I came across this relatively new blog last week, Stuff White People Like, and can’t stop lurking. Sometimes I don’t know whether to laugh or be offended.
My favs so far are:
#2 Hating their parents
#50 Irony
#62 Knowing what’s best for poor people
#67 Standing still at concerts
Okay, so I realize I’m a couple of days late in getting this post up but I just totally scrapped my original post in favor of something more personal. I’m just in that kind of mood right now.
I’m a Baptist, even though I grew up with some Episcopalian influence from my Dad’s side of the family and a Methodist Pastor in my mom. I kind of like that I’m mixed. The Episcopalian’s gave me real wine for communion, and a counter-balance from the real fundamental stuff I heard in Baptist Sunday school. The Methodist’s gave me an appreciation for social service in my community, and social justice globally. They always supported me in prayer, and encouraged my mission work overseas. And the Baptist’s gave me a love for Bible study, Hymns, a way to apply God’s word into my daily life, and the fellowship with other Christians I really need in my life.
Make no mistake, not one denomination is perfect. None of us are. Each come with their own set of questions, doubt, and even hypocrisy. It wasn’t until I was older, when my faith became my own, that I realized that God is the only perfect part of the equation. The church, even though Christ’s bride, is imperfect because its filled with imperfect humans. But the influence of each church and congregation, flaws and all, have helped to guide, protect, and shape my faith and who I am. My faith is very important to me. I was raised in church but spent my years of college away from church, with the exception of being a Chreaster of course. I know what my life is like without faith and I don’t ever want to go back. That’s not to say I don’t have moments of frustration, doubt, and even anger. I do, believe me. That’s sort of the reason for this post.
I lost my Dad before New Year’s. He had just turned 60. Not to be dramatic, but I still think I’m in a state of shock. It’s hard to fathom, comprehend, and imagine some days. Others, I just don’t want to get out of bed. I’m trying to live my life in a new town, a new school but it’s becoming increasingly more difficult to put on a happy face….especially since everywhere I turn lately I see my Dad. If there was one thing I did to make my Father proud, it was following him to Athens. It’s just a little ironic that I move back here 2 weeks before he passed away. I just assumed he would’ve experienced this with me.
I’m not angry or bitter at God though; I just don’t understand why. I probably never will. I am angry, no question. I’m pissed if you wanna know the truth. I’m disappointed in myself for not being a better daughter. I’m ashamed that I’ve taken that anger out on others, especially someone really close to me. And I’m frustrated that I can’t seem to figure out what to do next, where to go from here, etc., on my own. I’m just not happy, no matter what I do. I’m miserable a lot and I’m sick of it. The only thing I know to do is turn to God. I’ve been doing this all along, but not enough apparently. I’m holding onto stuff that’s beginning to eat me alive. I’ve seen what bitterness and resentment can do to a person and I refuse to let that happen to me. So I called the only old friend I have in Athens and decided to go with her to the Ash Wednesday service at her church, First Baptist. I was a little late, but am so glad I went. It was beautiful, solemn, and carthartic for me.
Ash Wednesday service is one of my favorite worship services of the year. If you’ve never been, you should go, if only to experience it once. The Lenten and Easter season mean more to me than Christmas, which is saying a lot. It’s just such a cleansing time and an opportunity to prepare your heart for Holy Week. Ash Wednesday for me is symboilc, but so purposeful. It’s when I can approach the altar in true repentance, seeking forgiveness for my sins and let go of past wounds. The struggle for me this year is that I haven’t held up my end of the bargain. I went to the alter Wednesday night and was marked with the sign of the cross from the ashes of last year’s palms. Yet I left there without leaving my biggest burdens. I sought to be forgiven, but wasn’t ready to forgive in return. That’s pretty selfish & arrogant, considering it’s really all God has asked of me, you know?
“And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those
who trespass against us.” Luke 11:4
I can’t go back to the altar during Holy Week and certainly not on Easter Sunday without obeying what little God has asked of me. I can’t go back to Him seeking grace & mercy for my life without first being willing to extend the same to others. And I can’t go back to worship my risen Lord & Saviour with a heart of anger. No way.
WWJD. That’s been on my mind the last couple of days. What would Jesus do with me right now? Don’t answer that. Seriously though, that’s the question I’ve been asking myself…. What would He do? What is He asking me to do? How do I get from where I am right now to where I need to be, where He wants me to be? I don’t know, but I know how to find out.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be open to you.” Matthew 7:7
One of the most interesting parts of the season of Lent is it’s length - 40 days. Forty days from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday, excluding sabbaths. The number of days Moses was on Mt. Sinai in the presence of God (Exodus 24:18). The period that Noah was adrift on the ark (Genesis 8:6). The duration of Elijah’s journey to hear God’s voice (1King 19:8). And most importantly, the exact amount of time Jesus spent in the wilderness (Mark 1:13) after His baptism.
If it worked for Moses, Elijah, Noah, and Jesus then it will surely be sufficient for me. So, this Lent I have more than one sin to absolve. Who am I kidding? Let’s face it, I’ve got more than I care to count! But for this season in my life I’m choosing to focus on setting myself free. Free of the anger, guilt, resentment, bitterness, and shame that’s weighed me down lately. Free to move forward and rejoice in the blessings I have, not mourn for the ones I’ve lost. And free to truly love & cherish those who love & cherish me.
I know that I won’t be leaving church on Easter Sunday fully and completely healed of my Dad’s death. That’s gonna come eventually, but not any time soon. I know that. But I also know that when I leave the altar on Easter I’ll be a lot closer to the grace & mercy I so desperately seek and want to extend to others, than I am right now.
Back in August I switched from Veriz0n to Cingul@r and got what I thought at the time was a cool new red Samsung Sync (Go Dawgs!). I bought into the whole “more bars in more places” thing. What a steaming pile of poo that has been so far.
For the umpteenth time since August my phone decides to drop calls at random…. and always at the most inoportune times.
I was just talking with my best friend. To preface the conversation she says to me “don’t be mad, ok?” I’m listening to her intently and not mad at all actually. And as if on cue, the freakin’ call drops.
So this is what I have to say to Cingul@r…
In case you haven’t heard, today is National Signing Day for college football. The Dawgs reigned in a stellar class as usual, but with a little drama on the side….thanks a million Dwayne Allen for holding UGA hostage while you waffled on your “commitment.” Oh well, good luck to you kid, enjoy the Champs Sports/Liberty/Meinike Car Care Bowl next December.
Anyways, Dean Legge of the DawgPost caught Coach Rodney Garner trying to make a joke about DA’s defection and early commits. A baaaaad joke, from his wife’s perspective I’m sure.
Notice CMR getting up from the table when RG inserts his foot into his collosal mouth. Call me crazy, but I think he’s gonna pay for that one when he gets home. Lol! 
Go Dawgs!
The secret to a Happy Birthday can be found in achieving balance…
Forkful of cake, spoonful of ice cream…Forkful of cake, spoonful of ice cream…
Hope you have a great day and know what a blessing you are to so many, especially me!
“May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord shine His light upon you,
May the Lord be gracious to you
and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26
I think the days & weeks leading up to the Sugar Bowl this year were tough on most Georgia fans for a variety of reasons. First, we got shafted out of the MNC, no question. We dropped several spots in both polls for No F%cking Reason. The media hype for this match-up with Hawaii was so biased and Georgia became the guinea pig of the BCS. We knew there wasn’t much of an upside to playing the rainbows unless we dominated & drop kicked their “Haka” back to Pearl Harbor. Add to that, the gimmicky offense of June Jones wasn’t something we’d faced before - even the our most loyal fans, myself included ashamedly, were worried about a possible repeat of the Sugar in ‘06.
But like so many times this year, especially in the last 7 games of the season….Georgia had the last word. We came out guns blazing. And Hawaii?
“You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow this opportunity comes once in a lifetime…”
I’ve said it many times and I will say it again. No one does highlight videos like the Bulldawg Blawg. Nobody. And just an fyi, this one was just of Colt Brennan getting mauled. The full highlight video of the Sugar is coming soon.
“He’s choking, how everybody’s joking now, the clock’s run out, time’s up, over…”
I know watching this kid (another Heisman finalist, btw) getting his head knocked off repeatedly can be a little hard to watch. It was for me towards the end. Then I just remember all the shit he talked to our D at the line of scrimmage and remind myself this isn’t Ring Around The Rosies.
“But hold your nose cause here goes the cold water…”
This was their one shot. Their chance to prove they were as good as they claimed to be. Their chance to show us what the Haka really means, slitting of the throats and all. It was Colt’s chance to prove he deserved to be there with Tebow, McFadden, and Daniels at the New York Downtown Athletic Club.
They Choked. Btw Colt, Marcus Howard says hello
It was UGA’s shot too. To prove we deserved to play in the MNC game. To prove we deserved to be ranked higher than 4th or 5th in the polls. To prove we could destroy the dreams of Div I’s only undefeated team. To prove we deserve to go into next season with at least a top 3 preseason ranking. To prove we’ve earned a spot in that upper echelon of college football’s elite teams.
The Dawgs proved all of that and more….and they didn’t choke.
Go Dawgs!
Since there is so much controversy surrounding American interrogation techniques of terror suspects, I think it’s time we comprimise and drop the whole waterboarding thing for this method:
Sweet Jesus, that was hideous! Forcing captured al qaeda militants to listen to this crap is surely tormenting and painful enough to coerce a confession.
Wonder if he had some money down on this game?
I still cannot believe Eli Manning is going to play in the Super Bowl. You’d have to be psychic to have correctly predicted that. My money’s on the Pats by 12. Ugh. Dammit Favre!
I was home again this weekend still trying to finalize some of my Dad’s business. Its so confusing and enormous, my head is swimming and I’m exhausted all the time lately. So any moment of falling-off-the-couch laughter is an awesome reprieve!
Late yesterday after some family meetings my brother and I went back to his house to watch the first playoff game. Now we’re huge Falcons fans, and we despise the Patriots. I mean come on, who isn’t sick of Bill Belichick’s reign of arrogance, the lying cheating bastard? Clearly I’m not a fan of the “win at any cost” attitude to sports. Color me crazy, but I think you should compete & win via hard work, determination, talent, grit, and respect for the game. Guess I’m just old school like that.
But I digress, realizing quickly I didn’t have a dog in this hunt, besides half-heartedly cheering on Ben Watson & Richard Seymour (DGD’s for sure!), I got bored by the half when it was obvious the Pats were gonna advance to the Super Bowl….again. Ugh.
Then we saw the funniest commercial I’ve seen in a long time. Leave it to Bud Light, and I hate their beer btw, to make one of the best commercials for the playoffs. This should’ve been a Super Bowl ad - its the one with the talking dog saying “sausages” over and over. Hillarious! I’m telling you I cannot remember laughing this hard in a loooooooong time.
I started looking for it last night and just now found it on youtube. The best part is the squirrel at the end - I’m gonna be saying “Mind your own business Chump!” all week long.
Without the Packers (dammit Favre!) the Super Bowl is gonna suck this year. But if this is any indication of the commercials, I’ll watch it just to get some funny back into my life! ;-)
Okay, so I think I’ve officially qualified for the bad blogger of the month award. Not that it matters, I don’t have that many readers. I have the pathetic blog stats to prove it But seriously, I can’t believe its been a month since my last post. I guess time flies and all that…
Since my last visit here, a lot has transpired in my life. Some good, some bad. I closed up shop in Greenville, moved to Athens, lost my Dad after Christmas, transferred to ATC and started Winter Quarter. In that order. I can honestly say it’s been one of the toughest months of my life.
I won’t be writing about my Dad, because I don’t wanna go there, accept to say thank you to everyone who loved & prayed me through it. Correction, I’m nowhere near through it, so please keep praying. I covet them & appreciate the grace more than you know. Certainly more than I can adequately expressed.
One bright spot of many though, the Dawgs beat the shit out of Hawaii in the Sugar. Is Colt Brennan still alive? Damn. Go Dawgs! I hate that Munson missed calling this one. But, I really hate like hell that my Dad missed it - he would’ve LOVED that game.
Anyways, about the move… So, I love my new apartment. It’s in a great new community inside the perimeter. It’s new, elegant, chic, comfortable, and has really felt like home to me this week, rather than a place I visited to grab clothes to dash back to the upstate. I’ve only met one person in my complex so far though. It’s mostly just grad students & young professionals, which is nice. I’m not here to relive my college days, so the relative quietness is cool. I’m still getting settled in, my washer & dryer finally arrived today (Yea!), but all of the boxes are unpacked and pictures are making their way onto the walls. I hung a wreath on my door yesterday and baked some cookies earlier today. Silly maybe, but that’s how I know I’m home.
I guess it’ll take a little bit of time to really feel like an Athenian (sp?) again though. It’s so strange driving by campus everyday and not being a student! I’m sure I’ll love ATC, but I’d much rather be on Science Row. Too bad UGA doesn’t offer my degree track yet 
I decided that in order to truly regain my Classic City citizenship card again I need to do a few things in the next couple of weeks:
1. Join a gym - I miss ballet booty & need to get back into a regular routine.
2. Visit Churches - I have a few in mind & intend on visiting services soon.
3. Get my license & tag updated - I got pulled last week by one of ACC’s finest (more blogging on that later) and got the lecture…even though I technically have 2 more weeks to get to the DMV, but whatever.
To that end, if anyone has any reccommendations on Athens gyms & churches, leave it in the comments section s’il vous plait. Merci!!
As far as my classes go, I’ve transitioned into ATC with relative ease…..so far. Getting used to the quarter system again is odd. My freshman year at UGA was their last on quarters. Winter quarter is a bitch, to say the least. Long lecture hours, long labs, same classes everyday, and everything is at warp speed to cram the term into 2 months. I’m taking Medical Microbiology and Applied Micro- & Biotechnology. The latter course is guaranteed to kick my ass much like Organic Chem last term. Ugh. C’est la vie je suppose.
But the good news is I may get a break from classes this week if the weather cooperates. Al Gore be dammed! Here’s hoping for a snow-day on Thursday!!
Anyways, it’s good to be back in the city I love so much; my own little version of copacetic. Thanks to everyone who’s wished me & my family well over the last few weeks.
PS - congratulations to Christina & Brian for finally gettin’ hitched on Sunday. Here’s a little Irish blessing that toasts you better than I could:
May your mornings bring joy and your evenings bring peace.
May your troubles grow few as your blessings increase.
May the saddest days of your future be no worse than the happiest day of your past.
Color me surprised. Tommy Bowden craps out on discipline once again.
What do you expect from Tater Tot’s brother?
Apparently Cortney Vincent got a jump on post Finals partying. The starting MLB for the tigers was arrested early Sunday morning for DUI in Pickens County after leaving an off campus party. He admitted to drinking early in the night and complied with the officer’s request for a field sobriety test, which he passed. However, he refused the breathalyzer (can’t blame him), and in the state of South Carolina that is an admission of guilt. As an early Christmas present, the Pickens County PD conveniently forgot to issue a mandatory court ordered blood test for Vincent. Shocking, I know; this ain’t Athens folks - the cops in these parts ♥ Clemson football.
Jail or no jail, you’ll still be wearing an orange jumpsuit
It doesn’t take a genious to figure out Cortney will likely walk with probation or, better yet, a dismissal.
In the meantime, Coach Bowden declared that Cortney will not be suspended from the team. He will not miss a practice. He will not run gassers or write a thousand times on the chalkboard “I will not drink & drive.” And he most certainly will not lose his starting job for the Peach-fil-A Bowl against Auburn on New Year’s Eve. Unbelievable.
This coming from the same man who lauds himself as a disciplinarian, mentor, and leader to his team. The same man who’s in deep doo-doo with the ACLU over using a University bus to take his players to church. Also the same man who just used the Arkansas job like a two-dollar whore to get a fat pay raise for accomplishing his typical version of NADA and maintaining the mediocrity that is Clemson football.
Way to go Tammy!
War Eagle.
I took my last 2 Finals today and I’m done for the term. Thank you sweet Jesus!
Insert Hallelujah Chorus
I just checked campus cruiser and my final grade for Organic Chemsitry is posted….I kept my B. Normally I would be pretty pissed, especially since I entered this term with a 4.0, but this class kicked my ass. Not a single course I took at UGA was harder than this class. So escaping with a B is not only something I’m okay with, but proud of as well.
Again I say insert the Hallelujah Chorus!!!
I was up ’til nearly 5am cramming last night, so I am more than exhausted, but all I could think about driving home was watching one of my favorite Christmas movies, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. I know almost every line and have seen it at least a million times, but never ever get tired of watching it.
“Holy Shit. Where’s the Tylenol?”
Best line of the movie by far:
Chevy Chase: “Where do you think you’re going? Nobody’s leaving. Nobody’s walking out on this fun, old-fashioned family Christmas. No, no. We’re all in this together. This is a full-blown, four-alarm holiday emergency here. We’re gonna press on, and we’re gonna have the hap, hap, happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny fucking Kaye. And when Santa squeezes his fat white ass down that chimney tonight, he’s gonna find the jolliest bunch of assholes this side of the nuthouse.”
Enjoy your day at work tomorrow. I’ll be sleeping in
It’s after 2am and I should be in bed. Seriously, I really need to be in bed. I have my last two finals tomorrow: Immunology at 9am, then Genetics at 2:30pm. I’ve been quizzing myself with flashcards for hours now, with the help of some Krispy Kreme’s (just 2) and 4 tall glasses of Coke. The sugar & caffeine high was not the best of ideas, especially since I’m gonna crash hard in about 30 minutes, but it’s sure as hell better than this.
The unfortunate part of cramming, at least for me, is that your brain tends to wander off topic. I took mini breaks intermittently throughout the night, checking email, chatting with KK, making “things to do” lists for the move, thinking about Christmas plans, etc…
But what really killed my rhythm (in a good way) was an email from Leah. She was asking to borrow my Christmas CD collection for her annual Christmas night party. Leah & Jason throw a fantastic party every year - all our friends stop by, have a few cocktails, eat some chinese food, dance, and escape the family drama. It’s seriously one of the highlights of the season for me.
Anyways, I’m known in our circle of friends as the one with all the Christmas movies & music. The collection is a little embarrassing, not because of the volume but because of the corniness factor. Exhibit A: I have in my possession the N’Sync Christmas album and Barry Manilow’s first Christmas LP. Need I say more? I didn’t think so. But I also have some cool stuff too like holiday tunes from The Drifters, Chuck Berry, The Eagles, The Beach Boys, The Andrews Sisters, Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong, Elvis, John Lennon, Bing & Frank, James Taylor, Bruse Springsteen, etc.
So Leah asked if I would make a mixed tape version of my best stuff for her party. Even though I really do not have an ounce of spare time left, I’m too psyched at the idea of creating an old school mixed tape/cd to pass it up.
Here’s what I’ve got so far:
1. Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee
2. God Rest Ye/We 3 Kings - Barenaked Ladies & Sarah Mclachlan
3. Little Saint Nick - Beach Boys
4. White Christmas - The Drifters
5. O Holy Night - Charlotte Church
6. Mele Kalikimaka - Bing Crosby
7. Sleigh Ride - The Ronnettes
8. The Holly and The Ivy - George Winston
9. Please Come Home For Christmas - The Eagles
10. Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt
11. Last Christmas - Wham
12. Blue Christmas - Elvis
13. Winter Wonderland - Annie Lennox
14. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - James Taylor
15. The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole
16. Holly, Jolly Christmas - Burl Ives
17. Wonderful Christmastime - Paul McCartney
18. Santa Claus - Harry Connick Jr.
19. Ave Maria - Celine Dion
20. Feliz Navidad - Jose Feliciano
21. Drummer Boy - Mercy Me
22. Sing Mary Sing - Jennifer Knapp
23. Carol of the Bells/What Child Is This? - Point of Grace
24. All I Want for Christmas - Mariah Carey
25. Breath of Heaven - Amy Grant
26. Don’t Save It All For Christmas Day - Avalon
27. Do You Hear What I Hear? - Third Day
28. Jingle Bells - Barry Manilow
29. Christmas Don’t Be Late - Chipmunks
30. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Frank Sinatra
31. Baby, It’s Cold Outside - Ella Fitzgerald
32. White Christmas - Bing Crosby
33. Christmastime Is Here - Sixpence None The Richer
34. Silent Night - Mark Schultz & Nichole Nordeman
35. Sweet Little Jesus Boy - Rebecca St. James
36. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Bruce Springsteen
37. Do They Know It’s Christmas? - Band Aid
38. Run Rudolph, Run - Chuck Berry
39. O Holy Night - N’Suck - but its really good I swear!
40. Celebrate Me Home - Kenny Loggins
41. Winter Wonderland - Louis Armstrong
42. Happy Christmas - John Lennon
43. Song For A Winter’s Night - Sarah Mclachlan
Best Christmas song ever!
Alright, so that’s what I’ve got so far. I want to stop at 50, but I’ve hit a brick wall. Let me know what I’ve left out and what your favorites are please! I need the help.
For now though, I’ve gotta get back to study-cram-ing. It’s now after 3am and sheer panic is starting to set in. These are the moments when, as my Dad loves to say… “you grab a bottle, hunker down, and pray for daylight.” No bottle for me, but praying I will do.
Wish me luck y’all!
I’ve been catching some serious hell for not updating my blog lately. I’m even catching it from myself. I had great intentions of doing a raging bitch of a post about the Dawgs getting screwed out of the mnc. I meant to do a post about getting shafted out of the Rose only to play the rainbows in the Sugar. I meant to do a post about this advent season, or one about my Thanksgiving/Christmas tree hunt/new puppy drama-filled day. But I didn’t. Sorry.
I’m finishing up my last term in school, getting ready for Christmas (you have no idea what this entails for me), and franticly getting ready to move back to Athens next week. Oh my God, did I just say next week? I’m in a total panic and still have exams to face this week. These are the times when only a Gin & Tonic can calm the frenzy. Pass the Tanqueray….
I’m not so sure if I’m gonna keep up the blog next term. Football season provides a lot of material and my life just isn’t that exciting. Not exciting enough to write down at least. The truth of it is this blog thing is a double edge sword to me really. The majority of people who keep telling me to update it are those that I speak to regularly and know what’s going on in my life. So what’s the point? The rest are folks who’ve found me because of The Dawgs. And now that the season is coming to an end (I still can’t freakin’ believe it!) I just can’t see them sticking around to read about my latest goof at the gym. You know?
Plus, I’ve almost completed my ”road to copacetic.” At least for now.
I don’t know, we’ll see. I will be doing a post in the next few days on moving back to Athens though.
Anyways, here’s the really random portion of the post. I was just talking to a close someone and he’s never heard this song. I had never heard of Gold Dust Woman, so we’re even I guess. Anyways, I think this is one of Fleetwood Mac’s best songs EVER. The story behind this song is one of absolute gut-wrenching betrayal. So if you’ve just gone through a break-up, put away the knives first…
“…Drowning in the sea of love
Where everyone would love to drown
And now its gone
It doesn’t matter anymore
When you build your house
Call me home”
