I had today off from work since I'm working Saturday. That meant I got to watch Dancing With the Stars! I know...some of you are saying, ughhh...another reality show! Well I've always liked dancing, so it's quite fun to watch. It's been such a long time since I've boogied on the dance floor. I don't think dancing around my apartment by myself counts. :-) I've found that most (I didn't say all) guys don't like to dance. I don't know if it's because they're embarrassed by their lack of rhythm, or if they just think it's dumb. Of course, I remember some guys from my salsa dancing days who thought they were good and they were WAY wrong. I'll always remember Rico Suave (that's what my friend and I called him) who walked around in his unbuttoned silk shirt sipping on a brandy. Every week he would say (insert Latin accent) "You are such a good dancer. Where did you learn to dance like that?" It never failed. He said the same thing every week. I really didn't want to dance with him, but it's considered rude to say no. At Christmas time, he just happened to be on my plane out of South Bend. What are the odds? Thankfully, he must have forgotten me. I wanted to hide! I must say though, Latin men can really flatter a girl. It's a nice boost to the ol' confidence.

Just read this on Relevent.com. I tend to be a future thinker, or worrier, as some of my friends call me.

http://www.relevantmagazine.com/life_article.php?id=7411

Good pic from my friend Anna

From this past weekend. Anna's from Georgia, so she's seen more sun than me. :-)
I'm armed with tanning oil, but it might take a few times in the sun to reach her color.

Saturday pics

The girls: Anna, Ruth, Amy aka the bride, me



The table decorations



After some hot tub fun




I got it!

Fun-filled day

Had a super Saturday! I helped throw a bridal shower for my pal Amy, then hopped into my bathing suit (for the first time this Spring) to hang out with the girls in a hot tub. Played a litte outside, looked at the gazillion pictures we took, went bowling and then played some Racko with my pals Ruth and Anna before heading home. It was SO nice to get some sun and have 80 degree weather. I couldn't believe I was in a bathing suit! I hope it stays that way.

I'll probably post pictures Sunday or Monday. Right now, this girl needs some beauty sleep.

My question for the day:
Do you think NBC made the right choice in airing excerpts of the Virginia Tech shooter's videos?

So I'm sure everyone has heard about the tradedy at Virginia Tech. Working at a newspaper, I hear about it all day. The televisions near me are usually on CNN. At first, it didn't phase me much. I know...that's really sad. Unfortunately, those of us in the news business tend to become disensitized, jaded, cynical...I've never wanted to become that way. I'm starting to feel some more emotions after hearing the reports. On the way to work this morning, I tuned in to NPR. They were covering the story and spoke of a memorial service on campus. Hearing a group of students sing Amazing Grace started to tug at my heartstrings. I just can't imagine what it was like for those students. Last night, I started to read a couple plays that the shooter wrote for a class. They were so disturbing, that I had to stop.

A couple things about this situation are bothering me. The first might surprise some of you. I'm really annoyed with the news media. I know the general public wants to know the story, but it seems like reporters just plowed in there. Those students need to mourn, and at least have time to take a breath! You don't just recover from a situation like that within a couple hours. Yes, I want to hear all the details just as much as the next person, but that doesn't mean I need them right now. Also, much blame is being thrown around. The university is catching a lot of flack for not canceling classes after the first incident, and not better communicating with the students. You try getting the word out to 26,000 students in a hurry. Plus, administrators and police thought the first incident was isolated. How were they to know that two hours later he would go shooting in the engineering building? I know, it's our natural instinct to place blame, especially if we have lost someone we love. But it seems like we do it way too often. People blame Bush for their sons and daughters dying in Iraq. The mayor of New Orleans blames the government for not helping when so many lives were lost in Katrina. I'm not saying there's no validity in these accusations, but how is passing blame helping anything? Does it make us feel better? Does it fix the problem? I say no. It only promotes more discord.

Romans 8:28 says...And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
I hope something good does come out of this tragedy.

So I get into my Sunday school class today, and I'm immediately greeted by a tattling 8-year-old.
"So-and-so hit this boy on the head with a Bible."
My response, "Bibles are not meant to be weapons. They're meant for reading."
Then another little boy in the class said, "My mom told me this week that the Bible is our weapon."
Ughh...my response, "Well, I don't think she meant hitting someone else with it."
(If any of you have seen the movie Saved, you will find this exchange even more humorous)

These little boys sure test my patience. I did score some points by letting them pretend to be fishermen and throw gummy worms on paper fish that I cut out. I wish I could say that was totally my idea, but my workbook suggested it. I threw in some sour gummy worms to jazz it up a little. I don't like gummy worms, so the kids pleaded with me to let them have the leftovers. Mean Miss Lynette said they'd already had enough. I know...I'm horrible.

I spent the afternoon playing tennis and bowling on the Wii. I took a stab at the boxing as well. What craziness! My baseball skills were horrible, so I took a swing at golf. Apparently I have too much power, because I often ended up in the sand traps. Guess that means I just have to practice more. :-)

What's on your iPod?

So I've been enjoying my little shuffle while at work. It only holds 133 songs, so I'll have to change a few up soon. Right now it's full with Fleetwood Mac, Nicole C. Mullen, Kirk Franklin, Mary Mary, Reliant K, Mary J. Blije, Kelly Clarkson, Gwen Stefani, Etta James, Miles Davis (ahhh...mellow mood music) Sarah McClachlan, Bonnie Tyler (gotta get some '80s in there), Coldplay, Gloria Estafan, Bill Withers, Norah Jones and Bob Dylan (I haven't felt like listening to him though).

What's in your Apple music box?

Just read this on Relevent magazine's Web site. I struggle being frustrated with where I'm at in life. That whole being content scripture always confuses me. I mean, I don't want to become content to the point where I'm not open to new things. Maybe that's more like being complacent. At the same time, how do I become content with where I'm at, if it's not where I thought I would be? And honestly, God is in control so why do I even worry? Easier said than done.

http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god_article.php?id=7329

The Bible study kids were crazy today! One little girl, who is always disobedient, was really irritating me. We were teaching a lesson about obeying, and it was not sinking it. I took her out of the room to have a little chat. When I asked her why she wasn't obeying, she says in a wimpery little voice, "Well...sometimes I listen to the devil. I'm a sinner." I was pretty shocked that came out of a 4-year-old's mouth! Then again, this little girl says some pretty adult-like things sometimes. I didn't laugh, I just reminded her that we are all sinners but that God wants us to try and be more like him and obey. These kids never cease to amaze me.

Jesse, thanks for being my first commenter!! I know you'd like that fight club. :-)

My arm is sore today from playing tennis on the Wii. I never thought I'd say this, but I could actually see myself wanting that game system.

Here's a picture from Easter with my friends Amy and Ruth. I think I missed the memo about wearing brown. You can't see a full view, but it's a new dress. I always go looking for something colorful, but end up with something black. What can I say, it's practical. Tomorrow I get another electroid and massage treatment. I'm lovin' it. Hopefully, I'll get back to yoga soon with my friend James. I think he believes I deserted him.

So all my friends can comment...

Played some Wii bowling today for the first time.

Many of my friends can't make comments on my xanga blog, so I've created this one for them. I'm a little scared about what comments some of you will leave on here though (you know who you are). I'll probably change its look frequently, because the design side of me is so picky. Plus, I don't really know what I'm doing on blogspot. Thanks to my friend Pete, who helped me set it up today. I should be finishing up my kids' lesson for tomorrow, but this is more fun. :-)

Back to bowling...or maybe tennis...or maybe baseball!