Random Dozen #12 Thanksgiving Edition

Here's more than you ever wanted to know about my Thanksgiving.

1. Are you sticking to traditional Thanksgiving foods this year, or are you being culinarily adventurous? Pretty traditional. Turkey, ham, dressing, mashed potatoes, corn casserole, green beans, carrots, cranberry sauce (homemade, none of that canned jellied stuff), pumpkin and pecan pies. Yummmmmmm.

2. Tell me something concrete that you're thankful for. (Something you can literally touch, see, etc., not a concept like "hope.") My family.

3. You knew the flip side was coming: Share about something intangible that you're thankful for.
Hope. Sorry, I couldn't resist.

4. Share one vivid Thanksgiving memory. It doesn't have to be deep or meaningful, just something that remains etched in your memory. Last year my sister hosted her first thanksgiving in Austin and it was awesome. It was humid and hot, but it was awesome. I remember blogging from her living room while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and eating macaroni and cheese crackers for breakfast. Because I'm nothing if not a healthy breakfast eater. My sister made the best mashed potatoes and garlicky green beans, so very good!!

5. What is one thing that you know beyond a shadow of a doubt is going to happen this Thanksgiving because it always does, year after year? I'll eat too much?

6. Do your pets get any left-overs? No. We don't like to share. Ha! Actually, they might get a few scraps after we're done.

7 Does your family pray before the big meal? If so, do you join hands while seated, stand, repeat a formal prayer or offer a spontaneous prayer? Who does the praying? At my Aunt's Thanksgiving there is always a holding hands, formal kind of prayer, and it is definitely not spontaneous. This year at my Aunt's Thanksgiving we all joined hands around her huge living room (and we took up the entire living room, there were over 30 of us) and my Uncle who is not a church going man, offered the prayer. He did a good job too. On Thursday we might offer a spontaneous prayer, but I don't know. It's going to be just the four of us (me, mom, dad and my sister of mashed potatoes fame) so it could be any one of us doing the praying.

8. Will you be watching football in the afternoon? If not, what will you be doing?
Yes, sort of. I'll watch the Dallas Cowboys, unless they bore me and hopefully they will play better than they did on Sunday.

9. There are two distinct camps of people on this issue: How do you feel about oysters in the dressing/stuffing? Gross. I've never tried it, but gross.

10. Do you consider yourself informed about the first Thanksgiving? Probably no more or less than most public school educated adults my age.

11. Which variety of pie will you be enjoying? Pecan!

12. Do you feel for the turkey?? (This is a humorous throw back question related to the 12th question in another Random Dozen!) Nah.

More thanksgiving goodness is to be found at 2nd Cup of Coffee.

Hold On For One More Day

For those of you not as well versed in 90's pop music as yours truly, that title up there was stolen from a lovely little ditty from Wilson Phillips. A song that my friends and I sang at an impromptu concert in the backseat of our pastor's wife's car coming home from a retreat. We just wanted to show off our vocal brilliance, only we left out any harmonies and probably very little semblance of a melody either. Nonetheless Brenda listened and thanked us. But strangely didn't ask for an encore.

Anyways.

I am so beyond ready for this weekend. Nothing special but a date with the washer and dryer and maybe watching that new Sandra Bullock movie, but still, I am needed (I am needed? I so have to leave that in so you can tell that I am truly in need of some downtime) some weekendness right about now. It's been a tough week. I haven't slept well and that's the least of my troubles. That's kinda all I'll let you in on now. But if you think of me, say a prayer, will ya? I could use it.

In music worthy news I would be remiss not to let you know about two of my favorite new cd's that just came out. Switchfoot's Hello Hurricane and Sara Groves' Fireflies and Songs. They are definitely in my top 5 for the year (right behind Needtobreathe's The Outsiders and DC*B's Church Music, so yeah, they're that good). Hello Hurricane is Switchfoot's best album since The Beautiful Letdown and to let you know how good Beautiful Letdown was I should tell you that it still is in the rotation of awesome music played in my Toyota Camry. For the last six or seven years. The best songs in my opinion are the title track, Always, Needle and Haystack Life, Yet, Sing it Out and Red Eyes. And who doesn't love this lyric "You're a needle girl, in a haystack world" That is pure awesome. And if any guy worth his salt tells me that, I may just have to marry him.

Now Sara Groves is and always will be my favorite female singer songwriter on the planet. She always writes lyrics that my soul wishes it could write. This album is not lacking in soul stirring lyrics. Like a Lake, Setting Up the Pins, Twice as Good (which has inspired me to write another post) and Different Kinds of Happy are some of the best gems on here. But one song in particular has really ministered to me this week, called From This One Place. Oh friends. It is therapy/ministry in a 3 and a half minute song. Check out these lyrics "From this one place I can't see very far, in this one moment I'm square in the dark, these are the things I will trust in my heart, You can see something else, something else." God bless Sara Groves. That's all I can say.

And for those of you who still want a dose of Kara with a K, I have a new post up on the singles channel of Exemplify. So check it out. And while you're there, check out Christy's post from earlier this week. I think these two articles bookend each other in a great way.

The weekend is coming. Let's get happy.

Random Dozen: I Swear I Can Write More Than Just Random Stuff, Just Not This Week

Well, hello there strangers. Where have I been, you ask? Good question. But the better questions are to follow. And they actually have answers. Let's just say it's not been one of my better weeks. And that's putting it mildly. Because the real truth is it has stunk. A lot. This week.


1. If you could master one sport, what would it be? Golf. Because my dad and a few cousins and my uncles are all avid golfers. And it rule to school them once in awhile.

2. When you make a major purchase, do you go with your gut instinct, or do you do research to make an informed decision? I do lots of research. I like to check things out first. Most of the time. When in doubt, though, I just go with what the cool kids like.

3. There is an old kids' game that says you can find out what your movie star name would be by using your middle name as your first name and the name of the street you grew up on as your last. What is your movie star name? Elizabeth Meadow. But that sounds more like my movie star is a soap star or something.

4. Would you rather give up your favorite music or your favorite food? What an evil question. It's like asking which child would you rather give up. Pure evil. But if my backs against the wall I'm going to give up my favorite food, ahhh you evil evil question askers!

5. There are two types of banana preferences. One is pristine yellow, almost to the point of being green; the other is spotty and more ripe. Which is your preference? The slightly spotty kind. The point of being green ones kinda taste green, which is not yummy in my book.

6. Your favorite tree is? This goes back to my childhood because my Nanny had two in her front yard: Magnolia. So beautiful and fun for climbing (but darn it if Nanny never let me climb hers!).

7. On a scale of 1-10, how tech savvy are you? Probably a 4ish. It's not good people. But at least I can sorta work my way around a blog and a little html code. I can also set the dvr. But that's about it.

8. Has H1N1 touched your family? No. I joke that I've scheduled my dose for January, but seriously I hope it doesn't happen at all. But my best friend and her daughter both had it a few weeks ago. Both are well now (and mother had it worse than daughter if you're curious).

9. Are you an analytical person, or do you just accept things the way they are without questioning or scrutinizing? I am crazy analytical. Always have been. I don't know if there is anything that I just accept in my head without giving it the once over with my why's and wherefores and hows.

10. Is your personality more like that of a dog, cat, or Koala? Well now I just gotta know, what kind of personality does a Koala have. Because I don't think I can make an informed decision without knowing. So barring a trip to Wikipedia (the source of all knowledge of course) I'm going to say Panda. How is that for random?

11. Do you keep in touch with friends you made years ago? Thanks to the wonders that make up Facebook I do a lot more than I used to.

12. You are checking out at a grocery store. In the express lane, there are more people than the regular lanes, but of course, their load is less than those in the regular lanes. Which lane do you choose (assuming you qualify for the express lane) and why? If there are like 12 people in the express lane and three or four in the regular lane I will go with the regular lane, if for no other reason than it just feels like it will go faster. But if I have few enough items to go in the express lane I almost always choose the express lane unless of course a regular lane is completely empty. It feels like a prize for being so picky and simplified in my purchases for the day. And has anybody else ever counted the person in front of you in the express lanes items when it seems like they have over the limit? I can't tell you how many times I do this. In my head. Like it's going to matter (because apparently Wal-Mart doesn't see fit to have an express lane police, but they totally should).

Linda has lots more Random Dozen. Go check her out. Like an express lane for you souls, my friends.

Random Dozen

1. What was the last song you listened to? "Eyes Wide Open" by Sara Groves off her new album, Fireflies and Songs, which releases next week but since I buy music for the gift store I work in I have it in my possession early. Be jealous if you want to. And you should because Sara Groves is fabulous.

2. Have you ever had “buyer’s remorse” over anything? This actually happens to me more than I care to mention, the last time however was some fancy eye makeup that has proved to be pretty much worthless but it cost $22.

3. What is something in your life that you are thankful for now that you didn’t think you would be at the time of the event? (Something that seemed ill-timed, inconvenient or hurtful which turned out to be a good thing) Every breakup with a boyfriend. Not happy at all when it happened, and now looking back I am so glad I'm not with any of them now. Whew.

4. Do you watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade every year? If so, do you have a favorite float or balloon? I didn't see the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade until I was adult because we were always traveling to my Great Aunt's house every year during the parade, and so now when I watch the parade all the childlike luster isn't there for me. No favorite float for me.

5. Share a quote, scripture, poem or lyric which has been an inspiration to you lately.
"And hope does not disappoint us because the love of God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Romans 5:5 I started out the year with hope as my word for the year but somehow the thought of hope has gotten muddled over the last few months. God being God has recently reminded me of this though. And this is the scripture I have been pondering.

6. This is meant to be a fun question, and this is a G-rated blog, but please share a “guilty pleasure,” something that you enjoy that’s probably not the most edifying, time-worthy or healthy thing you could be indulging in. Did I mention this blog is rated G? Technically just about everything I watch on tv would fit under this category. Except LOST. It is certainly time-worthy and sometimes actually edifying (if you're a philosophical soul, which I am).

7. What Thanksgiving food are you looking forward to? Dressing. Every year dressing. Ooh, and pecan pie.

8. What is your favorite book to read to children, or what was your favorite childhood book? When my mom was the children's minister at our church she had me read christmas books to the kids in December. There was one about a little lamb who couldn't go out with the rest of the sheep and felt left out because of this (a friendly cow was an encouraging friend) but he happened to be there when baby Jesus was born and was able to keep him warm in the stable so he had this big part to play. It was hard to get through without crying. But try as I might I can't remember the name of the book!

9. Do you collect anything? (Feel free to post a photo.) I used to collect boyd's bears but I've kinda given that up.

10. Gift bags or wrapping paper? Wrapping paper! I love to unwrap gifts not look in some lame bag. Ironically I never wrapped a gift until I went to work at my current place of employment.

11. Share an after-school memory from when you were younger. What was your routine like on an average day? My dad used to pick my sister and I up from school in high school because my mom was at work, and I remember riding around with him while he ran errands. Most specifically I remember the funny things he would say like "Your mom would like that van, because it's hunter green" or "I'll call you daughter if I want to" which was in response to hearing the lyrics to a Pearl Jam song (and on both of those you would just have to be there to get the funny but when my sister reads this maybe it will make her chuckle a little).

12. True story: Once, in a job interview, I was asked this question and told there would be no clarifying; I simply had to answer the question: “When you’re fishing, do you feel for the fish?” So what about you? Do you feel for the fish?? Only when they are flailing about because they are out of water, then I really do feel for the fish. What can I say? I'm a sensitive soul.

More Random Dozen is found at Linda's.

I'm Not Here Today

Because I'm here. And you should go check it out!!


A few months ago Kristen (the wonderful, magnificent, beyond my comprehension creative and clever), editor extraordinaire of Exemplify asked me to join the singles team over at Exemplify. Boy howdy did that make me squirm. It's just like God to do something like that, ask me to move out of my comfort zone and write regularly about the one part of my life I do not like to think about too often, much less write about. But here I am. Today my first post is up and I hope it blesses you, whatever journey you are on.

Happy Weekend Everybody!!

Random Dozen #10

I almost forgot about Random Dozen today. It's my day off this week and all I was thinking of was my hair appointment and what laziness I can absorb myself in today. But, sometime this morning between pondering the length of my bangs and how many layers I should get in my tresses I remembered my favorite q&a of the week (the layers look fabulous by the way). So here goes.

1. It's early morning, about 2:00AM, and you're driving home. You come to a red light and sit there. There is no one in sight for miles around. Do you wait it out or run the light? Probably. But I've never been the most law-abiding driver (if you count speeding), so, well, you know. Crazy that I'm a stickler for most other rules and regulations.



2. If you had the chance to re-do the last 24 hours, would you change anything?
I would have gone to bed earlier and written this post up before I went to bed instead of perusing Youtube and stalking, er, catching up with friends on Facebook. You know, just your basic change your life kind of things.



3. When you reply to someone's comment on your blog, do you reply in your comments or go to her blog and comment? (Or email her)
Typically I will go to her blog and comment or if need be I will email her (my sister doesn't have a blog so I usually email her). When I first started I would comment on my blog but now I almost never do.

4. Your favorite Disney movie is: Beauty and the Beast followed closely by The Little Mermaid and Emperor's New Groove. Sorry I couldn't just pick one. But Beauty and The Beast is my favorite.

5. Do you recycle? Not really.

6. Games of strategy or games of chance? I have learned over the last year that I am just not that good at strategy. My sister is great at strategy games, but me? Not so much. So I'm going to go with games of chance, so I at least have a chance.

7. Do you have any recurring dreams? Not really recurring dreams, but I still have dreams of my grandmother's old home (she's been dead for 16 years) and the home I grew up in, even though I've lived in my current home for the last three years I never dream that I live here.

8. What did you learn from your first real job? Having a paycheck is nice.

9. Do you buy or borrow most books? Buy usually. I am notoriously bad about not returning borrowed books in a timely fashion. In fact, while cleaning this week I unearthed a book I borrowed a year ago from a co-worker. It's just better if I buy them.

10. What fashion trend of the past did you say you'd never wear again but did?
There isn't one that comes to mind, I remember when I was in high school a friend of mine and I made a pact we would never wear bell bottoms. Flare leg jeans I hope don't count.

11. When do you start Christmas shopping? I have been known to buy things the day after Christmas for the next Christmas, but most of my shopping really gets done between Thanksgiving and Christmas eve. I went to fashion market with my boss this summer and picked up a few things for my mom so I was kind of through with her in June. Which was nice.

12. Have you ever been so happy that you literally jumped up and down for a few seconds? If so, what was the occasion? Umm, when I'm happy it's pretty much a given I will jump up and down, or at least do the ridiculously big grin/clapping combo. I'm pretty sure I jumped up and down in the hotel room before heading out to the Needtobreathe concert, and you can just ask my college friends how I would jump and cheer when it snowed, and then there's any random Thursday night when a new episode of The Office is on. I'm pretty sure the most consistent form of exercise I get is these happy jump up and down cheers I give to these everyday delights.

I know you're just chomping at the bit for more random dozen, so go here. Don't hurt yourself. There is way more.

November, You're Even Better Than October

And I really mean that.

You have the best autumn foliage in my part of the world.

You have cooler temperatures.

You have the Christmas Open House at my work.

You have the opportunity to listen to Christmas music with a lot less shame (too many Facebook friends chided my love of Christmas music- in October. Halloweens over, let the christmas music begin).

You have Thanksgiving- a holiday way too underappreciated. Turkey, dressing, cranberries, sweet potato casserole, pecan pie!! Oh my!

You have Arts and Crafts fairs galore.

You have it all November. Don't let December bully you. You rock.