A Lil Lonesome

I am really missing my friends today.

It is one of those days--cool, crisp, sunny--that calls for a chai latte, a patio, and a good chat with a dear friend.

And even though we do have some friends here in Memphis, today I need some history.

Some understanding.

Without fear of being misunderstood. Without need to clarify or provide background. Without leaving and wondering how I came across or if we would be friends outside of these circumstances.

Skip the small talk. Skip the surface-skimming.

Today I am counting the days until our next reunion. And sipping a chai, alone, but thankful that I have dear friends to miss.

(To my fellow OBUers out there...doesn't fall just make you miss Bison Hill a bit? I wish I could skip work like we used to skip class to hang out in the GC on a nice day).

Minutia

Life is a bit nutty right now, which always translates to a blog full of bullets.

• Our computer was attached by a vicious virus that wiped it out for a good two weeks. It is still not the same. Combined with my overloaded work schedule, the lack of computer access and time has led to a lack of blog postings. I will make up for it soon...promise! This is also why you never saw any more vacation photos. We are hoping they were spared the wrath of the virus.

• Jonathan and I spent the weekend in Fort Smith and Midwest City where we celebrated my belated birthday and my father-in-law's 35th year of ministry at the same church. It was a really sweet time with both of our families, and it reminded me how lucky we are to have such amazing parents. 35 years in ministry at one church is pretty extraordinary, and for those of you Oklahoma Baptists out there you will appreciate that my father-in-law now has the longest tenure of any music minister in Oklahoma and that Bill Green even showed up on Sunday morning to do a special tribute to him! We are all so proud of Tom and the amazing investment he has made in that community.

• I think Fall is finally coming to Memphis. After two weeks of muggy, rainy, mess, we awoke to a crisp, sunny morning. The hubby is pulling out my fall decorations tonight and the "Fall-ification" process will commence as soon as possible. To Do: hit the mall for a Tyler Candle Company "Homecoming" candle. A fall home is not complete without it!

• Greek recruitment is finally over! No more 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. days! No more cheering! No more free food from fraternity houses! Ok, I'm actually sad about that one. Those boys can grill! I will still be working a lot of nights and weekends, because let's face it...I work with college students. But I sure am glad this month is over! I'm pretty sure the hubs and I re-introduced ourselves to each other last Thursday night. It has been a long month.

• Did you know that if you let a sweet potato hang out in your pantry while you go on a two week vacation that it will sprout little green things? And that if you plant that potato in a container on your front porch those little green things will turn into a beautiful trailing vine? It is true.

• I miss Braums.

Cool Wife Points

For all you married women out there (or those who plan to be...take notes!), I want to share a brilliant concept with you:

Cool Wife Points.

Essentially, Cool Wife Points are earned when you do something really awesome for your husband that you might not have otherwise done and it results in the reaction of, "Dude, my wife is awesome" from your man.

Potential opportunities for earning Cool Wife Points include participating in an activity you don't love (a sporting event? camping?), choosing to play it cool in a situation that would normally make you crazy, and in general busting the stereotype of a high-maintenance, nagging wife.

Ladies, I am going to rack up some MAJOR Cool Wife Points this weekend. You see, this Sunday marks my 27th year on the planet. But it also marks the only weekend that my husband's best friend since childhood could come to visit. And it marks a home weekend for the St. Louis Cardinals as they take on the Chicago Cubs. And did I mention that Hubby and his BFF's favorite shared pasttime is following baseball?

Oh, and I have to work on Sunday. Fraternity recruitment. Yippee!

So if you put all that together, I am spending my birthday weekend alone as Hubby and Co. hit I-51 for a whirlwind trip to The Lou and top that off with a bunch of collegiate fraternity men. Dream come true, right girls?

Here's the deal. I could pout. I could complain. And my man would drop his plans in a second if I asked him to reserve my birthday weekend for me alone. In the end, we will celebrate my birthday eventually. And he will get to soak up quality time with a friend he hardly ever gets to see. And he will get to take a break from his crazy school schedule to enjoy some guy time at the ball park. So is it really worth it? Not at all.

And besides, how awesome do I look when he double-checks his plans with me and I nonchalantly shrug my shoulders and say, "Sure, babe! That sounds great. You guys are going to have an awesome time and we can celebrate later"? Pretty darn awesome.

Way cooler than the pouty wife on the couch. And my Cool Wife Points go through the roof!

So get out there and start earning some Cool Wife Points! I wish I could say that there is some sort of prize bank from which you can earn designer handbags and spa treatments for your efforts, but I'm afraid you'll just have to earn them out of the goodness of your heart.

Of course, a killer birthday present is also a good way to redeem those points.

Jonathan?

Are you reading???

Hello?????

Bid Day Hangover

Yesterday was Bid Day at the U of M, and boy am I pooped.

I felt pretty good throughout the week, despite working ridiculous hours; on the Eve of Bid Day after Preference Night, I was at work until 3 a.m. Madness, I tell you! But I made it through with a reasonable amount of energy and a smile on my face.

Today, however, is a different story. Do not cross me. Do not drive your car towards me real fast when it is raining and then slow down just in time to let me cross the street but still spray me with mucky rainwater. I will use profanity toward you. (Um what? No, of course this hasn't already happened today! I'm just using a hypothetical example!)

I am a grumpy, sleepy, moody bear who is in desperate need of a couch, a blanket, a chick flick, and a nice long hibernation. Steer clear, people.

(Unless, of course, you are bringing me comfort food, blankets, chick flicks, mindless magazines, or good excuses to leave work early. You folks are welcome any time.)

Help!

I have been kidnapped by sorority women and forced into slave labor for a process they call Formal Recruitment (or Rush, if you're old school like that). The hours are killer and filled with chanting, cheering, singing, kneeling. It leaves little room for communication with the non-Greek world, but my plan for escape is in process.

Do not give up on me. Bid Day is Sunday, and I will be FREE!

CRIBS: Obama Style

My apologies for the delay of this promised post! Yesterday was the first day of classes and the weekend before was the move-in of all the freshmen, so it has been a hectic time. But with no further ado...

You may have guessed by my hint last week and the title of this post that our vacation included a little visit to Pennsylvania Avenue. As Jonathan and I planned our trip, it never once occurred to us to plan a visit to the White House. But when we arrived in Annapolis, our hosts asked if we would be interested in one.

Now, you must understand that a visit to the White House requires tickets purchased far in advance, and that even once you have tickets you are not guaranteed a tour. If something comes up in the White House schedule for that day, all bets are off. No tour for you.

But lucky for us, our hosts just happened to be in a Sunday School class with three guys who are on Secret Service detail at the White House. With one little phone call, we were told that if we showed up to the White House around 8 a.m. on the Tuesday that we were leaving town, one of the guys would be happy to give us a private tour.

Um.....yes, please.

The security booth at the White House was surrounded with groups of tourists waiting with tickets in hopes that they would get in for their tour. All we had to do was text Meredith's friend and he came out to meet us at the gate, led us through security, and there we were in the White House!

And that wasn't the only perk. Our new friend, Secret Service Dude, took us behind the scenes to areas where most visitors are not allowed. We saw the kitchen and florist and the "staging area" hallway where all the action happens. He also showed us the room where diplomats from around the world are received and checked for their credentials. It was all very VIP!

After the behind the scenes area, we went up to the second floor where the traditonal tours are allowed to visit. The rooms are all just exquisite and it is amazing to think how much history those walls have scene. One room, however, brought a little pang of sadness to me...

Almost 10 years ago, Jonathan and I went to visit his mother's family in Magnolia, Arkansas. Magnolia is home to a top notch women's clothing store called Lois Jean's. This shop has dressed First Ladies and other celebrities for years. We popped into Louis Jeans on that visit and I tried on the most gorgeous coat that just so happened to be made from the same fabric as the drapes that Jackie Kennedy picked out for one of the rooms at the White House. It was very expensive, but fit me like it was tailor made. I was a college student at the time, so of course I passed on the jacket, but I have thought of it ever since. And there, in the White House, were those curtains. It made my heart hurt. Oh, how I wish I had the knowledge of true fashion investments when I was a sophomore in college!

Of course, we were not able to see the West Wing or the Obamas personal area, but I have to say that their new crib is pretty sweet. I can't imagine how much fun those two little girls are having in that place!

Next stop: Massachusetts!