It was a long weekend. And not the good kind either. Today was a long, crazy day and I’m hoping the rest of the week shapes up pretty quickly because I’m in no mood to deal with stragglers. Plus, I have a trip to Virginia Beach to look forward to, Lord willing. It is looking like we may get some nasty ice around here. Nothing like me and Kevin deciding to visit family back east to put mother nature in the mood for a good freeze. Thanks a lot, lady.

On with the show…

• Allow me to complain for a moment without giving you all the satisfaction of a related link. Ahem. Why can’t I escape The Besters? And The Worsters? And the “How Did You Pay For That?!”…-ers? It seems that whatever place I am in life there is always someone around me like this. Have something wonderful happen? Don’t worry, something better happened to them. Once. It doesn’t matter when or if it’s relevent, it happened. Tragedy strike? Don’t look to them for sympathy. They lost their mom and their best dog on the same day. And heaven forbid you show them vacation photos. Sheesh. “Well, I don’t ever have the time to go somewhere that far away.” or “Who did you get to help pay for that?” or maybe they’ll tell you about that one vacation 10 years ago that was easily triple the price of whatever you did.*tap*

  *taptaptap*

  Anyone listening? You ready?

  Get some self-esteem. It is a sad, sad situation if you have to belittle others at every turn to make yourself feel better. I’m sorry for whatever happened in your past to make you behave in such a way now. But you need to grow up and stop.

  Good grief.

• Oh, hi
• Coffee makes you dance around like a goat! (educational AND fun!)
• The Spohrs have their beautiful Annie. Blessings on you all.
• smitten kitchen has this divine sounding Mixed Citrus Salad w/ Feta & Mint. Yum.
• As you may know, about 6 months ago I stumbled upon the blog of my cousin, Misti. Through her I’ve learned of my cousin, her brother, Curtis, his wife Stephanie, and their little girl, Zoe. Not long ago Curtis announced that they were expecting on his blog. Last week, the baby was delivered at 26 weeks. This little girl and her family have all been in my prayers and I hope they’ll be in yours, too. Welcome to the world, Miss Ashleigh.
• Food Network Humor is my new favorite blog. Oh my. And this — Amazon Product Recommendations: Ina Garten Edition

Have a great week, y’all!

Guhhhh.

That’s the noise my sinuses are making. It’s better than the screaming. So glad the screaming has stopped.

Some links for you:

• FACT: Middle Schoolers Stink
• The Biblical Qualifications of the Teaching Office in the Church OR Why churches are going to hell in a handbasket expecting lay people to do all the deep, theological teaching.
• Melissa is ditchin’ the fiction in favor of the non-. I, too, have a shelf of non-fiction that I need to get to work on…
• The Friar reviews Sherlock Holmes and I remain confident in my decision not to see it. Basil Rathbone you are not, Mr. Downey.
• Mmm. Just what we need in Oklahoma right now — Four Warm and Cozy Soups from The Pioneer Woman.
• The 2009 Okie Blog Awards are calling for nominations!
• Rare in utero images of animals — This stuff fascinates me.
• Speaking of soups — PICKLE SOUP! Oh my goodness, I hope you know that pickles have been one of my favorite foods since I was a wee little thing. I’m trying this. Pronto.
• Oh, in case you missed it, we’re now subservient to INTERPOL. Faaaab.
• Kim counted down her top 10 movies of the decade. Some good ones in there and some I still need to see.
• Signs that you shouldn’t be awake. Sounds a lot like my college experience.

Have a great week, y’all. I’m grabbing the teapot I received from a coworker (who hated me) and refashioned into a neti pot.

Quick! Links!

• This is so DOWNRIGHT HILARIOUS you must click on it now. The Office was featured in The Onion!
• My second cousin, Misti, a blogger, who I recently accidentally located online and did not even know existed, posted her Anne story.
• “It’s not every day you see a politician extend a rhetorical middle finger to his constituents, so enjoy this.”
• What a brilliant idea! This man is visiting all 77 counties in Oklahoma with his family and documenting it on his blog.
• Sigh. Melissa, your little dreamworld sounds like a place I’d like to go as well.
• Oprah. Off the air. 2011. Did you hear the “hallelujah” from my corner of the room?
• Who? Who? Whoooo? Elena paints owls. On toilet paper rolls.
• LouLou, I’ve regressed right along with you. Bring on New Moon! (Kevin and I have tickets to see it Wednesday, a matinee, in a 21+ balcony. Yay for no kids!)

Truth is that I need to coffee more on Monday than Sunday, anyway. This weekend (ever since I bought that box of candy canes) I’ve been enjoying peppermint mochas. Mmm.

• Mountain Rose Herbs lists “50 Ways You Can Spice Up Your Life” – some great tips here on herbal baths, remedies, tea, etc.
• They also have a number of recipes for relaxing winter baths. I must try these.
• Been reading my series of posts covering our honeymoon? No? Get caught up: Day 2 – Pt. 1, Day 2 – Pt. 2, Day 3, Day 4 – Pt. 1, and Day 4 – Pt. 2.
• Christopher Walken covers Lady GaGa – Oh, the hilarity.
• This is an instance where a Google ad really worked. All I’m going to say is BACONNAISE.
• Another group of Compassion bloggers are headed to El Salvador. Shannon reminds us to keep them in our prayers.
• Ronnica is in Turkey! Go check out her blog as she posts about her experiences there. Personally, I’m hoping for more food photos.

Short week at work, but likely a busy one with all we have going on. Best thing? The week ends with my birthday. I should probably come up with a list of things that I’d like to have. One of our good friends (the minister who married us) has a running list that he updates. And it’s LONG. Perhaps I should do that?

I know. You’ve been longing for one of these. Here goes.

• First off, question. Does anyone have a good pizza dough recipe to share? I’m trying to find one that my husband will like. I’ve been using plain old Pillsbury and I’ll be honest: it’s not the best. His issue is with the texture. Mine is with the sweetness. I want something that will provide a thin crust, crispy all over. Nothing doughy.
• Batman. Vanishing.
• This is one of my pet peeves as well. I sometimes wish that people who ask these kinds of questions could understand what it’s like to suffer from chronic health issues that don’t always manifest themselves in a way that is visible to the general public. I mean, I could make that happen, but seriously you do not want that. For the record, I would love to be able to participate in things every time a person asks me to. The issues I have suffered from are one of the reasons that I rarely, if ever, volunteer my time or spread myself too thin with obligations. You get really tired of disappointing people after a while.
• The aforementioned is another reason that I hate it when people flake out on plans with no reason.
• Great post from The Happy Housewife on surviving a deployment when you have small children. I have a few friends in this boat and I thought they might find the article helpful.
• While you’re over at The Happy Housewife, take a look at her recipe for Salmon Turnovers. I can’t wait to try these!
• This week I missed meeting The Pioneer Woman at her book signing in Oklahoma City. *cry* But watching this video made me feel a little bit better.
• A little shoutout to Miss Melissa and all the other NaBloPoMo participants joining in this year! I think this is my second year? Can’t remember. I’ll check my archives. Maybe I should have done that before writing this bullet point and floundering around like an imbecile. But that’s why you love me, right?

Happy, crampy Sunday morning. At least for me. I share TMI all the time right? I mean, it’s not too much for me, I’m a girl, but I wonder if the guys around here get tired of it. My husband is pretty tolerant, I’ll say. It’s weird what changes when you get married. Seriously, there’s a laundry list. But those of you who are married know that.

Well, I haven’t posted in forever and since the only comfortable position I can find right now is me wedged into a corner of the couch with my Macbook tilted kinda funny and my back twisted to look at it, I thought I’d give you an edition of Sunday Morning Coffee. It’s been a while. And I’ve saved up a lot of links to share with you folks.

• “If we can’t date, then what’s the next step?” It’s a valid question and I think I’ll have to answer how I Kissed Dating Goodbye affected me–for good and bad. And while we’re on the subject, this.
• I want to have an end of summer party just so that I can make these Petite Watermelons.
• Man up already! Spot on, Ronnica, and worthy of a response that I hope to work up in the near future.
• Allowing people to write notes at your wedding that they do not have to be accountable for is risky–trust me. I found this out. At least these folks weren’t ashamed to own up.
• Eep. What an incredibly creepy find by Jorge Garcia (of LOST). Makes me think twice about this post.
• Hey, Friar: I miss the old David Letterman, too. Though I’ll admit my memories of him when he was in his prime are very limited.
• What I want: kids like this AND a stuffed John Denver doll.
• See? THIS. This is how my brain works.

Tomorrow what I will have for you is the rest of the wedding story, starting with the rehearsal on Monday, reflections on the day-of on Tuesday, Wednesday I’ll bring you my memories of the wedding, Thursday will be *drumroll* the wedding video, and Friday I’ll tell you all about the reception. It’s going to be a fun week!

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

by dtchristner

Italian Roast again. But this bag is from Walmart, so it’s not freshly ground and man oh man can you tell the difference. It’s cheaper this way though (bags were $7 ea.–$0.98 less than the regular price) and right now I’m learning how to save and be a good steward of what the Lord has given me.

• Free reusable bag!
• I loved having a badger as a mascot in high school. And they’re cute!
• There’s nothing wrong with me wanting to wear that sign around my neck, is there?
• Oh Claire, I understand.
• Wha? is right. I can’t imagine what they are thinking. Please don’t mess up True Grit. It was the whole reason behind my love for Glen Campbell, which, for your information, was the best concert I ever attended with my Granny when we were in Branson.
• AKA, City Folk Are Nosy Busybodies Who Don’t Know Nothing

It’s been a while. This planning a wedding thing takes up a lot of a girl’s time. On the up side, only 2 months, 4 weeks, and 1 day until our wedding!

Lately, all I have been doing is pushing through my to-do list of DIY things for the wedding. Right now we’re (me and yes, the prospective groom, Kevin) working on getting the invitations cut out and assembled. I designed them myself, printed them on handmade seaside papers, and now we’re trimming them up and attaching them to some sturdy “eggplant” colored cardstock. The invitations should be going on the first week of April.

Next on the list of things to do is to stamp out the “wish jars” on some cardstock. Guests will be asked to leave their wishes, hopes, and advice for us “in” the jars at the reception. I’m really looking forward to what you all will have to say!

Also, I have to find a guestbook I’m happy with. At this point I am thinking about just going to Hobby Lobby and buying the one that matches the flower girl baskets and ring pillow. I was going to go for a more creative idea, but now I’m kinda…eh. Whatev. Let’s get this show on the road.

Here’s a short list of things that I have left to do. I assure you I am forgetting some of them.

• Finish slideshow
• Make more sparkly garland
• Figure out order of ceremony
• Purchase cardstock for wish jars and programs
• Put together program & print
• Get Kevin’s ring engraved
• Purchase gifts for attendants
• Locate & purchase cylinder (tower) vases
• Purchase Mason jars

Whew. I’ll be back later today with some links for you to enjoy after your Sunday afternoon nap. Off to church!

—————

Have a nice nap? Good. I gardened.

• Obama: Your conscience means nothing to me
• The cutest measuring spoons I’ve ever seen
• LOST Cake by Ace of Cakes

Mmm…Raspberries & Creme. I love flavored coffee. It makes my sugar-free life worth living. On with the show!

• I got a tumblr. And my name on there is Crumpette. You see, I’m about to marry a guy whose last name is Crumpler and who has been called Crumpy by one and all for a long time now. So, naturally, I’m Crumpette, right? He warned me that the name might stick if I’m not careful. It’s not any worse than being called Lizard Breath by your older cousins when you are 4-years-old and sensitive to things like that.
• Robyn Hitchcock is talking about making a Magnum Force (the sequel to Dirty Harry) musical. I ran into this piece of news somewhere else and then Brett wrote something on it and I had to link you all to his post. In it he points out a very serious flaw. I don’t know if that was on the part of the person who did the write-up on Broadway.com or Robyn Hitchcock–”an admitted Magnum Force obsessive.”
• Scientology Incorporated by Tim Slagle
• Thomas Jeffries brings up some great points about worship songs in Modern Worship: It’s All About Me.
• In case you missed it (it was buried beneath a lot of things in the news) — “It seems the era of Hope is to be inaugurated with a slaughter of the innocents.”
• Fireproof is now out on DVD. Go buy!
• Not really sure what to make of Obama’s comments about Robert E. Lee at the Alfalfa Club Dinner.
• Now, more than ever, I believe that John McCain never wanted or intended to be president.
• Lincoln. King. Obama? Please.
  
• We’ve gone back to the 70s.
  

  So I’m thinking we’ll have the following scenario in about four years:

  1. A Western governor who is incredibly enthusiastic and telegenic runs for President.

  2. This governor is tough, athletic, very happily married, loves the outdoors, and makes everyone feel good after an administration that bumbles its way through a single-term fiasco.

  3. The governor gets elected despite huge, active opposition from the supposedly neutral media, and the seemingly impossible occurs — the economy turns around, and a major bloc of America’s enemies fall like dominoes and freedom prospers in places where it formerly seemed impossible.

  Anybody remember Ronald Reagan?

  Okay, can you think of a Western governor with a two-syllable first name whose two-syllable last name rhymes with Reagan?

  Think about it – you can see her house from here.

  Supposedly, the Mayan calendar runs out in 2012 (so much for vision from those guys) and correlates with a Hindu prophecy from Lord Krishna that says we will enter a Golden Age on Earth. Can you hear a sitar playing? (Shut up, it’s a better idea than Edgar Cayce or $cientology or The Presidential Pledge.)

  Sounds good to me, you betchas.

• Explain this to me–why is our president carrying around a monkey god in his pocket?

Mmm. I love Nyquil. Now, some late evening links for you.

• Ouch. The moment before the pain begins.
• Photos from today’s pro-Israel rally in Denver. Very interesting shots from both sides.
• Obama Clock – Wow. That is a long time. Well, at least I’ll learn some patience.
• Afghan man held for his sister’s forced abortion. Warning: This is very disturbing.
• Nume at KTA reminds those of us in Oklahoma to tune in to Crystal Darkness, a documentary that focuses on the serious problems meth production and addiction has caused in the state. The Pauls Valley Daily Democrat chimes in as well.
• The things Claire’s daughters found while digging remind me a lot of the treasures I would find will digging in the hill our house was built on. It was constructed some time in the 1930s over the plot that once was home to the movie theater in town and near where the roller skating rink had been. Anyone who knows what Pernell, Oklahoma looks like now and wasn’t aware that those things were there almost 100 years ago will probably think I am lying
• Miss Phelps from the Luann comic is a saucy little minx.
• I love Cajun Mark (at Red Eye’s Activity Pit) and his cajun versions of…everything. Here we have the Ten Commandments.
• Melessa got a surprise!
• Shannon explains just what CPSIA is and what it will mean for makers of homemade goods (Etsy sellers, etc.). Very important information.

That’s all for today! I’m off to rest my little head. I’ll be finishing Breaking Dawn tomorrow (finally!) and then getting started on my 200 Year Reading Challenge. Do let me know if you decide to do one yourself!