Life-Altering Information, Part the Second

Everyone reading this post should immediately go and enrich their lives by viewing, in its entirety, Dr Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. It has singing, dancing, blue humor, and Neil Patrick Harris in it. What more do you need?

- Seth

TGIF

Thanks goodness it's Friday and we have a blog. I didn't realize it, but it's quite the therapeutic thing to do. If that makes sense. So, thanks for being out there to read our nonsense. Today is a much better day and it looks to be nice outside :-)

I Never Thought This Day Would Come

The day that I actually post on a blog. *shudder* In any event, while I disdain blogging in general I have come to realize that via this blog I can and will maintain a series of posts wherein I disseminate important, life-altering information.

To wit, I invite all of you, if you haven't already, to familiarize yourself with the Internet by immersing yourself in the genius (some might say madness, some might say both) that is Charlie the Unicorn and its aptly-named sequel, Charlie the Unicorn 2.

Also, I know it's a rather old meme, but I can't think of any better way to describe the awesomeness of this picture other than thusly: OM NOM NOM NOM

- Seth

change your attitude ... I've been told

I recall when I was young I was told to change my attitude countless times by my parents, teachers and even friends. I usually didn't know what they were talking about as I would say "I don't have an attitude." Or, someone would always ask me "why are you mad." And, of course I wasn't mad at anything I just appeared to be (I'm not sure what they were talking about). Anyway, today brought back so many of these memories as my boss essentially told me to change my attitude. It hit me pretty hard. And, left me thinking about it all day. I came to the conclusion that I had an attitude because I felt threatened by another co-worker. This threat made me feel vulnerable in some way. I didn't get time to know the new co-worker and felt as though she was taking over some of my duties. And, she was because she has the same job duties as me. We are suppose to work together as a team. The whole office is a team, if you think about it.

So, after pondering what to do today I decided I should just change my attitude and get to know her. This really took some effort on my part because I'm not really a talker unless I know you. I made some effort today and tried really hard to be sweet and nice. I doubt anyone noticed, but I'll continue it till I believe it.

So, what I'm really getting at is HELP. This is an area I struggle with consistently in my life. I don't want to be the mean one or the controlling one. I just want people to see me as someone they can talk to openly. And, I'm not sure how to do that. I see myself as an open person and can usually talk about anything even to strangers (if they prompt the talking). How do I make the change? I've been me for so long. Any suggestions? Any scripture verses? And consistent prayers are very much appreciated!

Pergola ... oh pergola ... how beautiful though art

It's finished! The main focal point in our backyard. That's right, the pergola is complete. We finished it in mid June and just took pictures of it this weekend. The complete job took about 2 weeks of painstakingly cutting every notch with jigsaw and chisel (i.e. all the top boards sit on each other via notch - not just laid on). Not to mention I wanted all the support pieces to have an ark cut out of them (i.e. to make it look pretty). I also wanted 6x6 post instead of 4x4 post which is a big price difference and are quite heavier. Not to mention (yes again) all the top pieces also had to have the same ark cut out of them to match the support pieces. I guess I wanted a lot :-). Seth of course took to the challenge and did a beautiful job. Did I mention I'm proud of my husband and so madly in love with him. And the best part is, I said I wanted it and he built it. Now that's love ladies.....

Here's before, during and after pictures. We still need to put out our tiki torches and work on the flower bet, but you get the idea.

Before


"show me sexy"


and, complete! (with a few extra boards against the house and the saw horse out)

And we're back

We arrived safe from the whirl winds of Oklahoma and mentally ill drivers of the beltway on Tuesday. The funeral was really nice and while they expected to fill up their small church, they didn't expect to run out of room for seating or standing. We chose to sit outside the church door as others where standing nearby. Probably 30 of us were outside. And, the hospitality from Choctaw Nations was very nice. They supplied the dinner/snack for the wake and the lunch prior to the funeral service. Which they had so much food they invited everyone back after the funeral for dinner. I survived the weekend due to 2 factors: God and Seth. I know without a doubt that Grandpa was a believer and disciple of Christ. He lived his life that way everyday. I am very thankful that Seth came with me as I needed his hand to hold. I have to admit, it was kinda hard seeing my Grandpa (the only one I knew) in a casket. While I know he's in a better place, I feel sorrow for my grandma. But, she's a strong woman. Speaking of which, she is also very humorous (even if she doesn't know it). The short story...Seth was chasing her chickens (yes, she has chickens). And when he was talking about it at the dinner table my grandma said "don't be chasin' my chickens." It was too cute as her eyes squinted in and mouth gave a frown - old lady style of upset. On that note, I've attached the evidence.