the look of happy

Coach and I had engagement pictures done last weekend.  I am happy.  Truly at peace.  There is a bliss that defies definition and yet I am grounded and content to walk this level path - with him.  We've set a date and the planning has begun in earnest.

 

squeals of adolescent estrogen

K & I went on a girls' night out Friday.  A little dinner, a lot of laughing and....twilight.  It was finally here and it was pretty good.  Oh, it's no Harry Potter.  Pirates of the Caribbean beat it hands down.  But, it was very fun to see the adaptation of the books we devoured. 

We laughed at the hoardes of young adolescent girls lined up at the ticket counter an hour before the theatre opened.  All text messages were off as their little eyes (and hormones) were glued to the screen.  When Edward appeared on the screen for the first time, the hoard squeeled with delight.  (yes, really)  When Edward and Bella kissed the first time, collective sighs and applause were heard throughout the room.  It was HILARIOUS. 

I thought the Edward character was played pretty well by HP-veteran, Robert Pattinson.  Bella, on the other hand, was played a little too wispy and waif-ish.  I thought Bella carried herself really well in the books.  Yes, she was reserved and a little self-depricating.  But the on-screen teenager was a little breathy; like she was about to have an asthma attack every time she had to talk to Edward.  Oh, before you berate me for soundng so grown-up; yes I remember that breathless first crush.  That feeling of just not knowing what. to. say. when. HE.....walks in the room.  *squeel*  You could say I really got in touch with my inner middle schooler this weekend.  *laugh* 

I will say this, though, the dramatic tension between the Edward and Bella characters was GREAT.  The ratcheted up the tension until you could cut the air with a knife.  IT was great.  That part got an A+. 

I thought the movie, overall, was a little predictable.  They spelled it out a little too clearly.  They didn't give the audience enough credit.  It was as if they KNEW 96% of the audience has already read all four books so they didn't have to bother with that little thing called suspense. 

Eh...not bad.  Don't know that I'll buy it.  I certainly don't think HP should have delayed the release eight months for THIS.  I think the death of Dumbledore, the revelations about Snape and Voldemort were WELL WORTH a little healthy competition at the box office.  I think everybody would have won.  And, we'd have a better holiday movie season to look forward to.

where have all the christmas decorations gone?

I've been to two Sami shows and Bow-tique, only to find a dismal absence of christmas goodies.  I didn't find any new christmas dishes, towels, napkins, wall hangings, christmas tree doo-dads...NOTHIN!! 

*sigh*  Not a good start to the holiday shopping season.  On an up note, I did find a really neat learn to draw Tinkerbell book for Munchkin. 

She's waving her pom-pom and doing a cheer.  ah, noise.  *laugh*  Last night, she cheered on the field with the cheerleaders.  She didn't go to cheer camp but she was able to make it up and still cheer at the game.  She loved it.  She told me she'd like to try cheerleading in the spring.  I told her let's finish out the year with ballet (they have a holiday recital at the end of November) and then I'd find out how much (and how often) cheerleading would be, after the new year. 

I need to have the carpets cleaned before I drag out christmas decorations.  And what to do with the table?  So many decisions.  *laugh*  Maybe we'll get a smaller, live tree this year and save the fuss of dragging the big artificial tree out.  That tree is six feet tall and about four feet wide, so it takes up a large space.  If I turn the table, I could probably fit either possibility between the table and the patio door.  Not like we go out there anyway.  *laugh*  (you can tell that by the dead mums out there - poor things)

Well, I'll wrap this up for now.  Later, gators!

America. Love it or fix it.

Early Voting locations in Bell County:
Belton - Bell County Courthouse Annex, 550 E. 2nd Ave
Killeen - Bell County Annex, 301 Priest Drive
Killeen - Killeen Community Center, 2201 E. Vet Memorial Blvd
Temple - Bell County Annex, 205 E. Central Avenue
Salado - Salado Civic Center, 601 North Main Street
Harker Heights - Parks & Recreation Center, 307 Millers Crossing

No excuse.  You either step up and take action or sit down and be quiet.  Know this, though - nothing hurts this country (or any effort, for that matter) like apathy.  Abdication of responsibility does not make it any less your fault when the wheels come off. 

"My vote doesn't count anyway" is not a valid excuse.  Lots of time has been spent proving how many close races have been decided by just a few votes. 

I was raised to believe that civic involvement was not only a right; it was a RESPONSIBILITY.  Just letting things be as they will be is for people who live in dictatorships or monarchies.  NOT AMERICA.  It drives me absolutely up the wall when people stand on the sidelines and gripe but DO NOTHING ABOUT IT (other than gritch, that is).

fridaynightgirl

I have laughed more in the past months than, maybe, in my entire life.  Life is happy.  Life is good. 

I'm reading a crazy book called Good Omens.  It's by Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett.  It's taking simply FOREVER to get through.  I mean, sheesh - I bought it two weeks ago and I'm STILL not finished.  I think that means I am just not into it.  I'm ready to be finished with it so I can move on.  I have a new book that I want to dig in to. 

Hey, I can add a poll?  How cool is that?!  Ok, a poll. 
[polldaddy poll=1000206]

Ok, that was random.  *laugh*  dinnertime!

puny

I feel terrible.

cold and chills; then hot and clammy.  It made my morning meeting REALLY great.  NOT. 

I'm going home in a few minutes to be officially puny.

some people

Sometimes you wonder if people truly have nothing better to do than say snarky things to others.  I mean, can't we be adults?  I think my fascination with the high school comes, in part, with the realization that MOST of the adults I know aren't MUCH more refined and mature than some of these 16-18 year olds.  Sheesh.  GROW UP.

Nothing in particular.  I listened to a man so full of his own self-righteousness today until my head hurt.  I watched another person posture on a platform; more interested in being seen than SEEING.  And another person strike out in the hopes of wounding another just for the sake of doing it. 

Well, anyways.  Enough time spent on people who waste their energy being hateful.  I will NOT allow it to spoil my joy. 

There was a glimmer of hope today.  I've recently encountered a character in my daily travels that has captured my attention.  I can see potential behind his facade of apathy.  Lots of it.  Maybe I'm a fool to hope (there's that word again) but it's a foolishness I'll take any day to hopelessness.  Well, I checked on him today and I think he was surprised to see me.  Suprised maybe that I really do care?  Maybe it's too early to go that far.  I'll keep at it, though, just to see what happens. 

Yes, I'm being vague.  I can do that.  *laugh*

Good night, friends.