways. There were other inductees tonight, John Mellancamp, The Dave Clark 5, and Little Walter - an influential blues artist. However, I singled out The Ventures, Cohen and Madonna for how different they were from each other and how they all were a part of the soundtrack of my life at one time or another. I can hear songs from each of them that take me back to a time, or a feeling, or a moment. Music can bring back a flood of memories and grants you some perspective on a particular time in your life - and also perspective on your life now.

It's almost as if that's what it was invented for - our delight in it is just a bonus feature, an extra topping.

Just a thought. But that's how it all got started now, isn't it?

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood...

OK, I know that's the song from Mr. Roger's Neighborhood - but it makes me think of kids programs, which makes me think of my childhood, which makes me think of Sesame Street.

I loved Sesame Street. It witnessed my soul. One time, as I was sitting on the couch enjoying the show, Laverne and Shirley told me to stop picking my nose. Specifically it was Laverne. It was also last week. Just kidding, it was last month.

Seriously - I was probably 5 years old and I thought Sesame Street had magic powers to see me through the TV. How did Laverne know I was picking my nose??? It was madness I tell you.

I bring all this up today because it is staunchly officially (that's for you CGMV) Big Bird's 6th Birthday. When the program started Big Bird was 4 and then in 1991 he turned 6 - so he's been 6 now for 17 years. Sort of like how I've been 25 for the past 9 years. Actually, I'll be celebrating the 10th anniversary of my 25th birthday in May. Get ready.

When I was little I loved Big Bird. More than that, I loved Snufflupugus. Which I didn't know until today that his name was spelled that way. Huh, learn something new every day, right? Anyway, I loved Snuffy. He was sweet and kind and had pretty eyes and was the best shade of brown. I was 5 - it was all about looks back then.

So in celebration of Big Bird's birthday I bring you a gift. A new blog. Just what you needed, right? Another blog to read. But I love it. It makes me giggle. It's smart and witty and embarassingly accurate at times. It's at the bottom of the page.

Go forth and enjoy. Hope you have a great first day of Spring! And today is also Purim - I've also included a Purim link. It's a fantastic story about a smart and strong woman.

Lastly, it's Holy Thursday. I liked this particular Easter holiday because it (should be) all about humility (in the Catholic church they often wash feet as a sign of service. At my old church we also used to dance and break bread together - it was a beautiful thing).

Love to all of you - even those of you that are going off to eat sushi with your secret friends. We love that you're back home.

http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/

http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday9.htm

Whitest Kids U Know

My husband discovered these guys one day - we were just flipping channels. I had never heard of them before January. I was so sad that I had missed them! Where had they been all my life? Well, apparently lots of people knew about them. I was just slow - story of my life. My other super power, aside from being loud, is being slow. Some call it procrastination - I call it relishing the moment. Tomato, Tomahto.

Anyway - here's a glimpse into the world of the Whitest Kids U Know. Or WKUK as they're affectionately called. Or maybe they're mean-spiritedly called that. Who knows. They are absurd and intelligent and ridiculous and clever. I love them.