BOOMER SOONER

Today I was reminded of my time at OU. For those of you that don't know, I spent a year and a half at OU. I went as a freshmen and then left after the first semester of my sophmore year. I don't talk about that time in my life or really think about it all that much either. I had awesome roommates my first year and second so that always helped, but something wasn't right. I struggled that entire year and half to find my place. Most of my friends were in sororities and I tried that and it didn't work out. I tried several organizations, but nothing felt right. I was in an education program, but I hated it because it just wasn't the level of education that I desired. For a year and half I straight up struggled. I had a great church with a great college minister, but nothing felt like it fit right. About October of my sophmore year, on a whim, I applied to Texas A&M. I got in and head to A&M to complete my sohmore year. After a semester I applied to work at the church I was attending, and as I began my junior year working at the church I realized that I had finally found my spot.

I don't revisit my memories of OU much because it was really difficult, however, it is always a sweet reminder that trials come to an end. They have their purpose, they teach us, they mold us, and then they move on. Being amoung new trial it is always a good idea to look back at the lessons learned from the old trials. It's funny how my "trial" at OU now brings me peace amoungst current trials. A peace that no other experience could bring.

So while it was hard, I will always be part SOONER! BOOMER SOONER!

Toolbox

I plan to stand by this next statement: I am a stable person. Yep, believe it or not folks, it's true. However, I am speaking from years of experience as a dramatic, emotional person. As a child I freaked out when my parents moved a book shelf to another side of the room. OR one time I ran into a busy street because I didn't like my hair cut. I actually went to the hospital that day, but not because of a car.

The point of me saying this, is that I have always had to work hard to "stay in the middle". NOT that I believe that I should be a robot, but maintaining a balanced mental life is the definitely the goal here.


I am so content with my life. I love the Lord, have a good family, amazing friends, and a great job that I learn from on a daily basis. But, I still have hard days. Sometimes it is after a long day of work or maybe a lonely Sunday afternoon. SO I have discovered a toolbox of "the little things" that I use during those tough moments. So I wanted to share what's in my toolbox in hopes that you will share what's in yours.

1. Starbucks and a pedi
2. Walking through Target...with a Starbucks
3. Wine and a bath.
4. Carinos, wine, Desperate Housewives
5. Coffee and my Bible
6. Retail therapy

All this to say, I know we all struggle with big things. There are things in this world that I want that I have to give up to the Lord's timing, and while I am strong in His truth and His will, my toolbox is for those little emotional mole hills along the way.

So what's in your toolbox of "the little things"?

PACT

So I found the blog of an old friend today and I got to reminiscing. How precious time and life are. I once, and really always will have, these three best friends. They were in large part, the reason why I miss high school every now and then. (okay I get it, who MISSES high school) They didn't actually go to my high school, but they made that time in my life...well they just made it.

We are so so different. I haven't really heard from one of them in a while, but the other two I try to keep up with as best as possible. Brooke and Sarah. They have always been so much more adventuresome than me, but thankfully they have let me tag along every now and then. You might be thinking, you are adventuresome Rebecca you went to Costa Rica alone for six weeks. If you think that, just take a second to talk to these ladies. They one time ran down the streets of Manhattan while taking off their shirts just for the fun of it, because nobody was around. I am telling you it really happened, and I just stood there in awe.

From afar they still motivate me to always push my limits and go beyond my comfort zone. If you guys read this...I love you.

Theme of the Week

So lately I have encountered three situations involving early morning smoking...

1. It was about 10 am, I was headed out to the Woodlands when I encountered an odd situation. There were about 3 cop cars surrounding an older red car. There were two teenagers cuffed and sitting on the ground. Really guys, high at 10am...and driving?

***

2. I was driving to church Sunday morning, about 10:15...fine 10:25 (I was late) when I saw a guy smoking a pipe. No big deal, right? But it wasn't just any guy, it was a young guy driving with the windows down in his mid size pick up truck. A pipe? At 10:25 in the am.? While driving?

***

3. I was just completing a 3 mile run, it was about 7:45 am and I ran past a guy in sweat pants and a wife beater smoking outside of his house. He had that I just woke up and here you are running like you are something special look on his face. I made sure to cough loudly as I ran past him to indicate to him that he was contaminating my running air. Really the first thing you have to do in the morning is wake up and smoke a cigarette?

My thoughts on the matter are this, if...IFFFF you are going to smoke, lets wait till at least noon and for the teenagers that were arrested, might I just say this. Permanent Record.

Phrases…or Euphemisms…sort of??

You know those phrases that frankly we all use to “soften the blow”??? I would love to meet the brilliant mind that introduced those to our cultural. For example, “Bless her/his heart”. I picked this phrase up after I started hanging out with my country friends in college. They would mention a friend, smile, shake their head, say “Bless their heart” and then same something down right ugly. Example:

“Bless her heart, she just can’t sing for her life. When I here her sing I want to go and jump into a pit of venomous snakes…but bless her heart.”

Or they say “Now I would say this to their face, if they were here…” That is absolutely not true, would you really say that to the person if they were standing right there? Okay, maybe you would, but would you say it to the person if they were standing right there with their grandma…probably not. Those country folks are tricky with their phrases, because I would leave an evening with them thinking that country people are just the sweetest people I have ever met. THEN I would recount all of the Bless her hearts, I know they mean wells or I would say it to their faces and realize maybe they aren’t so nice after all.

There are also phrases, which I mostly picked up from my northern influence that are more direct like:
• “I don’t mean to be rude but if you don’t step up off my lawn I might just…”
• “Don’t take it personally but your breath stinks”

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I also recall a phrase that I use to be direct, but appear that I am actually being indirect. This is the “I feel” phrase. I feel like eating at Cheddars tonight, I feel like we should go to the lake, I feel like I want a chocolate chip cookie. These are all things that I want directly, but have acquired the tendency to use as a cushion to the truth or a filler as I actually decide what I want “I feel like (pause) pizza for diner”. Really I don’t feel like a piece of pizza, I just want to eat pizza.

As I studied Spanish the summer in Costa Rica, these are the cultural things I slowly began to notice. For example “lo que”. I would began all of my sentences with “lo que” which means “its that”. This way I could think about what I was going to say next. So I wonder what other phrasal crutches Spanish speakers use to soften the blow, or what new phrasal crutches we might develop in the future.

Honk If You Love Jesus!

If you want to go to Costa Rica and study something besides Spanish you should probably study honking!

I have currently memorized the honks of all vehicle in the entire world. That's right, I could tell you what any honk in the world sounds like, because it is daily routine here in Costa Rica to honk. Honk at walkers, honk at other drivers, honk at your friends, or honk at your enemies. Honk and bark. Honk and whistle. Honk at a mariposa gliding through the air.

Here are some of my a favorite honks:

A Mercedes truck sounds like an elephant that stubbed its toe. A short quick elephant honk. Mac trucks sound the exact same, and yes if you pull your arm up and down to signal for a honk from a Mac truck, they will honk (apparently it is a universal symbol). You also have your clown nose honks. These honks typically come from the smaller older vehicles. That's really all I can think of right now, BUT you are interested in any other honks please let me know. I will gladly research it for you, as Costa Rica is the number honk research facility in the world.

Burps in Spanish Sound the Same.

Of all the profound situations I have encountered in my time in Costa Rica (By the way, I am in Costa Rica and have been for the last 2.5 weeks) I have learned first and foremost that burps in Spanish sound the same. NAHHH just kidding.

I have learned...that monkeys are evil. I spent one night in a villa in Manuel Antonio fearing for my life as I heard repeated banging on my door. It had been raining and I was in a hut/villa right off the beach. My friend and I spent the entire night praying to God for rescue. Nobody at the front desk was answering the phone and we had no way out. We woke the next morning to tons of monkey's jumping, playing, and LAUGHING around our villa. We asked the hotel manager and she nodded as if it was common knowledge. Maybe they don't have fine print in Spanish. *Note: may be kept up all night by patronizing monkeys.

Next, I have learned that the best soccer games are played in the backwoods of Costa Rica. I spent one Sunday in the back hills of Guanacaste watching a small CR football league. It was great. All of the locals gathered to watch soccer, drink beer, and sing karaoke. Yep karaoke is a fad here in CR. I haven't jumped in quite yet, I want to brush up on my Spanish a bit more. I also took a quick shot of a dominoes game in Quepos.

I have spent the last 2.5 weeks in my own version of "Fast and the Furious" The cars here drive like crazies. The rule of the road in Costa Rica is to over correct or exaggerate any movement that might be necessary while driving. Oh and if you are ever driving in CR remember to honk, bark, yelp, whistle, or any other creative gesture at any person walking or running in the street. The good news is that there are tons of awesome cars here.

The people here are amazing, so sweet and patient. My Tico family is fun and they help me with my homework every night. I love my school more than anything. I have pretty much had one-on-one classes the entire time that I have been here. Everyday there is an endless amount of fresh fruits and vegetables. I have also grown much accustomed to drinking my coffee black because it is just so good.

Finally the best word/phrase I have learned since I have been here is: tranquila "Calm Down"

(I took these pics in Manuel Antonio a beautiful beach in Puntarenas)

Pura Vida from CR!!

Hello...

Hello...

Yep I am here, I have just been hiding in a dark corner for the last month. I was scared the TAKS man was going to get me.


So here are all of the things that have happened...

PAST

January:
Denver. I love Denver and Denver loves me. I shall return.


February:
Tyler. Saw a friend in "Moving Out". I was almost sucked up by a tornado, and I called a sheriff a jerk. Then I called the jerk sheriff's boss and told his boss about the jerk being a jerk.

March:
Destin. I went on a spring break trip with 12 awesome people. We had a blast. I learned that Louisiana needs a new highway and never to wear cheap swimsuits.

Mexia. Was hit on in a McDonald's.


April:
Dallas. I hung out with a long time friend. It was great!
Los Angeles. Saw my brother along with Jessica Alba, Zach Braff, and Barron Davis.

PRESENT

May:
College Station. Wrapping up school, packing up my room and trying to prepare kids for another TAKS test.


FUTURE

June:
Costa Rica...

July:
Costa Rica...
Bastrop...

More to come later! I miss blogging.

Fake Foning (or Phoning)

A couple of years ago I was meeting a group of friends at Wings n More. I pulled into the parking a bit early so I knew I would be the first there. Well I quickly noticed that another one of the guys was pulling into the parking lot at the same time. Call me a jerk, but I didn't really want to talk to him. I knew it would be an awkward conversation and I didn't want to go there. Thanks to my quick witted nature, I devised a plan. I decided to pick up my phone and pretend to talk on it. That way I would just smile and wave from my car...I could even pretend that I was annoyed that the "person" on the other end wouldn't stop talking. I thought I was golden. Until. The guy walks up to my car window and taps on the glass and says "I can hear your music from 10 feet away." Ahh! Rebecca! Stupid! Turn the music off before you fake fone. My cover was blown.

So I told this story to my bible study girls and we really got to talking. Apparently I am not the only fake foner. Some of the girls fake fone while walking in the mall, waiting for somebody, or to look when walking or driving.

So do you fake fone? If so, when and why????

The line FORMS here.

We have officially entered into “form” season and until that faithful Mid-April day when the Bryan Post office shuts down part of William J. Bryan to alleviate the post office traffic, America will be bogged down in thousands of endless tax FORMS.

(That’s just my intro)

So really this FORM business all started when I asked about getting snack passes for my kids. My boss responded “You will need a form for that” What is with all these forms anyway? So I started brainstorming some other form happenings…

a. I am dying! I need to see a doctor…”Oh just fill out this form”
b. I would like to order a … “Oh just fill out this form”
c. I would like to join this church. “Oh just fill out this form”
d. I would like to breathe the air in this building. “Oh just fill out this form”


So here’s to all the form requesters of the world. I am now requesting forms for all of the following reasons:

a. If you want me to take out the trash.
b. If you want to email me.
c. If you want me to pay my bills.
d. If you want me to let you out to use the restroom (that’s for you Dean…you have to fill out forms too)

If you have any concerns about any of these matters…please fill out this form ;)

This blog is dedicated to all teachers that work tirelessly to educate the youth of America.

A watched pot never boils

I can long remember my mother and even her mother using various "old sayings" on me. Yes, using them on me like laser beams to shoot down all of my child hood wanderings.

"It ain't over till the fat lady sings"
"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it"
“Six to one, half dozen to another”

…and so on.

I would always ask them "Why are you saying that?!?" They would simply respond, "It's an old saying" as if that qualified as the justification of the statement.

Well as usual I was contemplating life, and the old saying "A watched pot never boils" crept into my mind. And I really do me CREEPY crept, because when ever my mother’s (or grandmother’s) voice comes into my head it is laced with a screeching Brooklyn accent. You guys that know my mom have all heard it. Now picture her mother...10 times worse! So why this old saying now, why was it in my head?

Here is my thought: We all catch ourselves wondering from time to time about the “next step”. When will it happen? What will it be? Will I be snowboarding in Canada next weekend or sitting on the beach in Florida? This week I caught myself staring at a pot of water waiting for it to boil (not literally). I realized that nothing good comes from pot staring.

1. You get fat, because you are just looking at a pot of water and not working out.
2. You get bored, and stir crazy.
3. You forget about the importance of all else that is going on.

SO in conclusion no pot staring! Just living life, loving my friends, family and everyday as it comes. Such a simple bit of life knowledge yet I still needed the friendly reminder. I guess I appreciate my mother’s voice terrorizing me to this day.

Please share the "Old Sayings” that you heard as a child. You can even add in the anecdotal accents that made you crazy or pictorial representations like below.

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Some others have decided to share their pot watching stories with us...

dun da da dahhhhh!!!

A couple people have gotten on to me for not introducing my Dean to the blogger world, but like any parent I wanted to wait until the time was right. So here he is, my precious pup Dean.

His first day home!!

His first walk!!

Hanging in front of the house!!

First time in the snow!!!

After his first haircut!!

To-Do List

Most of us use "to-do" lists.

Some to-do lists are short term: Go to the post office, swing by HEB after the gym, feed dog...you get the picture.
Other to-do lists are life long : Spend a year learning Spanish in South America, have family, get Doctorate...

This to-do list falls in the 6 month to 1 year range...

1. Organize my ipod. When I was a freshmen in college I downloaded a lot of weird songs to my ipod (yes I stole songs). After that year I was convicted and promised to never steal music again. Now I still have all those songs on my ipod and I hate them all. Time to delete.

2. Organize sock drawer. I want to have all of the same socks so if I mismatch it doesn't matter. I will create two categories work/boot socks and athletic socks. Specialty socks like my snowboarding socks will be stored with my snowboarding gear. No problem.

3. Match all of my plastic cups and coffee mugs. I can't stand having a mishmash of plastic cups from old football games and candy filled Christmas gifts from work friends. (Sorry guys, but really what did you expect?) Note to self...send apology note-strike that- EMAIL to work friends.

4. Categorize and order all of my pictures on IPhoto. I love digital photo albums because I don't like having to store photo albums in my house.
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5. Go see my doctor about my OCD.

Poetry AND Motion

Working for a school is rarely dull.
The school year always seems to roll
The cyclical school calendar keeps me on my toes.
And this is how it goes:

• The excitement of the new school year begins the first day of school. You meet your students and have a thousand things on your mind to save you from the mundane.

• This excitement wears off about late September and just before you have the chance to get bored, football season and all its festivities kick in to play.

• When football season is winding down you take a look at the calendar and begin the wonderful countdown to thanksgiving break. Avoiding all thoughts of Halloween. (it is the death of every teacher)

• Then the stretch from thanksgiving to Christmas. No words.

• After the break you begrudgingly return to school, but are always thankful for Martin Luther King’s birthday.

• Then this weird thing happens. All of a sudden you realize all the classroom elements have come together and finally they know the procedures of the classroom. (Great it only took 5 months)

• Soon comes the realization that Spring Break is around the corner. Trip planning is on the mind!

• Then (cheesy dramatic voice) THE TAKS CRAZE. That’s it…I have taught them all they need to know. It’s review time before the big, don’t call me at home because I am dazed from watching kids take a test that could determine my employment for the next year, day.

• After TAKS comes the oh-so-grand free fall to summer and then…

• FREEDOM. And the day I get my PTO happy summer birthday cookie on a stick!

So while it may seem long
Like the never-ending song.
I will always say,
Teaching is the only way!

Lipstick Jungle

Today at Golds I saw a women working hot pink lipstick. She was pulling it off and I was amazed. I have always wanted to wear lipstick, but especially now more than ever since it is working its way back into the limelight.

So here are my problems:

1. I have dark hair with golden highlights and freckly pale skin. Will somebody please tell me what will work with that!
2. I have skinnyish lips and a small mouth. My bottom lip blends into my chin so I never know when to stop.
3. Do I use lip liner because of my lip to chin blending issues? Or is lip liner totally off limits?
2. Also when/if I do find the right color, introducing lipstick to your face takes a "breaking in" phase. I don't suggest anybody break anything in when they teach junior high kids. "Miss Edwards, what is wrong with your face?" "Miss Edwards you need to clean your mouth" (I've actually had a kid tell me that one).

Basically I need a lipstick intervention, at least I want to know that I gave it a fair chance. So I am taking any suggestions on color!

Am I?

Am I a jerk? Ever since I have started working full time (four years). I have come to expect a lot from people. I think to myself…If I let my guard down for just one minute at work, my students will be in full fledge revolt mode. As in, the second I turn my back I either have a mutiny of classroom rules, or a stack of paper work a mile high on my desk. All that to say: I, like many of my friends, work hard, so I expect others to work hard too. So this new expectation really shows is true colors when I am going to place of service. I get so frustrated when I walk to a checkout counter to pay and the workers decide to finish their conversation before they look at me to ring up my items.

Well the other day I had it. I have been trying to get a hold of this place forever to make an appointment. I finally get a hold of them and the women answering the phone sounded like she just woke up from a 10-hour nap. I then asked her when I should call so I can make appointments. She said, “We are always busy”. I asked for the manager, and she informed that she was the manager. Well my everybody should work as hard as I do chip on the shoulder attitude spoke up and said, “I though I might offer you some professional advice, if somebody is explaining that it is difficult to contact your business, you might benefit from apologizing and promising (though it might be empty) to try harder in the future” She hung up on me. Oh well, changing lives one day at a time.

I do want to say I appreciate the effort when it is made. I went snowboarding a couple of weeks ago and at the end of the day everybody was trying to catch the gondola down the mountain. The line was really long, which just meant traffic would be even worse. BUT the Breckenridge staff was there, passing out cookies to everybody waiting in line. Really they can’t help that the line is long, but the simple acknowledgement of frustration and peace offering really went a long way. Well done Breckenridge. Well done!

Speak

Long time no speak. Sorry for the hiatus. My mom always taught me “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” It’s not that I have been a bitter shrew for the past month and a half; my thoughts have been unclear and relatively negative. However, it’s a bit of a lie to actually say my thoughts have been unclear, when all along they have been clear. I truthfully have just chosen to ignore the blinding clarity. So what’s the blinding clarity? I need and quench for the word of God.

I can’t explain the immediate rush of peace and clarity that came when I spent time in the word today. When I am thirsty it affects my joy, peace, patience, and the way I love people among other things. Because of sin this world is destined for death. Just like a plant with no water. So I know, as long as I continue to drink from the water of truth I will continually produce fruit; the evidence of life. What a supernatural gift the Lord has given us to be able to produce fruit in a dying world.

"How will they know if we don't even walk, even talk, even speak?"