Day 25 - PutYour iPod on shuffle - first 10 songs

First of all, I do NOT have an iPod.  I do NOT have an iPhone, iPad, iMac, or any other iProduct.  It's not that I don't like Apple.  It's more, at this point, that I refuse to spend the kind of money that buying an Apple product requires.

I do, however, have Spotify (which is currently synced with my HTC Aria), and at this point, I feel that I need to say, THANK YOU, SPOTIFY GODS!  You rock!

And now.....let the shuffling begin.

1. Rascal Flatts "She Goes All The Way"
2. Cartel "Honestly"
3. Paul Peterson "My Dad"
4. Savage Garden "I Knew I Loved You"
5. John Mayer "No Such Thing"
6. Matt Nathanson (featuring Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush, aka Sugarland) "Run"
7. Addicted "Dan Seals"
8. Herman's Hermits "I'm Henry VIII"
9. The Byrds "Turn, Turn, Turn"
10. Eric Johnson "Cliffs of Dover"
11. Brandi Carlisle "The Story"
12. P!nk "Raise Your Glass (Clean Version)"
13. New Kids on the Block "Tonight"
14. Boxcar Willie "King of the Road"
15. Plain White T's "Hey There Delilah"
16. Pam Tillis "Spilled Perfume"
17. Maroon 5 "Never Gonna Leave This Bed"
18. Emerson Drive "Moments"
19. Chris Young "Tomorrow"
20. Richard Marx "Now and Forever"
21. Jason Mraz "Please Don't Tell Her"
22. Alyssa Bonagura and Tyler Wilkinson "Killing Me"
23. Chely Wright "Shut Up and Drive"
24. Daron Norwood "My Girl Friday"
25. Plain White T's "Our Song"

There's an eclectic mix of tunes, if I've ever seen one.  All of the songs are fantastic, but I HIGHLY recommend numbers 6, 11, 18, 19, 22, and 25.

Day 26 of 30, part two - oh, you meant DREAM wedding!



The Disney Wedding Pavilion, Lake Buena Vista, FL




Bride and Groom Vinylmation



Classic decorations, with a touch of Disney

a coach fit for a Disney Princess 

a cake fit for a Disney Princess 

 bridal Mickey ears

a honeymoon on the Disney Dream

Day 26 of 30 - Dream Wedding

I'm going to skip around again.  Day 25 involves my mp3 player, which is currently at home, and probably not charged up.  I've been using my phone recently (Android, paired with the Spotify app, just rocks!), but after a recent update to my phone, I haven't had a chance to reinstall my Spotify account.  Therefore, I have no access to my lovely mix of music.  So....

My dream wedding.  Where do I start?  This is something I've long ago planned out.

Attendants: 5 (unless they decide they don't like me: Carol, Megan, Alicia, Erin, Jaimi)
Groomsmen: 5
Ushers: atleast 2
Flowergirl(s): TBD
Ringbearers: I can already tell you it will be Bug and Peanut (unless it is YEARS before I get married).



Cutaway Tux (formal before 6pm) - I prefer the slate tux w/grey pants




spring/summer wedding (groomsmen and ushers)
paisley (or other cool pattern) tie, yellow roses and purple pansies

 

fall/winter wedding (groomsmen and ushers)
paisley (or other pattern) tie, red roses and various pansies

 

groom's accessories (some shade of white)



my shoes



If cool ties are decided against, it will only be in favor of cool socks.





Day 24 of 30 - Something You've Learned

In 33 years on this earth, you'd think that I would have learned more lessons than I have, but sadly, this is not the case.  Too many times, I've let lessons and knowledge pass by the wayside, never to enter my thoughts again - or only to come back to me too late to do any good.  However, of the things I HAVE learned, certain ones stand out.

I've learned that I do a poor job of imitating my Savior, Christ Jesus.  On the flipside, I've also learned that God makes provisions for that, so my poor imitation is no reason to quit trying.  I hope to continue learning both of these lessons, on a daily basis, as long as Jehovah allows this system to continue.  The day I stop is the day someone needs to shoot me.

I've learned that growing old doesn't mean you've grown up.  Spend some time people watching.  You'll agree.

I've learned that a group's mentality is almost always led by the person with the WORST ideas.  Just turn on the news.  You'll probably agree with this, as well.  Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large numbers.

I've learned that I really need to take things a day at a time.  First, goals are achieved slowly.  You can't win a marathon without taking the first step.  Second, the older I get, the faster time seems to fly.  Stop and take a picture of the rose today.  Tomorrow, it'll be past the blooming stage.

I've learned that the phrase "I'm sorry" as just as important in a relationship as the phrase "I love you."  Those two phrases can also be the most overused.  Take care when and how you use them.

I've learned that I can face my fears.  I've learned that I can conquer my fears.  But most importantly, I've learned that facing fears and conquering fears are not the same thing.  All fears can be faced.  Not all fears can be conquered.  Not as long as we live in this imperfect world.

I've learned that I'm selfish.  I've learned that I have a temper.  I've learned that I don't handle tooth/jaw pain very well.

Day 23 of 30 - Favorite Movie

I though about changing the subject of today's blog, since I discussed my favorite movies back on Day 7.  But instead, I decided to go with the EXACT subject, favorite MOVIE (singular).  That movie, again referenced on day 7, is Hoosiers.

Hoosiers was released in 1986, starring Gene Hackman as Coach Norman Dale, Barbara Hershey as Myra, Dennis Hopper as Shooter (the town drunk), and Sheb Wooley as Principal Cletus.  The movie follows the boys basketball team of fictional Hickory, Indiana, as they journey from the season's beginning to the state championship game.  Taking place during the 1951/1952 school year, the story is loosely based on the real-life Milan High 1953/1954 team out of Milan, Indiana.  Coach Dale's fiery courtside demeanor and no-nonsense attitude is loosely based on legendary college coach, Bobby Knight.  Jimmy Chitwood, one of the players, also has a loose basis is history.  Jimmy Chitwood is seen taking the final shot of the state championship game to bring the win home to the Hickory Huskers.  In real life, Bobby Plump took the final shot of the game to boost Milan over Muncie Central in 1954.

Having been raised by a tried-and-true Hoosier, I knew the story of Milan/Muncie Central before I could walk.  I still remember hearing that the movie Hoosiers was being made.  I fondly remember going to see it in the theater on opening weekend, and knowing even then that it would always be one of my favorites.

I am not the only person to think Hoosiers is a great movie.  Hoosiers is consistently rated as one of the best sports movies in history.  The American Film Institute (AFI) voted Hoosiers as #13 on it's 100 Years...100 Cheers list of most inspirational movies, and #4 in the sports genre in it's Ten Top Ten list. Hoosiers has also been selected by Library of Congress to be preserved in the US National Film Registry.  Coach Dale's locker room speech is also commonly played on the jumbotron at college sporting events (particularly baseball and football).

If you have not seen Hoosiers, pick it up from your local rental facilities, or put it on your Netflix queue.  You won't regret it.

Opening credits

Team arrives at State Championship facilities



Dental Chairs are Comfortable!

I am the poster child for how NOT to take care of your teeth.  Oh, I brush them, but that's about it.  I floss...occasionally.  I haven't been to the dentist since the checkup with the oral surgeon after having my wisdom teeth removed.  I had the teeth removed in late December 1994, so I probably had the checkup in January 1995.  After the horrific experience I had during that surgery (I woke up while they were drilling and cutting), I refused to go back to a dentist.

However, recently, I had a tooth started showing symptoms of a cavity.  As in, it started breaking.  Still, it's taken me several months to work up the courage to make an appointment with a dentist.  I asked around for recommendations, did LOTS of research, and otherwise attempted to psych myself out, but finally, last week, I called a local dentist and made an appointment for a checkup.

Yesterday, I visited the dentist for the first time in 16 years.

Did you know that they do instant digital x-rays now?  It's incredible!  The assistant took the first picture, and I was amazed!  I said something about technology coming so far, the last time I had x-rays, you had to bite on the cardboard film holder, and then you had to wait until the film was developed before knowing what was going on in your mouth.  The technician laughed, but I think it was more of a "oh, you poor child, we're going to get SOO much money out of you!" laugh.

Did you know that there's this really awkward machine that spins around your head, and takes full x-rays of your jaw?  I had no idea my jaw looked like that.  I also had no idea that the roots of my teeth were that long!

The things you learn when you actually go to the dentist.

Another thing I learned yesterday is that, despite a sixteen year gap in dental visits, my teeth and gums are mighty healthy!  No gum disease, no bone disease, no major worries about the crowding of my teeth (though he did give me a recommendation for an orthodontist who specializes in Invisaligns, if I were ever interested), very little tartar and plaque buildup on my teeth, and only ONE cavity! Once that one is filled (next Tuesday), that will make a total of TWO fillings in my mouth.  Yeah, I swear I've had more cavities filled, but if I did, they were baby teeth.  Dr. Hall said I only have one filling currently in my mouth, plus a couple of sealants.

Note to self:  if you ever have children, have sealants done!

The only question I'm left with is: Why did the gums around the tooth with the cavity not hurt before, but now that I know they're going to have to trim the gum where it's growing into the cavity, has it decided to start aching?  Is it psychosomatic?

Day 22 of 30 - A Day of Reflection

Actually, Day 22 is supposed to be What's In Your Purse?  But since I answered that on Day 12, I decided to make this a day of reflection.

Today is a very bittersweet day.  Twenty-four years ago, for the very first time, I woke up in the morning after a full night's sleep with only one kidney.  The anesthesia from the day before was beginning to wear off, and steps were being taken to finally rid my body of the infection that had been ruling it for so many years.  Twenty-four years ago was the first day of a new life for me.

Six years ago, I was sitting at a desk on my first day of a new job at Wynn Salon Services.  I was tired, it was stressful, but it was nice to have a job again.  I was thinking I'd turned a corner.

Only a few hours later, I was sitting in a private room at the hospital, being told my father was dead.  I guess that was the wrong corner to turn.

As I sit here thinking of my dad, I have a wide collection of emotions.  I'm happy that he's done fighting, and that he's no longer in pain and suffering.  For the most part, I've gotten over the shock of him not being here.  I've grown somewhat accustomed to life without him in it.  Most of the time, I don't expect him to walk in the door at the end of the day, or call my from his cell phone to ask me if I saw that catch on the Braves game.

Now, it's different things that make it hard.  It's watching that Braves game, and realizing that Daddy didn't see Brian McCann play in the All-Star game his first full year in the majors (2006), let alone every All-Star game since then (Go, Mac!).  Dad has no idea that Jason Collier, of Indiana, Georgia Tech, and Atlanta Falcons fame, died tragically of a heart condition in October 2005.  He has no idea that I'm friends with my Indiana heroes (Luke Recker and Kirk Haston) on Facebook.  Actually, Dad had probably never even heard of Facebook at the time he died.  Can you imagine what he would say if he know Mama was active on Facebook?!!?

What's difficult is making plans to go to a college basketball tournament with Gerald in November, and realizing that I've never been to a college basketball tournament without Dad.  College basketball was what he loved SO much.  If he were alive, you can bet that he'd be going down to Orlando with us.  And he'd probably figure out a way to take me to Disney while we were down there.

Daddy has no idea what Hurricane Katrina was, or how devastating the earthquakes in Haiti and Japan were.  He has no idea that both of the Rice boys are fathers (and maybe it's a good thing he doesn't know, as the thought might just frighten him to death).  He doesn't know that Brandon and Megan just celebrated their fifth anniversary, or that Michael has two kids.  The fact that life has continued on, as if nothing happened on that day, six years ago, is sometimes difficult to grasp.

But the hardest thing of all is to catch myself looking at a family photo, and realizing that I can't remember what my dad looks like.  The picture looks like him, and yet....I can't really remember.  Is that really what he looked like?  I can't always see his face, I can't hear his voice.  I know this doesn't mean that I'm forgetting him.  It's simply that a long time has passed, and things don't stay clear and sharp when we don't see or hear them constantly.  It's part of moving on, which we need to do.

And yet, a part of me still feels like I'm bad daughter because I can't always remember.