YOU'VE GOT to see "Becoming Jane"

Okay people you have GOT to see this movie. Me and my "pool group" and no we don't play pool we exercise in the pool, went to go see this movie and we ALL loved it.

Especially MEEEEEE!!!
I love Jane Austin and this movie is based "loosely" on her life. Everyone knows how much I love stuff like this so they were asking me upon leaving the theatre, "What did you think Joyce?" to which I replied....."I want to move there."
It was so "yummy!!" I greatly enjoyed the landscape where they filmed it ....and the ladies dresses and hats....sigh. Not quite sure where it actually was filmed at.
I will have to research that just in case I do move there. HA! HA!

IF you like British Literature.....or books like "Little Women, Ann of Green Gables, and or other Jane Austin works like "Pride and Prejudice or Sense and Sensibility" then you will go bananas over this movie. It's just like her books. I don't want to give the plot away.

Just trust me on this.......GOOOOOO!!

My China Setting

This is a photo of my china that I have. I love it. It's so pretty. I don't get to use it enough though. Sigh.

Anyhow....I've a busy, busy, day today. Pool group and a Dr.'s appointment and other things. Sadly, I'm not even able to find a moment to have a cup of tea this morning because I am in such a rush......blah! I will find time later though.

I've finished a book I was reading...."The Kite Runner" which took me forever to get through because I read another one at the SAME time and liked it better appparently. HA! But I must say......"The Kite Runner" gets so much better about mid way through. VERY slow in the begining and they have to lay alot of foundation about the country (Afghanastan) and the culture. Anyhow....started a new book last night so.....cup of tea later once I return home!

IF I may add one plug for the libraries and booksellers of this world....READ PEOPLE READ!
Just be aware of what you are reading.....but read something.
Keep the mind and the TEA flowing!

"Tea pot is on, the cups are waiting, Favorite chairs anticipating, No matter what I have to do, My friend there's always time for you" ~ Unknown
Good day!

Jenny. Jenny Craig

So I caved. I went back. But really…I should have done this a long time ago. After getting on the scale, it’s been determined that I have actually gotten back up to my miserable pre-breakup weight of two and half years ago. Yes, I lost it all post-breakup and kept it off for a good chunk of my single year…but WHAM, as soon as I am happy and in a stable relationship, it all came back with a vengeance. It’s been a slow process…which in turn is what killed me I guess because I didn’t notice it. Vero says she cant see it; that I look the same as I did the day she met me (and hated me) but I look at pictures of that summer and LOVE how I look, and then I look at pictures from this summer and only love the ones that I am hiding from bad angles.

Regardless…I am taking a positive step for my future. Yes, I want another baby…but E’s ‘boy’ is going to have to wait for me to be happy with my body only to turn around and wreck it (oh the irony) At first I thought it was a smart idea to get pregnant BEFORE I lost the weight…but then realized that it would only depress me more to see the scale moving higher than it already has. I think it’s just a mental thing. I could handle losing weight, then gaining it all back with pregnancy….I don’t think I could handle JUST gaining weight with a pregnancy and having to lose THAT, as well as the extra weight I still need to lose now. Make sense? Meh, who knows what will happen. Jenny Craig has promised to ‘freeze’ my account if I do get pregnant, and re-start when I am ready to lose the baby weight. Not that that’s the route I want to take, but the option is there nonetheless.

So, they have some new food. The menu still has a lot of the usual ‘staples’ that I liked, but it was nice to see some more variety. Just last night I had mesquite chicken with roasted potatoes and broccoli florets, and it was delish! The portions are small granted, but I am eating 5 times a day as opposed to the two quick meals I have been eating and the rushed snack after a pinner *giggle*. I am really thinking that this little ‘bug’ I thought I had is just my poor eating habits…because today I feel great! I am not hungry, I am drinking more water, and I am eating less calories. I am on a 1200 calorie-a-day diet, and I can supplement with any kind of vegetable if I am not getting enough. Thankfully I love me some veggies, so I should be fine. I had no problems sticking to the diet years ago…that I don’t foresee any issues this time around.

My goal? 28lbs in 90 days which equals to a little over 2 pounds a week. This falls into the “healthy” weight loss category…so anything short of someone stuffing whipped cream down my throat for weeks straight, I should be good to go!

Totally random…but it smells like shit here in my office all of sudden…like a dog took an actually shit, or someone puked. *off to investigate before I puke*

"Back away from the Mother Teresa".......

First of all let me say.....I'm just a person. Not a famous one at that. I am a Wife and a Mom. I stayed at home with my children for 19 years then went to work.....for about 3-nearly 4 years until I became very ill.
I have a heath issue which has required for me to stay home and recover and I've come a long way and I am very thankful for that one thing alone!

I love people, I love missions I love music and I love to read and I love write. I have many interests. Many passions. Many that I can't reach or fulfill but I try.
I'm not saying I'm good or an authority on at any of the things I've mentioned.
However, I try, I do try and I am genuine about stating that.

When I compare my life to someone like Mother Teresa. There is none. My life is mere dust on the ground compared to hers. We don't cross paths in many ways other than we BOTH liked Princess Diana, and we both love people. But most importantly........we are both "children of the Most High God."

Now that certain issues have arisen regarding Mother Teresa's life......I think it's time we take a few moments to analyze some things about her.

Let me say this to my Catholic friends and family, I mean no harm in what I am about to say. So forgive me if our opinions differ. I know that this could get my house "petrol bombed" if I lived in No. Ireland. But I don't and I have a wild card up my sleeve....I have a Great Aunt that is a nun you know..... "Sister Louise." Whew! Got that going for me. So you will see, I'm not a "hater"....read on.

Truthfully......this current scandal hitting the press and airwaves about Mother Teresa, "Questioning her faith in God" is a "buffoonery." Don't you love the online thesaurus? So handy in serious times like this.
Not to make light of the situation......it's just plain stupid and this is what we get for making "SAINTS" out of regular people.

Let's get to the point.

Mother Teresa was a very little lady from Albania. She had MASSIVE love for people. Especially the down and out ones of this world. No one can deny what she accomplished while she was on this earth. She was remarkable. Yet now we see.......she was "human".....why wouldn't she be? I guess because we don't see many that do what she did and attempted to do on such a scale as what she did. When you think of Calcutta.......that is a lot to deal with right there this isn't counting the other areas of the world she encountered. She loved the hurting, the sick, the dying. Ones that others would have given up on.

Now that that this new book on her life has exposed her "frailties" which by the way they say she DID NOT want exposed....people are seeing her in a whole new light. Which I say is good.
She struggled with her faith. Tell me WHO HASN'T or WHO DOESN'T. Don't be so pious people. She was a mere human being and thank GOD for that. She wondered "Where God was" at times. Is that so horrible? She wondered "Why she hadn't heard from God"....haven't you??? Maybe we expect way too much from great people or even from ourselves.

I know when I get out in the Baton Rouge traffic at times, I HAVE GOT to pray for God to "give me an opening" into traffic......and I have to say.....He does. He is the God of my every concern isn't He? I know it's nothing to be compared with the "miraculous" things happening out there but sometimes.....it is miraculous just driving and surviving in this city.

What about when you need a parking spot. Do you pray? I mean we can do that even for the simplest of things. IF you can't find one close to the door did you feel that God had neglected you or was off in China helping that country instead? Come on.

Put yourselves in the shoes....or sandals of Mother Teresa. Do you think that if you saw the immense human pain and suffering and starvation that she saw over and over and over on a continual basis that your faith wouldn't get a tad bit "rocked." Oh I'm thinking that it would. Yet I feel she held the course.

Oh does that guy get money for writing that book too? Might be motive #1 right there. I don't know. I haven't seen any interviews as to "Why" he's writing it only that he has and I'm not saying he can't write it.....I'm only saying this......BIG, FAT SO WHAT! The woman did a good work and the possible fact that she had struggles in her faith at times.....well get over it.
WE all have and if we say we don't then we are deceived and we lie.
This is part of the head game that we have to deal with folks.

These scriptures in Hebrews make me think of someone like Mother Teresa and of us all. HARD times will come. You can just count on that.... for every one of us all and we have got to hang on. WE stay the course.....we don't FALL off the course we have to STAY in the race. It's the end that matters. Not what you felt 30 years ago when you were sad and depressed and scribbled some writings out of desperation in your diary that someone publishes to disclaim you once your dead. It's what your "life testimony" says about you, now and in the end.


34For you did sympathize and suffer along with those who were imprisoned, and you bore cheerfully the plundering of your belongings and the confiscation of your property, in the knowledge and consciousness that you yourselves had a better and lasting possession.

35Do not, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward.

36For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and [a]carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised.

37For still a little while (a very little while), and the Coming One will come and He will not delay.

38But the just shall live by faith [My righteous servant shall live [b]by his conviction respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, and holy fervor born of faith and conjoined with it]; and if he draws back and shrinks in fear, My soul has no delight or pleasure in him.(A)

39But our way is not that of those who draw back to eternal misery (perdition) and are utterly destroyed, but we are of those who believe [who cleave to and trust in and rely on God through Jesus Christ, the Messiah] and by faith preserve the soul.



I receive many, many prayer requests. Sometimes the needs are absolutely overwhelming.
Especially the ones I get from missionaries or people in ministry. These people are working....giving their lives in service for Him and I wonder to myself at times......"oh God how can this happen..or...how can this be allowed"....yet, He is sovereign, and He is divine. I believe that and I don't question Him on what He thinks is best. I don't think God is sitting up there looking down to see who He can squash like a bug. That is "buffoonery." Hey, find a good word, use it all day long. HA!

I may not understand everything in life....but I do know that HE loves and cares for me and for others and HE knows what is best for us all. I have no "God issues" in that way.....but I know many people that do and that's okay. That's how they are wired. Are they any less spiritual. I don't think so. They just are maybe deeper thinkers. I can't explain it all and I don't have to. All I am saying is......we are all on different pages yet......we are in the same book.
Hold on...because we all know the ending and we ARE a part of it!!!

Another great missionary to Calcutta who I have ALWAYS admired said this.....
“don't curse the darkness…light a candle.” - Mark Buntain



That my friends is what he and Mother Teresa and thousands of other willing servants have done through the ages and will continue to do so.
Get your candles out people.

The virtues of tea.....

“I am so fond of tea that I could write a whole dissertation on its virtues. It comforts and enlivens without the risks attendant on spirituous liquors. Gentle herb! Let the florid grape yield to thee. Thy soft influence is a more safe inspirer of social joy." ~ James Boswell

I agree with how Mr. Boswell feels.

I too feel there is a "virtue" that comes along drinking tea.
Who really needs "spirits" of any kind when you can choose tea?
It's calming it's soothing,it's simple, it's got a balance to it that we need in life. It can be medicinal. it is affordable and assessable. It isn't hard to prepare.
No one goes to jail after drinking too much of it and driving. It is of all things.....yes....."virtuous."

Virtue. That's a very special word when you think about it.

Let me define it for you, Mr. Webster says this......virtue is:
"a beneficial quality or power of a thing." Oh yeah. Tea is just that now then isn't it??

Are you depressed, stressed out......tired? Need a pickup...then warm up the teapot. Put on some nice classical music, make yourself a cuppa and then just go sit in a chair......or a tub of water and relax. Read a book. Whatever.....just take a moment for yourself to unwind in a "virtuous" way.

We need "virtuous" things in our lives. Virtue will help us to maintain who we are in the days ahead it will enable us to stay faithful, content, truthful, kind hearted, level minded and just, to name a few things.
Virtue is a gift that people will see in us and want when we exhibit it.

Just like there are many flavors and blends of teas.....there is only one type of virtue, but you can add it into whatever your situation is. You can season "virtue" into your actions,etc. etc.

Here is something for you to meditate on while your holding your "virtuous" teeming cup of tea.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8

While there are so many things for us to think on negatively out there in the course of a day.....we must NOT forget that there are just as many "VIRTUOUS" things we can focus on as well and do. There are people and situations that are virtuous too. This my friends is a GOOD thing. Hold fast to those kinds of thoughts. People need to see "virtue" in us!

I think I am going to try to start working that word more into my vocabulary.....it's something we don't say or use enough and it's a powerful little word.
Virtue, virtue, virtue, virtue......sounds nice.

@#$^$#%

So I think I am sick. Maybe tired…but sick. Could be stress…who knows. But definitely something is wrong with me, and its not pregnancy! (so don’t ask)

I have been nauseous now for THREE days, and now I have a side pain that feels like the cramp you get when you swim right after eating. If I take a deep breath, it hurts even more. I am also bloated a shell and can’t fit into any of the clothes I wore last week. And don’t say I must have eaten at McDicks one too many times…. You don’t gain weight like that in a week!

So…I haven’t been to the doctor for a ‘check-up’ in goddess knows when…so I am actually nervous to do it. I am almost never sick…and when I am, it is strictly over the counter stuff for me and I am over it in a day. But this is just getting plain ridiculous. Even as I type this I wonder if my guts are going to spill out onto the keyboard…and I’m at work! Very odd thing to try to explain to your boss, no? I could ask to go home…but what purpose would that serve me really? Lay down and still be in pain…or wrok and save a sick day for one of those days I can’t get out of bed? I choose the latter.

I was going to go check out that new store at Coquitlam Centre http://www.hm.com/ and get my shopping on…but I think I am going to pass. Pass out that is.

Fuck.

"Oh Behave and drink your Tea!"

Here's a nice little fact for you....in case you care. I think it's worth printing.

"In the UK, 165 million cups of tea are drunk every day, most with milk."

Now there has been some "controversy" as to what to add first...."sugar or milk"....or even...."milk then tea"....I personally do whatever I am in the mood to do. HA! Of course I do the tea first then the other things....BUT I did see on Martha Stewart a famous British actress (I can't remember who she was! DUH!) and she said "you always add the milk first, then the sugar."
Okay then that's settled.

Why add milk?
When I was in Ireland....and I don't want to be "offensive" here....because "U.K." people (I'm including all the Isles in this catagory) are always "bashed" becaues of there teeth. But there may be some good reasons for that possibly and we may be able to clear all that up here tonight.

I was told that when you add milk to your tea, it "helps keep your teeth from staining." Makes sense to me. Have you seen some of the teeth of people in the U.K....?? Stained. This one Dr. was talking to me and I MEAN A very renowned Doctor and he was up close chatting with me and I was actually quiet freaked out by the apperance of his teeth so much so that I was thinking to myself...
"Hello you could get those fixed you know!"
So......I've always added milk to my tea but you can bet after that trip I ALWAYS will. HA! Milk will only help with the "stain issue" not straightening or cavities or other such things.

I had a friend from Connecticut....she taught me and another friend of ours to drink tea with sugar and real lemon and no milk. It's good that way especially if you haven't any milk AND want stained teeth.

Here is your tea quote for today:
"To an Englishman, tea is of far greater importance than toilet paper." — anon.
Not to pick on the Brits so much tonight because you all KNOW I much love them really.
But I couldn't resist that quote.

"Enhancing the health of Christian churches"...finally!

This was part of an article I was sent via e-mail......interesting, read on.

Evangelical Christians' priorities for change in government and society deviate from average Americans' priorities more than any other subgroup, according to a study released by the Christian research firm Barna Group.

The study reportedly asked respondents to rank the importance of 11 different issues, including overall care and resources devoted to children, the quality of public school education, national security, poverty, the state of marriage and families, the spiritual state of the country and the environment.

According to a Cybercast News Service report, among the general population, the issues receiving the most attention were overall care and resources devoted to children, but among evangelical Christians, the top three priorities were "enhancing the health of Christian churches, upgrading the state of marriage and families, and improving the spiritual condition of the U.S."

"By jove, I think we're getting it!"

Tea and such

Me thinks we need a bit more quiet resolution on "The Secret Gardener" for this post.
It's time to chill out a bit. For tonight anyway.

I miss my humor which has been replaced with some sarcasm as of late.
I can't imagine why.

Anywho....I am going to give you some spontaneous "Tea Quotes" from time to time to calm us down like a decent herbal tea would. It's time don't you agree?
Besides, I need to catch my second wind before the next weird thing arrives on the scene and throws me into another tangent.
Here we go, "Tea Quote" for tonight is.......
"Love and scandal are the best sweeteners of tea." ~ Henry Fielding

Now, that was not my first choice but once I saw it after re-reading the list I have....I thought to myself. "How fitting" after reading of scandals that are hitting.
Although I have to disagree with Mr. Fielding......my tea hasn't ever been sweetened by scandal, but it has been sweetened by love. Scandals make people bitter. We don't want to be bitter people we want to be BETTER people.

Thank GOD for love. The love of God that is unexplainable, and that will never end......the love of family and love of dear friends.
We are so fortunate for love aren't we? What would we do without it? Be full of rejection I suppose.

Oh, and of course I am thankful for tea......Ummmm.....
I take mine with milk and sugar thank you!

Wheat and the TARES.......

Found this on a blogsite I was reading on "worship" tonight. It's by Leonard Jones if any of you know him.
It's interesting. I guess I had put the situation of "Tares" to the back of my memory bank but reading this posting caused me to think about it again and how it relates to where we are and how we are operating. Very timely. I like the last line.

Tares
Tuesday, August 21, 2007, 04:55 PM
When a ministry is first being planted, Satan will try to stop it. If he cannot stop it, then he will try to plant some tares along with the wheat. As the ministry grows, you start noticing some things that are not right. Those things usually were not right from the beginning, but they were not mature yet so they went unnoticed. Does that mean you just quit and start another ministry? Then what about the tares sown in the next ministry you start, and the next…? You are always going to have some things wrong with any ministry, and they may stay wrong as long as the ministry is going. The real goal is not to have a perfect ministry; it’s to have perfect hearts. By perfect hearts I mean humble, God loving, God seekers; not professional ministers.
LEO

TRUE friends of the Bridegroom.

Today I received my "Elijah Newsletter" in my e-mail.

THANK GOD some people are very open to the Holy Spirit and what He is saying to the church at this moment in time, AND they aren't seeking "national attention" like alot of these other ministries and such. I'm not "endorsing" all they send out yet I do trust the vision that I am about to share part of with you because it's in line with other things I have seen people longing for and have felt myself. The guy that had this vision and wrote about it is Rick Joyner and you can check out his stuff if you wish. I'm not telling you to, I just saying I appreciate what he shared today on the Elijah List Newsletter.

Once reading it, (the article Joyner wrote) it totally bore witness with my heart, mind, and soul.
So much so that I am going to put a bit of it on here for you to read. Many of the people that I am close to feel this way and many of us want to see this happen.
I think it will express how I've been feeling too especially regarding some of the things I wrote in my LAST blog entry.

PLUS all these things he shared goes along VERY MUCH with what is happening at the IHOP ministry in K.C. which Don and I like as well. That group of people do NOT elevate themselves nor their leaders, and are totally "non materialistic."
Things and lots of buildings and "stuff" don't matter so much to them as GOD and God's people..... and I am all about that.

Read on......

"A new breed of ministry is being commissioned now."

These are the true friends of the Bridegroom. These will be spiritual eunuchs for the sake of the Kingdom. A eunuch cannot have a desire for the Bride or to use her for his own purposes; rather, his whole satisfaction comes from seeing the King's satisfaction with His Bride--this will be their passion. The new breed of ministry will not abuse the Bride; their whole purpose will be to help the Bride make herself ready for the King.

The new breed of ministry will not use the people to build their ministries, they will use their ministries to build people. This will result in a revolution in the Church. Selfish ambition will be driven from the ministry of the Church. Christians will begin to love each other and serve out of love. The result of this will be a society of saints who will become a marvel in the earth and a true light to the world.

Those who understand the times are not nearly as focused on what the devil is doing as they are on what the Lord is doing. The greatest
sign that the end of the age is near will be the Bride emerging in the glory that she is called to walk in. The Lord will not come until His Bride is ready. Her preparation for the greatest of all events--the union of Christ with His Bride, will accelerate as we get closer to the end of this age.

Sigh. I pray that the "TRUE friends of the Bridegroom" get with it. I know they are out there, I know they are praying.....many, 24/7. Folks we can't accomplish much without constant and committed prayer and the thing I see with all this hyper ministry stuff is NO PRAYER. Who has the time.....because we have to run here and there and appear here and there and host this thing and that thing and give out stuff and whatever. When do they pray?? Or FAST??? I'm speaking to myself here people as well as anyone.

Personally, I am the type of person that finds it hard to SIT in one place and just meditate or pray. It's hard for me to hold still......but WE HAVE GOT TO DO THIS. Besides we can move around. The point is....just do something because we have
NO POWER without it. What makes us think we can stand against the wiles of the devil and never pray or slow down and ponder the goodness of the Lord??? Where does intimacy with our Lord ever come into being when we don't pray or spend time with Him or learning of Him by reading His words?

It's all DEAD works. "Planned without the permission of the Holy Spirit."
We have got to seek the LORD people.
I don't see many places with this in their schedules.

Oh sure we plan a little something in.......a little prayer thing in here and there...but I have seen mega places that have the WEAKEST prayer coverings I've EVER SEEN and it scares me for them because they are sitting out there with a huge "bulls eye" on them......like "go ahead devil HIT US!"
We are naked but "think" it will be all okay because "we are doing some stuff"...... but we aren't covered spiritually. Leaders don't cover their leaders and sorry...
"if the blind lead the blind"....as the old saying goes....."they all go astray"....right?

They don't pray. OR there is some prayer but not much.....and the leadership is soooo busy doing "stuff" that they don't pray or have time to get alone with God maybe with staff once a week or whenever but that's the majority of it. I'm not joking.....I've worked with staffs and I know staffs and I know ministries and I know ministers and so on and so forth. This LACK happens EVERY day all over the town, all over the nation and all over the world.

Yet.....we have our hands in every kind of ministry setting there is and don't have the Spirit of the Lord there working with us. Whoops!!!! Forgot to invite Him!

I have seen it with my OWN eyes so don't deny it. I've also done it too. So there...just so you know I'm not throwing stones. I'm not proud of that fact, however....I'm warning you to just change it or else you face the same problems that are hitting all these other "big name" people and ministries out there.

In case you haven't read the news lately.....they are dropping like flies and why do you think that's happening??????
We won't go there right now because I ALREADY DID!

PLEASE for your sakes, for your people's sakes, for your congregations sakes....
TRY to drop a few balls that are up in the air......drop some stuff off the schedules, skip some events in other towns or whatever, wherever, and pick up the MOST important keys to ministry.
(Shall I list them??)
By the way there will be a test on this one day.

Other than all I've said...IF we don't do these things...it's all just
"Paper Religion" and it will burn up.

Wretched and so forth.......

Today my heart is heavy because of the foolishness that is out there in the church world.
SO much mega, and celebrity status and "who knows who. OR "this ( I won't mention what this is....fill in the blanks yourself it's easy) thing we are doing will take us to a 'national level'" FOR WHAT I SAY??? Are we just doing things in our churches, ministries and such to get our names in Charisma magazine or other Christian "mags" that are out there. What is our motive in what we do? Are we so infatuated by this celebrity world that we have to be up there in the "lights?"

People we need to get a grip. This is not to be our purpose I don't care WHO you are. We are not to be self seeking....not for ourselves and not for our CHURCHES or "ministries." All these things bring about pride and it takes a very special person to stay humble once their name is brought to the forefront of the world wither the Christian world or the WORLD.
Well unless it's all about bringing in the bucks and sometimes it is isn't it? It takes a lot of money to pay for our monstrous buildings, and monstrous homes, (I say that plural too for those of you out there in that boat) oh yeah and monstrous boats, and monstrous cars, (right plural again because you can't have just a few right?) and our many monstrous vacations and "ministry trips"....that I love ....."ministry trips".........and don't forget..never mind.
I suppose that one would have to do something to generate income to pay for these things and more.... Hummmm.......

The church world makes me sad and mad at times. Not all the time though. But today yes. Can you tell?

Last night I wanted to be sick ( read on as to why) and I was somewhat.
After coming back from two days of being out of town, during which time my husband I totally pondered back and forth "who are we and what are we doing in this life?" Much of that came about after being asked five million times by friends and well meaning souls....."What are you all doing now?"

Ugh....
My response was...jokingly..but truthfully, "Oh, we are on the FIVE year 'Sabbatical'" that stopped that talk right there.

It wasn't all bad and actually it's good for us all to question ourselves and check our purpose in life and ministry and family or whatever. We ourselves have decided, that we will continue to do what we are doing for now. We will continue to "do whatever our hands find to do" as far as ministry goes, but we aren't moving off to Alaska right now or to New Zealand and starting a church. We want to get our last two children raised and they need some security. Even if Don and I don't. They do, it's their personality types and we can't uproot them at this point in life. They have 2 more years left in High School and this is important to them.
More on that in another blog.

Upon hitting the city limits of Baton Rouge we get "sideswiped" by a report regarding "Christendom" in all it's vain glory.
QUOTE: "spiritual leaders" that have "mega'ed and "SEEKERED" their way into the church worlds hearts and made themselves millionaires off the backs of well searching souls and hurting people all along the way including themselves, now...hurting more people with new torrid reports of improprieties in their lives and ministry. Not that I don't have "Grace and Mercy" for even the worst of things and people, but really.....it's getting old some of this stuff.

Frankly.......I'm very sick of it and we do not want to be a part of it.
Don't even put my name alongside any of it. Some of us have had enough of the "celebritism" of the church and that is the issue that keeps these tabloids in business. Why do we keep repeating the same issues?

This should be simpler right, I mean you would think, I mean after witnessing all the things we have regarding corruption and fallen leadership in the church that we would be through with all the "man or woman following"...and please do not take me wrong....I am not even trying to judge people.....yet we CAN...and we should, if you don't believe me...you might want to READ THE RULE BOOK!

Yet I realize this isn't going to get any better because we are like Israel in many ways and they always wanted a "King"....and sadly....we are the "Laodician Church"....this is the age or "church dispensation" (time) we are living in and the "church" is sick, well the church "thinks" they are fine remember this......

Rev 3:14 ¶ And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
Rev 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
Rev 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

It's to the point that the world can't get a clear vision of "who" a decent Christian leader is. Or even a "Christian" in many cases anymore. I am not at all saying I am perfect in fact, I am not, even I get a little road "anger" living here in Baton Rouge and have other issues that I am working out with fear and trembling.
Come on, if we are honest, we all KNOW what our imperfections are and hopefully are working on getting them ironed out.

I am SO not telling you to follow me. I wouldn't do that. I am in this race as well and I fall on the course too....but I don't set myself us as the "Example" or the "LIFE COACH" or the "LEAD" whatever either. IF you do that or know someone who does then you have every right to check their lives out and you should.

Enough with the corky names that we try to "seeker sensitise" for the church nowdays because we don't want to appear "religious"......because DUH....it still is. It's JUST as religious.
But it's 2007 religious. So we don't notice it as much. Sounds new and trendy and all but it's the same ritualism that has been there forever folks, get a clue. I know we have to distinguish people according to what they do etc. But we don't have to be nutburgers. Please just keep it simple and fitting. No need to get crazy or haughty and prideful about it.

If your a Pastor...then call yourself one but more importantly act like one for pete's sake. SOME OF US are sick of the setting up of people on pedestals or more importantly, in many cases..."leaders" putting themselves up on these stands yet acting like they are humbled all along the way while they did it. They created this whole drama, the whole entire gimmick to make themselves "celebrity personalities" they use their "communication skills" and they say they "aren't preachers, they are communicators".......whatever..... and then they are suddenly "appointed" to some height that is elevated. That is why stages are made people.
I understand that the person needs to be "seen" especially in a crowd, but in many cases it does something to some of these people's "heads and hearts."

Do I think that we have to totally abolish the "church images" to keep it pure or to keep it non religious? No. It's all in how it's MARKETED. Oh excuse me..I mean...handled.

When people have got to be so "visual" and so "seen" and so "promoted"....that is where the trouble comes in. Many Pastor's, Leaders, whoever......do not promote themselves. If you want names, I can and will give you some names of people I personally know and can attest for.....but more importantly, just think about the diligent Men and Women of God who oversee churches that struggle.
Say...."Innercity churches, rual churches, mission churches, or churches in Foreign churches." Especially those in "closed countries." They can't even promote themselves or their churches unless they WANT to be killed.

These churches may have leaky roofs or windows, some can't pay their utility bills. There are those that have 30 people or less in their congregations, and they can't even pay their Pastor's so those that minister there have to work a job to take care of their families AND Pastor their churches.

What about Pastor's in other countries that don't have the MEANS that most American churches have. Yet they do what they can with what they have. I have SEEN these kinds of churches both abroad and here in America. Maybe you have too.

ARE they any less in the eyes of the Father? I don't think so.

My husband and I went to one of "those" churches last week to help out. They had lost their Pastor. The Am service had 11 people....the night service even less. Yet there was a remnant few. The Pastor that had been there........had stayed for a long time and was faithful in what he was called to do. No celebrity status in that kind of hard work. Yes they needed some "updating" in some things, but when you haven't any people or money because you can't compete with the mega churches, then what can a tiny church do?

Who made you a "Bishop or a Prophet, or an Apostle."
That is really something isn't it? My husband and I were invited by a friend of ours to a "service" one night years ago where they were going to "appoint" this man as "something" of sort sort or another during their meeting. We went to just support the guy and his family. Not that we were in agreement with what was happening. It was important to him that we were, he really, really felt that they were going to make him an "Apostle" so in kindness, we went.

They had a Pastor from Los Angeles come in especially for this service and during it....he gave the title of "Evangelist' to our friend.

He was deeply disappointed. He thought he was an Apostle. He was absolutely sure they were gong to name him as an Apostle. But...HAD HE EVER STARTED A CHURCH THOUGH like an Apostle would or do a missionary endeavor or any kind of new ministry.
Nope.
Odd that he didn't know that part. Besides the Pastor was the "Apostle" and there couldn't be TWO of them in that church...I guessing?? It was sad. The guy got totally messed up and quit his GOOD job and all kinds of other weird stuff. We've lost touch with him and his family but I hope they are okay.

Now if your church structure or your denomination uses such terms for leadership that is one thing, but all of a sudden this is like a "Cool Trend" to be named such things......but why? I don't get it.


IF I were one of those "CALLED offices" ( and I say "called" because MANY are not called by God they ....they just go on their own) mentioned in the bible....I sure wouldn't go around calling myself one and I SURE wouldn't make YOU call me one.
I've met some, some Apostles, and some Prophets, REAL ones, and funny thing is......they never call themselves those names. I hope those people who do use the names.......ummm.......are prepared to die like the Apostles did.
FYI....you might want to check out the "Foxes Book of Martyrs" and see how that goes.

Another fine example is this one: this past spring, a friend of mine was having a garage sale. I went to dump a few things of my own and to help her as well.

After lunchtime some customers drove up in this lovely big black Mercedes. Two women got out and one had on the loudest outfit and had the loudest colored hair I have ever seen. I thought she was going to an LSU game or something. Well I didn't really think that, because of the formality of her dress...but actually she could have if you get my hints. OF course they were the pickiest and cheapest customers, wanted everything half price, ect. ect. finally the "loudly dressed etc. one" one decided on some items and that was interesting in itself as well.

I won't say what they purchased but they wanted it all bagged up like Dillard's. After that, I offered to "carry" things to their car. I felt I could be a servant and do that and it would help them on their WAY if you know what I'm saying.

When I got to the car and placed the items in the back seat.....the loud one asked me "where I fellowshiped" and I told her and then she proceeded to tell me she was "Apostle, Prophetress so and so".....
WELL OF COURSE SHE WAS AND I SURE COULD TELL IT!!!
That's my point.We all have see this kind of gross abuse and it is gross people.

Stop the games okay it's time to really get serious, or be spewed.

I've never been spewed, but it's not sounding too fun. Well that is if you don't count riding on the "water log ride" at Six Flags in St. Louis as a kid. I mean you sort of get spewed over the top and into the water below creating a huge spray that soaks you. PROBABLY not the same.

Jonah was spewed right?
Personally, from what I have read of the account, I don't think he enjoyed it too much but look what great things he accomplished after the fact. Sad thing is......we won't get a second chance if we get to the spewing pot.
It's over for the church by then. We better get it correct NOW. I'm speaking to myself as well okay.

If your a Christian...then can we just be "sons and daughters" of the King and act like it?

We shouldn't have to title ourselves or wear Christian TEE SHIRTS or jewelry...or whatever. Not that you can't do those things. However, YOUR LIFE should SPEAK the loudest for "what you are, and what you live.
For who you are, for who you love and serve."
I don't need your calling card. I WANT to see it in you.
You don't have to be perfect. There was and will only ever be one perfect person on this planet. But PLEASE do stop mixing "the Good the Bad and the Ugly."
It sends a mixed message.


My advice to everyone is this.
Follow Jesus. He will NEVER fail you.
I promise you this.
Don't set your eyes on man, ever, ever.
This is a fool proof way to get through the days ahead and hang on my friends...... it's not going to be pretty.

fuck-tards. My favorite word of the day!

I’ve had a week from hell. Thank goddess it’s almost over. (It’s only 7:53 am as I type this).

I will only say ONE thing about the anonymous poster below, and then I will move on….because even one comment is more than you deserve. If you are a regular anonymous poster, then you already know that I have had my share of nasty things left here... and if you know me in RL, and you don’t like me, why do you come here? The night my puppy took off for an hour was an extremely emotional time for me, and calling me ‘bad’ for having him in the backyard is really unnecessary. Other than attention, what do you get out of posting? just move on, k?

By the way…people leave their dogs in the backyard all the time… so why am I “bad”?

You know, as I type this…I sort of had a realization. I am constantly defending myself on this blog. Should I be? I mean really…it has gotten so ridiculous that I can’t just type something without wondering WHO is going to leave something on here spiteful (and anonymous). I have to analyze every word to figure out what can be taken out of context, and who is going to take what I am saying the wrong way. Seriously, people are SO judgemental! I must be VERY interesting. And VERY cool to have so many people hating on me, no? (and Vero is totally going to give me shit for writing about this AGAIN…but in my defense if random people would stop being fuck-tards I wouldn’t have to keep talking about it!)

But back to my week of hell…I DO see some light at the end of the tunnel. It is Friday, and we have a fantastic weekend planned. Helping Celyne move on Saturday (the best part of my weekend Celyne *giggle*) , a poker tourney Saturday night for the Children’s Hospital, and Playland on Sunday (weather permitting). We are probably going to go camping on the long weekend, not sure where yet, and then Sadie is off to grade 1! They grow up so fast…so cherish every moment!

So…see ya fuck-tards

Elvis ‘left the building’

I didn’t have a good day yesterday. Work aside (it’s always stressful) the rest of my day just went plain shitty. You know who decided to go have a nice fun day wakeboarding in the Fraser, so I came home to an empty house, only to turn right back around for some shopping therapy. (Please note: shopping therapy doesn’t work when you’re as grumpy as I was) so I went back home only purchasing a few back-to-school items for Sadie.

Here’s where it gets tough.

Elvis was gone. Elvis had found a way to burrow under the fence. Elvis was nowhere to be found.

Sadie and I walked through our neighborhood for a bit, checking out the park we usually walk him to, and down the busy street where he likes to take off to when we open the front door. Then we piled into the car and put on the 4-ways and slowly inched ourselves around the block not once, not twice, not even three times, but FOUR times. Elvis was nowhere. At this point, I am pretty sad. Because I KNOW that if we haven’t found him yet…we probably wouldn’t.

I slowly inched my way back home defeated. When we got out of the car Sadie and I decided to walk one more time down the street ‘just in case’ we missed something. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I see this lady in a green Honda Element sitting at the stop sign. I had seen her several times when we were searching for Elvis, so I assumed she was looking for an address. She pulled up, asked if we were looking for a dog, and there sat Elvis in her front seat looking happier than a pig in shit. Both Sadie and I were very happy to see him!

As an afterthought, I should have thanked the lady more… offered her SOMETHING in thanks, but I really wasn’t thinking about her when I grabbed him, said thank you, and took off for the house. I feel bad about that.

Then I had dinner, a bath, and settled in for a movie. DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT ever pay any kind of money to watch Nacho Libra. Absolutely one of the worst movies I have ever seen, and sadly I will never have that hour back again (feel asleep) and I will regret that for the rest of my life.

So Elvis is BACK in the building. And the hole in the backyard has been filled. With a concrete block.

Try getting out of THAT.

friggin birthday

Here… if we all pitch in for a sitter and we organize the basement suite to accommodate the sitter, and we make the rules that they CANNOT come upstairs under ANY cirsumstances….will you guys come? We have cable down there, I can set up the couch, the TV, the DVD player, bring down Sadie’s toys….have you guys bring some boy’s toys, set up a ‘coloring station’…I don’t care…

Basically….I want you there. And if it means being a bitch about it, I will. Every year I have a shitty birthday because SOMETHING always happens (I am in no way blaming you for last year, I swear) and I think I never want to go through this crap again and I don’t want any more birthday parties.

So this year. JUST FRICKIN COME. I will accommodate the best I can, I just need your help.

side note...

if that comment WAS made by you 'the real trevor'... im gonna kick 'yer ASS for creeping me out

Random

“Have things gotten any better since you wrote this? I hope so. People who talk down to others are extremely insecure. I think it's very cool that you can write down your own flaws for the world to see. That's something (because of Pride) that most MEN can't do! And men are intimidated by that fact. I know because I am one!! Carmen, you are much stronger and more intelligent than a lot of men in many, many respects. But because we men can be idiots and prideful, we don't want to admit it. Please forgive us of our stupidity :)”

This was written on my blog on August 10th and some godly hour in the morning…(I think 6:52am or something like that)…by someone either ‘pretending’ to be Trevor or some random person who happens to have the same name and found my blog by accident and decided to post this random thought in an old post of mine. I will be honest here…I am a little bit weirded out.

It happens from time to time that I will post something without really thinking WHO will read it and what they will think about it…and it gets me into trouble. The written word is full of misinterpretations, and I sometimes forget that. But reading this comment made me realize that regardless of how much I believe my anonymity on my blog…I really need to be cognizant ALL the time about what I write in here, not just sometimes. ANY ONE can read this if they really wanted to, not just the few of you that I call ‘loyal readers’. Yes, I try to be entertaining and I embellish things occasionally…but YOU GUYS may know that and those random infrequent visitors do not.

Like that time I had those bitchy girls from my past that just happened to find my blog (get a life) and post some really rude comments to me. I was trying to be funny in the post; they took it the other way and chose to attack. This happens, all too frequently, because I post for ME, and I post for YOU GUYS (loyal readers) not for those random people who I don’t even know are reading.

Anyways… as I continue my rambling here… PLEASE, if you are going to post on here EVER, be clear about who you are. I don’t want to have to privatize this site because I am getting creeped out by random visitors…but if this keeps happening, I might have to.

Just a thought.

Post # 69

Not much exciting has been going on in the life of me lately. Now that all of my summers traveling plans are over…it’s back to the normal every day.

Boring.

It’s a cold day in hell when nothing dramatic is going on in my life, no?

Well pack a sweater, because the drama is non-existent 

Next month is my birthday. I am planning a little bash at the house. Not too big, not too small…just enough to make it special. I sort of get screwed every year at my birthday, so I am taking on the task of planning it on my own. Something ALWAYS comes up with SOMEONE so I don’t expect everyone I want there to actually come…but it would be nice to have a fun and special birthday ONCE in my life. I am not kidding when I say I have HUGE expectations, and always get let down. This year will be different, because this year I have zero expectations. If it turns out to be a small affair with less than 10 people playing cards and getting high…so be it. I will be happy just to have those that care about me there. If it turns out to be a huge spectacle with over 50 people getting hammered and crashing on air mattresses, so be it. In fact, I will be shocked I actually have over 50 friends …:-)

I thought about going downtown and bar hopping with some friends from high school…but really, it’s not my bag and I would be doing it more for them then for myself. And really, that’s not what a birthday is about. It would be fun, but some other time then my birthday. I may not have a TON of friends, but those I do have come from many different groups of people….and I would like everyone to have a good time.

Enough talk about getting older! Lets talk about how this is my 69th post *snicker*

"Oh YES we did......" and it wasn't too bad.

Last weekend......Don and I traveled to Nashville for a long weekend by ourselves. Why Nashville? Several reasons one of which, we have never been there for a visit, only have passed through there....and it's only 9 hours from Baton Rouge and there are TONS of things to do there.

So......Friday afternoon...off we went. We took the "Natchez Trace Parkway" up, and it was very serene and pretty but also......very long. Ugh...but again....serene, no semi's ramming after you or veering into your lane like on the Interstates. It was worth the drive. Once in a lifetime anyway.

Well, when in Nashville, you do the most greatest, most famous Nashville thing right? You go to the "Grand Ol'Opry." I informed my husband on the way up that we would be going to that. He was not thrilled. We aren't into Country and Western music......but again, it's an American Icon so I'm like....."we need to do this."

And we did.
Once arriving into Nashville on Saturday afternoon we headed straight for the Opry so we could secure tickets for that nights show. It was VERY hot and very crowded in that area, there are attractions and a mall and stuff around the Opry......so we quickly realized we didn't want to loose our parking spot. HA! Seriously it was very crowded there.....and did I mention HOT?? Ugh.....we walked all over the place, went to the Gaylord Hotel to check on a room there.....very, very, awesome place.....it has an INDOOR river and boat rides and veranda's off the hotel rooms and plants and foliage like I've never seen. I wanted to stay there BAD but there were no rooms on site and it was a bizillion dollars. We will stay there next time for sure!

I had already found a hotel online in case we stayed near the Opry and we called them from our truck in the sacred parking spot and booked a room. With that done....we went in the restaurant across the way and ate supper to burn time and fill our hungry selves. We realized early on once arriving at the Grand Ol Opry that many people were NOT going to be dressed up....some possibly but it's a "touristy" thing so with not wanting to leave the parking spot and rush to our hotel room and try to get back and get our good spot that we never would get again......we decided to freshen up in the car......I redid my make up that had melted off during our walking jot, and redid my hair into a hair clip and with that......we went to eat and then after that.....we went to the Opry!!! YAHOO.

It wasn't bad at all.....in fact.....it was fun. 2 1/2 hours of pure, raw, live, entertainment. They have a great way of working it all out. They change the hosts of the show every 30 minutes, and within that 30 minutes they have an old act....meaning and older person....and then a young act.......meaning young people.

They keep it pretty fresh for all ages. We were totally impressed by that and we could endure the heartache songs that way as well. They had hosts that were serious and some that were funny and they did commercials for Martha White and for Cracker Barrel the sponsors of the show......this was a "live radio broadcast" and they tape it for the Country Music Channel also.

We DID get to see "Porter Wagner" who is the most well known person there I would have to say. HA! That was totally worth the 9 hour trip right there. He had a huge gray bouffant hair style.....yeah it used to be blond hair back in the day and he had on a fab pink rhinestone "country" outfit with white cowboy boots. Yeah! Those were the days. Whew.

Vince Gill who is married to Christian singing artist Amy Grant was the last and most appreciated host of the night. HA! He seemed to be a nice guy. That night to top off the evening......we ate at my FAVORITE on the road restaurant....the "Cracker Barrel" which was a huge sponsor of the Opry. Cool.
I love their food and their gift shop. It's always so down homey and good.

The next day.....Sunday......we ate breakfast at our hotel. Then went for a nice, relaxing swim which my joints and muscles needed after that long drive up...it totally helped me out. I had told Don the day before that Sunday was "his day" to do whatever he wanted to do........so we were at the BASS PRO SHOP across from the Opry for many hours. HA!

Then we went and shopped and ate lunch in the Outlet Mall beside it. That was fun......but wow......like over 5 hours of shopping. We started on Christmas shopping which works for me. Then we went back to the room and relaxed the rest of the night. We would have swam again but the pool was then "closed for repairs"......scary.

Monday we headed to Memphis on our way home but with a purpose in mind. To eat at the "2nd best BBQ joint" in all of the nation. We had just seen a show the night before in our hotel room on the "Travel Channel" on the best BBQ places in America. We chose this place....."The Interstate BBQ" because the other one they mentioned was "Corkys" and we have one here in Baton Rouge so we can do that anytime.

We hit Memphis at about 2:30pm and were STARVING. We could not wait to eat that BBQ and it was SOOOO worth it. Ugh......we came out of that place STUFFED and satisfied only to drive 6 hours to Baton Rouge. Blah. HA!

There is way more to do in Nashville than we could attempt to get to and we hardly even scratched the surface so we do want to go back sometime. It's a nice town so check it out if you get the chance. I'm serious there are lots of neat things to see and do.
Besides, Tennesse is always nice, it reminds me so much of my home state of Missouri, rocky and craggy and all.....I miss the hills and rocks. Sigh.

We are now back in the "humid, hot and the flat".....figure that one out.

So I am trying to figure out this whole digital scrapbooking thing… without paying anything. Not as easy as it sounds *snicker* There are so many sites out there that say they are ‘free’ but I can’t seem to download a damn thing without a credit card, or its as ghetto as it could be. So I am resorting to J’pegs and Excel…and while it’s okay…not really the kind of thing I want to memoralize (is that a word?!) my daughter.

I did however; create a pretty wicked Las Vegas page for Celyne that I might frame for her.

Hmmm now that I think about it… my computer IS fixed now (not that I have even been o n it since it was fixed) so I can download a free program there. Hahaha... free…what a joke. I wonder, can I create them at home, email them, and print them at work? *mental note to try it*

So yeah…..word

psssttt....my next post will be my 69th post since I moved my blog over here *giggle*

Viva Las Vegas

Stop asking me for a blog post. IT’S HERE.

Vegas was an absolute blast…much thanks given to my partner in crime. I had a pretty busy week, working 12 hours a day on my feet, so I was pretty worried I was going to be a party pooper when Celyne got there, but once we got settled into our really crappy hotel, I perked up and had fun!

Immediately after arriving at my Hotel on Monday, my skirt was blown straight over my head when I exited the cab. Not only was I with a coworker who took the same flight, but it was right in front of a limo with three young business men in designer suits exiting it. One of them looked at us coyly and said “Don’t worry, I only peeked a little “. And he was hot. After unpacking, I got ready for dinner. It was another coworkers 40th birthday so we headed to an upper crust sushi restaurant in the Palms hotel. For 6 people our bill was nearly that much in hundreds! The birthday boy unluckily got to pee next to Shaquille O’Neill (talk about intimidating huh?!) before we headed up to the Ghost Bar which was on the 55th floor over looking all of Vegas. I felt like I was at a Hollywood party. Needless to say, I got a little tanked. Tuesday was my first day in the showroom….and I have to say, I came out of that hangover like a champ! Regardless of the long hours, I did enjoy the tradeshow, and hope I get to do many more.

Celyne flew in Thursday night. My plan was to skip dinner with my coworkers, order room service and nap till she got in so I would feel like going out when she got to my hotel. I knew I had to work a half day Friday and I didn’t need to do it hung-over or Friday night was going to be a right-off too. Well… I did it ALL up. Had a shower, put on the hotel housecoat, wrapped my hair in a towel, and ate my room service lying in bed. It was unbelievable! I placed my tray outside of my room to get picked up, but not before I heard the door shut behind me.

Yup…

You guess it.

I locked myself out of my room in nothing but a housecoat and a towel on my head. It took about 20 minutes to find someone to call the Concierge at get a Bellboy up there… band there were probably about 10 people who walked by and saw me standing there, but I assumed that my embarrassment would be short lived.

Not so.

Celyne arrived and we headed out to the strip. We then met up with my coworkers at the Pussy Cat Dolls Lounge at Caesars Palace (I think). One of my coworkers had brought up her niece who in turn brought a friend who in turn happened to be one of the ‘strangers’ on the hall who were lucky enough to see me in the housecoat.

Good times.

Friday, after work, Celyne and I checked into the Sahara (note worthy: do not stay there) and decided to walk down the strip. Everything looks so damn close, but that’s not the case. We probably walked 3 miles in the sweltering heat of the afternoon! But, we did manage to get some clothes at Ross, 2 feet tall water bottles (snicker…WATER…snicker) that had their own neck tie to wear around our necks, and some knick knacks to take home. By the time we arrived back at the Sahara (after cabbing it back of course) I was pretty hammered. Celyne couldn’t get the taste of her Bloody Mary out of her water bottle so she was feeling sick. Regardless, we had some funny moments yelling at people (ok, I yelled at people crossing the street illegally, SHE yelled at guys staring at my tits) and some more funny moments ‘pretending’ to bang on our neighbor’s hotel door. They were cute, and I was drunk. Whatev.

Saturday we did the smartest thing we could have ever done. We bought all-day monorail tickets. Not only is it air conditioned, but it stops at almost every casino. I came home the same color I left because I rarely had to step outside! Ahhh… the life! We went to Madame Toussad’s Wax Museum and had a blast. I have pictures, but can’t post them on here for some stupid reason. My work computer has some kind of block on the blogger sites. Fuckers. Inside the wax museum was the ‘House of Horrors’…just ask Celyne about it because she tells the story much better than I can. Unbelievable. And embarrassing (for me).

I wish I could say we partied our faces off on Saturday night, but the truth is, Celyne fell asleep at 7:30 and I had a bath. She woke up at 8:30 and we stayed up watching TV till like 11, but we didn’t leave our room. Sometimes, when you’re exhausted (and completely broke from losing all your money at Deal or no Deal, and a little bit of blackjack) relaxing in your room in Vegas is your only option.

Sunday we sat at the pool until our shuttle arrived. Funny thing is, we got buzzed from a Coors Lite and a Vodka Cran and 7. We are such lightweights when we avoid the buffet!

So our trip was low-key, but so much fun! Next time, we should plan for more of us ladies to go…and plan on budgeting MUCH more money as well.

Who’s in?