Category: General

Sorry it has been a few days since I have visited with you all. Tuesday night I actually got to witness the worst first date in the history of mankind. It all started with me accompanying the Irishman to the Guinness pouring contest at Trinity Hall, all proceeds benefited St Baldrick’s Foundation. The Irishman was a judge this year, last year a contestant. So, anyway, I’m sitting there with one of his 1759 friends and this couple sits at the table next to us. The most striking thing was this girl was really pretty, dressed cute, really cute first date outfit, flirty and edgy without contriving to be. The guy, I don’t even know what to say, blue polka dot shirt with a dark blue tee under it, with blue polyester slacks. As he begins to talk, 1759 friend and I begin to pay attention, as it is incredible, the man was doing nothing but talking about himself. He didn’t ask one question of this girl sitting across from him. Whom, by the way, clearly out of his league, he was totally dating up.
He told story after story about his teenage escapades, I almost fell asleep and I grew up in the country, he told her how he got a girl pregnant then told the girl, well I’m not going to marry you, then proceeded to brag on his parenting skills. Every story was designed to make him look amazingly good; however he just came off as a jerk. I happened to be in the restroom at the same time as the girl, she got a phone call, she told the person on the other end, oh I’m out with a friend. Friend. As the night progresses, it becomes clear that the two met on an online dating service. Not a bad thing in this day and age, just a fact. However it was also painfully clear he was not what she was expecting to show up. When the man left the table, 1759 and I actually got to talk to the girl, she was intelligent, capable of conversation; I really don’t understand why the man felt the need to dominate the conversation.
I was really hoping I could give her my number so she could text me to let me know how the date ended. 1759 speculated a light hug in the parking garage and a yawn, its late bit; I wondered how she would get out of seeing him again. Text, polite email, or just ignoring all contact from him, I really wish I knew!
Just a suggestion to all single men out there, and women, don’t dominate the conversation, conversation is just that, give and take. Also dress appropriately, if you are not sure about your wardrobe choices consult a fashion expert. Or research online. Lots of websites out there these days to help you with your fashion choices, for all occasions.
For all of you wondering, yes, you can donate to St Baldrick’s, here is the link to the Irishman’s page: http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/mypage/participantid/414763, he is once again shaving his head in solidarity with children who have cancer. He is raising funds for St Baldrick’s in the process, please help with this worthwhile cause!

It is so hard to come to work after having a few days off that alarm going off at 3am is just brutal! However, I will enjoy leaving at 1:30 in the afternoon. I know everyone is wondering what I did on my birthday, well the Irishman planned a day for me. First we went to the movies, I love going to the movies, we saw Black Swan, then the huge surprise, he took me shoe shopping! I got 3 new pairs of shoes!! Very exciting. Then it was dinner at Abuelos, I love Mexican food, the Irishman not so much. So much fun, then I saw Elizabeth Anne on Saturday; she got me a shoe rack! We organized my shoes; I have pared it down to 30 pairs, not including boots, tennis shoes and flip flops.
Today I am wearing my new Gianni Bini’s, red closed toe pumps in honor of Valentines Day. I wore them yesterday as well, when I went to lunch with the ladies. We went to this very cute tea room in Plano. Then huge surprise, at the end of the meal the proprietor told us that Wanda’s husband had called and picked up the tab for all of us for Valentines Day! Love Bob, he is such an amazing man. Not just because he paid for our lunch. He is kind and thoughtful and just all around terrific.
Then it was another movie with the Irishman yesterday, Just Go With It, Adam Sandler and Jennifer Anniston. I loved that movie, it was funny and sweet, sometimes a little over the top, but one expects that from an Adam Sandler movie.
Tomorrow night the Irishman is going to be a judge in a Guinness pint pouring contest, all of the proceeds going toward St Baldricks foundation. They raise money to fund research for a cure for cancers occurring in children. A very worthwhile charity. If you would like to come there is information on the Irishman’s Facebook page. I will try and see if I can share his link for it. Would love to see everyone come out and be a groupie with me, oh I will be wearing my new Carlos Santana shoes, something for everyone!

Well today is the day, my birthday, I can’t decide if I feel older, younger, the same, do I still feel immortal? Am I now mortal? These are the burning questions of the day. I will tell you this, today is an exceptional outfit day, Michael Kors shirt dress with purple suede knee boots, top it off with my purple Coach purse and that is what I call an outfit.
I still love my birthday, I do wonder when I will begin to abhor it, will it be when the wrinkles set in? When there are too many to count? Or will I be proud of my age and shout it to the world? As of now I tell no one my age, I subscribe to my grandmothers way of thinking. Whenever people would ask her how old she was, she would say “old enough to know better, young enough to do it anyway.” I like that. I just tell people I am 19, it is an obvious lie, however, it makes me feel better. Now through some miracle of science I am younger than all of my children, a heady feeling indeed.
Act your age, a saying we have all heard growing up, I wonder what it means, especially at the age I have become. What does acting ones age mean? What does it mean for me? Should I give up knee high boots? Should I cut my hair in a short hairstyle? Should I be more serious? More staid, steady, dependable, well ok, I am already dependable. But how should one behave at such an advanced age?
One thing I will tell you, for all of my little insecurities, I believe with my whole heart that I am really pretty. I have great hair, pretty eyes and the personality to go with it. My self esteem is very much intact, thanks to amazing parents and grand parents that told me every day that I was beautiful.
I remember one time when I was 16, my mom had a giant Christmas cactus and she wanted my dad to take a picture of it. He didn’t want to just take a picture of the plant so he told me to get behind it. He was looking through the camera lens; he slowly put the camera down and looked at me. It was like he was seeing me for the first time. He said, “You’re pretty.” I said “I know”, he said, “no, you’re really pretty, the get into trouble kind of pretty.” I said “I know, are you going to take that picture or what?” it was after that he began to question my dates a little harder and put the guns in eye range.
I still believe that I am pretty, there might be a couple of more lines around my eyes, a couple of grey hairs (which will be taken care of) and less naiveté, however I still believe.

Today is the day before my actual birthday. I know there are some of you out there wondering exactly how old I am. Well let me answer that in the words of my amazing grandmother, old enough to know better and young enough to do it anyway.
I don’t know how I feel about this birthday, don’t get me wrong, I love my birthday; however, age is not just a number. Things start happening as you get older and it is not for the best, I don’t care how many people tell you that or how many commercials you see that say that, trust me, not for the best. If you are young you may want to stop reading now, I don’t want to scare you unnecessarily, growing older is not for the faint of heart. First off, there is the weight issue, it is harder to take off and harder to maintain. Unless you are a mega star with your own team of personal trainers and nutritionists on hand, those of us in the real world have to do our own research and work extremely hard just to maintain healthy. There is the issue of things falling, falling out, falling down, falling always falling. Gravity is not our friend; ask the astronauts, they’ll tell you. Age is the great equalizer. We all eventually have to do it, it will happen to you. Here is the question, is it something to fear or something to embrace?
For all of my talk, I had the best examples in the world of women who embraced their age, the wisdom that came with it, the ability to let people see who you really are without fear. My mother, my grandmother and my great aunt Effie were the best examples in the world of how a woman should age. They were all different in the way they did it. My mother had gentleness about her that I have yet to see in anyone else, my grandmother was feisty and flirty even in her 90’s my great aunt Effie had an innocence about her that was incredibly endearing. They were all three intelligent, articulate, caring, giving and funny as all get out women. I strive to be like all three, impossibility, I know, but they all influenced me so much in the way I see aging.
I will say getting wrinkled still freaks me out, I fear getting skin cancer, my mother and grandmother both had it. They got it from picking cotton in their youth and while, no, I did not pick cotton, I did lay out slathered in baby oil burning myself to a crisp. So it is a possibility I could develop it later in life.
As I grow older my wish for myself is that I have my mothers sense of humor and wisdom, my grandmothers feistiness and my great aunt Effie’s zest for life.

On the way to work Back in the U.S.S.R. came on the radio, wow, that brought back memories. I loved the Beatles, they were my favorite. I mean who did not want to grow up and marry Paul McCartney? Who didn’t adore Ringo Starr? Who wasn’t in awe of John Lennon? And who actually understood George Harrison? Back in the U.S.S.R. has particularly poignant memories for me. I was playing it one Sunday and my dad became very agitated, he came into the living room where the stereo was and said I was not allowed to play that filth in his home. I of course stood up and demanded to know what exactly he was talking about. He said he had read a book by a televangelist and this particular one had cited this song as being filthy. He went and goes the book, in the book the author said it had a word in the song he refused to print. I read it and said dad, the word is balalaika’s the line is “Let me hear your balalaika’s ring out.” I explained it was a Russian musical instrument. He refused to believe me! I ran and got my giant poster of Beatle lyrics (yes, I had one) and showed him. He gave me a look he was famous for, left the room, got the dictionary, and then said, well this doesn’t make sense. That is not a bad word; he didn’t understand why someone who claimed to be a man of God would lie and say it was a filthy word when in fact it wasn’t.
My best guess is the author was more appalled at the use of a Russian word; my dad became disillusioned with televangelists after that. He stated the only one he was going to watch and trust was Billy Graham. Good choice, now that is a righteous man.
I miss the Beatles, only two left now, I would still marry Paul McCartney, he is still a cutie pie. Love him, and yes, I still miss John Lennon, and Ringo Starr still rocks. Have I mentioned how much I love drummers?
Two days until I turn 19 again!!! WooooHooooo!

This is my birthday month, for the whole month of February you will see nothing of dieting or of me thinking I am obese. I plan to eat my way through this month; next month however will be a different story.
But this month, this month is mine, I get to do whatever I want, all moth long. I don’t know exactly what that entails yet, but I will let you know when I figure it out.
So I have been stuck in this apartment since I came home Tuesday afternoon, I admit I probably should not have gone to work on Tuesday as I almost died twice on the way to work and once on the way home. But I didn’t and I made a conscious decision that I was not going to die going to work. My life was worth more than that. I left the apartment for the first time today; I went to the grocery store. We were almost out of coffee! That would have been a disaster, can you imagine, Angie with no coffee? The absolute horror, I feel like crying just thinking about it. I seriously cannot imagine my life without caffeine or Starbucks, however, sometimes I think about it. A complete cleansing, no sugar, no diet soda, no coffee, and then I come to my sense and realize that is not going to happen.
I decided to work until 11:00 am on my actual birthday and take the day after off, that way I can stay up later than 7:00 pm on my actual birthday. I am very much looking forward to it. Last year I got sick the week before with Strep and was still recovering the week of my birthday. It was a bad illness; I have never had Strep that bad before, knock on wood I don’t have it that bad ever again.
I have been watching a marathon of Glee today, I had only seen on episode before today, the one that Joss Whedon directed and Neil Patrick Harris guest starred on. I am kinda liking this show, if I had a singing voice I so would have been in the Glee club. My secret desire is to be a rock star, or a pop star, OMG I would so totally love to be Britney Spears! That is who I am coming back as in my next life, a pop star.

It is a major ice storm here in Plano, TX, a major one. Of course I did not miss work because of it. Not because of any sense of loyalty to the major communications corporation that employees me, as of late they have not exhibited a sense of loyalty towards me, it causes me to be jaded, no, I come to work during an ice storm because I can hear my father’s voice in my head. He is saying, “I taught you to drive in worse than this, what do you mean you have to miss work? I am seriously disappointed in you.” I hear those words; I get up, get dressed and risk life and limb not to disappoint my deceased father. I am sure a therapist would have a field day with that one.
I also come to work as I have taught my children a work ethic. You don’t miss school or work or church unless you are on your deathbed. You have to have a fever and be contagious to miss any of these things. They know this; they do not miss work now unless they are seriously ill. I did not keep my children home because they had a cough or were too tired to go to school. I was taught that school was my job, so you show up, do your best, I instilled in my children that mentality as well. I am proud that I did so. They do not take the easy way out, they are workers and not lazy.
I am very proud of the fact that my children are who they are, it was hard work getting them there, I am exhausted, but it was worth every sleepless night, every sacrifice. So if you go to work today I am proud of you as well!

Today is February 1st, you might ask why that date is significant, well let me tell you. Today, 22 years ago the most amazing daughter in the world came into the world. Yes, Elizabeth Anne was born today in 1989, in a little hamlet called Plano. It was 80 degrees when we arrived at the hospital to have her, by the time she was born that evening it was a raging ice storm. Much like the one we are having right now. I consider both to have been my birthday present that year. I consider Elizabeth an ongoing birthday present.
She was the most amazing surprise, right from the beginning, she was alert and bright and pink. I continue to be amazed by her.
Elizabeth, you are a continual surprise, a constant joy, an amazing daughter, I love you, I hope you enjoy the weather, it is God’s way of saying He loves you.

I am feeling discombobulated today, I found out some very discerning news on Saturday. A man used to work with, his wife passed away. The only thing anyone knows is that they went to bed and when he woke up, she was gone. No history of illness, no hint, nothing. She was 47 years old. I find this disturbing on so many levels. First I am so sorry for his loss, and his children’s loss. To lose their mother like that, just so sudden, and for him to lose his wife so suddenly, just horrifying. I cannot imagine waking up and finding the person you love lying next to you dead. My heart goes out to the whole family.
So now I am thinking of mortality and death and age, my birthday is imminent, my birthday month starts tomorrow, Elizabeth kicks it off with her birthday. Tomorrow, I shall recount the day she was born, and I don’t care how many times I have told it.
Now instead of being excited about my birthday I am wary, what if I die like that. I’m not ready to go; I have too much to do. We live until we are 100 or longer, I can’t go now, I had so many plans! I have so much to experience! I think when something like this happens it teaches us that life is indeed short and we need to do the things we want to now. Not wait for someday or tomorrow or down the road. We need to do them now. I don’t mean crazy things, I have no desire to jump out of a plane or climb a mountain.
I want to travel, I want to write a book, I want to take dance lessons, I still want to be the best mom in the world. That one is not attainable, my mom holds that title, but I can still work toward it. I want to have a job that I love doing, that I want to get up for everyday, jump out of bed and not be tempted to call in and take a vacation day.
Is there anything you want to do, things that if you did not do you would regret them?

I would like to take a moment to post Ronald Reagan’s speech after the Challenger disaster, I clearly remember it, I was a stay at home mom with Jeffrey. President Reagan was an amazing orator and a great president. Here is his speech, which still makes me cry.

Ladies and gentlemen, I’d planned to speak to you tonight to report on the state of the Union, but the events of earlier today have led me to change those plans. Today is a day for mourning and remembering. Nancy and I are pained to the core by the tragedy of the shuttle Challenger. We know we share this pain with all of the people of our country. This is truly a national loss. Nineteen years ago, almost to the day, we lost three astronauts in a terrible accident on the ground. But we’ve never lost an astronaut in flight; we’ve never had a tragedy like this. And perhaps we’ve forgotten the courage it took for the crew of the shuttle. But they, the Challenger Seven, were aware of the dangers, but overcame them and did their jobs brilliantly. We mourn seven heroes: Michael Smith, Dick Scobee, Judith Resnik, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Gregory Jarvis, and Christa McAuliffe. We mourn their loss as a nation together.
For the families of the seven, we cannot bear, as you do, the full impact of this tragedy. But we feel the loss, and we’re thinking about you so very much. Your loved ones were daring and brave, and they had that special grace, that special spirit that says, “Give me a challenge, and I’ll meet it with joy.” They had a hunger to explore the universe and discover its truths. They wished to serve, and they did. They served all of us. We’ve grown used to wonders in this century. It’s hard to dazzle us. But for 25 years the United States space program has been doing just that. We’ve grown used to the idea of space, and perhaps we forget that we’ve only just begun. We’re still pioneers. They, the members of the Challenger crew, were pioneers.
And I want to say something to the schoolchildren of America who were watching the live coverage of the shuttle’s takeoff. I know it is hard to understand, but sometimes painful things like this happen. It’s all part of the process of exploration and discovery. It’s all part of taking a chance and expanding man’s horizons. The future doesn’t belong to the fainthearted; it belongs to the brave. The Challenger crew was pulling us into the future, and we’ll continue to follow them.
I’ve always had great faith in and respect for our space program, and what happened today does nothing to diminish it. We don’t hide our space program. We don’t keep secrets and cover things up. We do it all up front and in public. That’s the way freedom is, and we wouldn’t change it for a minute. We’ll continue our quest in space. There will be more shuttle flights and more shuttle crews and, yes, more volunteers, more civilians, more teachers in space. Nothing ends here; our hopes and our journeys continue. I want to add that I wish I could talk to every man and woman who works for NASA or who worked on this mission and tell them: “Your dedication and professionalism have moved and impressed us for decades. And we know of your anguish. We share it.”
There’s a coincidence today. On this day 390 years ago, the great explorer Sir Francis Drake died aboard ship off the coast of Panama. In his lifetime the great frontiers were the oceans, and an historian later said, “He lived by the sea, died on it, and was buried in it.” Well, today we can say of the Challenger crew: Their dedication was, like Drake’s, complete.
The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and “slipped the surly bonds of earth” to “touch the face of God.”