Doubly honored!

I meant to get online this weekend and thank my friend Christine for a blog award she gave me on Friday, but I didn't get a chance to get online. I'll be honest. I was being lazy this weekend, watching Rangers baseball and season one of The X-Files on DVD (David Duchovny looked so young!!)

Then I got on my blog this afternoon and saw that my friend Katie had also given me an award. WOW guys, thank you SO MUCH!! I feel so special that not only do you take time to read my blog, but that you feel I am worthy enough of an award. :)

The requirements after winning the award are to list seven things about myself and then pass the award on to some new blogs that I've discovered.

First I want to thank the friends who nominated me. Thank you again Christine! I discovered Christine's blog, Phoenix Revolution, when she was a guest blogger on my friend Laurie's blog. Her post about pink fuzzy handcuffs was hysterical! I followed the link to her blog and immediately became a new follower. :) And thank you so much Katie! I found Katie's blog, Words by Katie, though one of the "blog hop" sites (or maybe she found me, I don't remember who found who first). :) We discovered that have a lot in common. We both love to read and she is another girl that posts about sports on her blog!! I love it! And it seems we both have a love lust admiration for Adam Rodriguez! :)

I would recommend checking both of their blogs out. Just click on the name of their blog, that will link to their page!

Seven things you might not know about me. Wow, I feel  like I've shared all my secrets on here (probably not the smartest move, I can never run for a public office now!) ;) Let me see if I can think of any more (I apologize if any of these are repeats)...

1. When I was in high school, the band Butt Hole Surfers (yes, that was their name) filmed a music video at my school and I'm in it. I was in the band (more specially, the Color Guard- oh yes, I was a band nerd), and we were in their video for the song Underdog. It was part of the album Saturday Morning: Cartoons' Greatest Hits (I think the video aired on The Cartoon Network). Anyways, here is a copy of the video. The Color Guard is wearing white shirts. I can't tell you exactly where I'm at in it (it was filmed like 15 years ago), but I'm there somewhere!!

2. When I was 10 years old, I sang on stage with gospel singer Sandi Patty. Mind you, it wasn't because of my singing ability (because I don't have any). I was at a concert with my mom and sister, and Sandi announced that all kids 10 and under were welcomed to come up on stage and sing with her. I don't remember what we sang, but I know at one point she walked up to me and put her arm around me as we were singing. What I do remember is that this concert was about a month before my 11th birthday and I was so excited I was still 10 at the time.

3. I usually fall asleep with my TV on (it's set on a timer to go off after an hour). I like having the low "background" noise when I fall asleep. Maybe it's because I live by myself and if I didn't have that "noise", I would hear other noises and freak myself out.

4. I was 17 before I saw a major league baseball game in person. And I skipped school to see it. (I didn't grow up near a professional team). My senior year of high school the Braves were playing the Astros on a Tuesday night, and Steve Avery was pitching (insert teenage girl *sigh* here). I convinced my dad to let me skip school so I could go to Houston to see the game that was that night. I even had a sign that said "I skipped school to see Steve Avery".

5. I didn't learn to ride a bike until I was 11 years old. 

6. I sometimes watch Christmas movies in the middle of summer (sometimes you just need to hear Bing Crosby sing!) 

7. I can see about a minute of The Brady Bunch and tell you what episode it is (I know, that is just sad!) :)

I'm passing this award on to the following new blogs that I've recently discovered. If you have time, please check these out.  Just click on the name.

1. Jess at The Little Blonde Girl

2. Jenn at Brown Eyed Girl's ramblings

3. Stephanie at Dirt and Lace

4. Jenna Renee at Legally Brunette

5. Lauren at That 22 yr old Housewife

6. Teresa at Too Many Heartbeats

7. Michele at The Homesteading Apartment

8. Judy at Cranberry Morning

9. Kathy at Bags, Books and Bon Jovi

10. Brian at Noe Brainer

The weekend is in sight!

TGIF my friends!! We have survived yet another work week!! It's Five Question Friday time. I hope you enjoy!

1. Do you collect anything? 

Yes. I think I've mentioned before that I collect baseball cards and sport memorabilia. I know I have at least 3,000 baseball cards, if not more. I'm in the process of cataloging them. It's taking a lot longer than I thought it would (once I'm done, I'll have a final count of how many I own). I also collect shot glasses and magnets (the magnet collection is new, just started that a few years ago).

2. Name 3 celebrities that you find good looking. 

ONLY THREE?? This is going to be hard. **thinking....thinking...** I think I'll have to go with Chris Evans, Adam Rodriguez and Paul Walker. There are MANY more, but these are the three that come to mind right now. Again, I'm going based on their looks, and not the quality of movies they choose to be in. ;) (what can I say, I'm shallow!) ;)

Chris Evans: He starred in the Fantastic Four movies as Johnny Storm and has also been in movies such as Cellular, Push, Street Kings and The Losers.

Adam Rodriguez: Best known as Eric Delko on the CBS show CSI: Miami. He also recently appeared in the Tyler Perry movie, I Can Do Bad All by Myself (great movie!) For all you old schoolers out there, you might remember him as Jesse on the TV show Roswell (as Katherine Heigl's love interest).

Paul Walker: Best known for his role in the Fast and Furious movies (they have another one coming out next year). He also appeared in a few of those "teen movies" that came out in the late 90s such as Varsity Blues and She's All That. He has a new one called Takers coming out next month. Who's with me to see it?

3. Do you have any scars? If so, what's the story behind it (them?)? 

I have two that I can think of. I have one on my left knee that I got when I was like 7 or 8. My driveway had a slope and I was trying to ride my skateboard down it. I fell off and skinned up my knee. To this day you can still see the scar. I also have one near my shoulder from where I got shot a few years ago.....I'm just kidding. I actually had a cyst removed, BUT when people see it and ask, I tell them the bullet wound story, it's much more interesting. And it kinda looks like it could be a bullet wound.

4. What is a food that you like to eat, but others might think it's gross or weird? 

I like carrots and peanut butter (some people like Ranch dressing to dip them in, I like peanut butter). Some people find that gross, it's actually not. I also like peanut butter on pancakes (instead of butter). My whole family does that though. The first time I had pancakes outside of my house and asked for peanut butter, everyone looked at me like I was crazy.

5. Have you ever seen a tornado in real life?
Yes. A few months ago you might remember me talking about how I wanted to be a tornado chaser at one time. About 8 or 9 years ago I was working as a sports editor for a newspaper. I had been up at the office working late and the radio broke in that there was a tornado warning one county over from where I was at. Since my office was nothing but windows (with no safe place to go to), I decided to drive home. At one point I looked in my rear view mirror and in the distance I could see the tornado. If I hadn't been driving a Dodge Neon, I might have contemplated chasing it. But let's face it, Neon's are death traps WITHOUT the tornado! :) At least in my opinion!

Have a great weekend my friends!!

:)

Thursday Thirteen

I honestly couldn't think of a good topic for my Thursday Thirteen today, so I am going to post 13 new pictures of my great-nephews "C" and "E"!

1.  "C" trying to golf in the pool while "E" makes an escape!

 

2. "C" helping with the pool. 

3. I bet that Meme got "E" this ballcap! That is where she went to school!

4. "God bless this yummy Blue Bell Popsicle! Amen!"

5."Are you ready for some football?"

 

6. "C" loves drawing on Meme and Pop's front porch!

7. "E" loves "fùtbol" too!

8."C" having fun at the zoo!

9. Future World Cup star!

10. He was probably looking at the elephants here- they are his favorite!

11. "E" after playing in the water with Aunt Rachel!

 

12. "C" after a day of fun at the zoo!

13."E" loves chillaxing in his stroller!

Wednesday Ramblings...

Well friends, my plane ticket has finally been purchased. In 30 days, two of my friends and I will be flying to Atlanta, GA to go see a Braves game (yes, that is the reason we are going) :) I think I've mentioned it before, but I have a mission to see all the baseball ballparks/stadiums in the U.S. (and the one Canada). Since I grew up watching the Braves on TBS (I couldn't see Rangers games where I lived), I have a special place in my heart for them (they are my favorite National League team). I also have been following Chipper Jones since his first year (1993) and with rumors flying about him possibly retiring after this season, I wanted one more chance to see him play. It also gave me the chance to scratch Turner Field off my list of ballparks to see!

 

Chipper Jones (I know, I like goofy looking guys, I can't help it!) ;)

Someone has asked me who I would cheer for if the Rangers and Braves both ended up going to the World Series. First of all, that is a dream come true for me. BUT, I would remain faithful to my Texas Rangers and cheer them on!! :)

So, has anyone else seen this "Double Rainbow" video on Youtube? I was listening to the radio yesterday driving into work and they were talking about it (it was the first I had heard of it) This guy was out filming a double rainbow and got very, um, emotional over it. Here, I'll just let you watch it. And yes, he was being very serious (I can't guarantee that he wasn't smoking something though!)

It seems a few people decided to go out and find the "Double Rainbow" man. Here is their encounter with him.

Happy Wednesday everyone! As I've mentioned before, I'm a huge fan of the USA network show Psych. If you have never watched it, I recommend checking it out. I think it's hysterical! The season premiere is on tonight on cable channel USA at 9:00 CST. I'll leave you today with a few promos for the show. Shawn and Gus are awesome!! :)

Rangers Season Ticket Holder Picnic

Yesterday I was able to attend the Rangers season ticket holder picnic at The Ballpark (my friend Stan couldn't go, so he gave his two tickets to me and my friend Monica). It was a lot of fun. We got some player autographs, got to go on a "behind the scenes" tour of The Ballpark, and we got to see the players warm up before batting practice. I'm going to be posting a lot of pictures today (so I apologize for those not interested in baseball). :) Have a great day!! :)

 

Me and Mike Maddux, former MLB pitcher and pitching coach for the Rangers

 

Waiting for autographs from Julio Borbon, Tommy Hunter and Bengie Molina

Former Rangers player Jim Sundberg

Rangers pitcher Neftali Feliz

First baseman Chris Davis (he was just called back up from AAA)

 

Doors to the locker room. We couldn't go in because players were getting ready for the game. I told the tour guide that didn't bother me. It didn't work! ;)

Sitting in the Rangers dugout

A view from where the players watch the game.

Monica sitting where perhaps her favorite player once sat!

 A view of the seats from the dugout.

 

Pitcher C.J. Wilson was on his way to sign autographs but was nice enough to stop for a quick picture

 

I could so be a spokeswoman for the Rangers!

Checking out the batting cages (they wouldn't let us go in them though)

A view from the press box

Sitting in the press box

The team warming up before batting practice

By the field during batting practice

Ian Kinsler warming up

 

Five Question Friday Time!

1. What is one food you could eat everyday? 

I would have to say Chick Fil-A chicken (or waffle fries). Oh how I love Chick Fil-A! :)

2. Are you working in the career you thought you would be when you were 18?

No, I wanted to be a writer (more specifically, a sports journalist). I know, I know, you are shocked by this. :) I actually did work as a sports writer/sports editor of a newspaper for a while during and after college. I still write freelance every now and then, but it's not my full time job.**sigh** Maybe one day!

3. What is something that you wish you would have done when you were younger and you didn't?

I wish I would have had better hair when I took my Pep Squad Officer picture in 8th grade. :) Oh yes, that is me. Sad, but true!

8th grade- 1991

4. What color are your kitchen walls?

Off-white, what little walls are there. I have the smallest kitchen known to man. 

5. Do you remember what your very first favorite song was?

Probably Elvira by The Oak Ridge Boys. I even named my cat after it!!

Me and my cat Elvira, 1982ish

Y'all have a great weekend!!

:)

Thursday Thirteen

For my Thursday Thirteen I thought I would list 13 of my favorite artists (as in painters, not musical!) ;)

1. Vincent Van Gogh: Vincent is definitely near the top of the list of my favorite artists (if not my favorite). I starting liking him back when I was about 12 or 13. There was a movie called Vincent and Me (it was a French movie called Vincent et moi, but the Disney Channel dubbed it into English.) It was about a young painter who encounters the ghost of Vincent Van Gogh.

Me at the MOMA in New York back in 2007, standing by my favorite Van Gogh painting, Starry Night

2. Claude Monet: Another one of my favorite artists. Actually, he and Vincent might be tied for first place on my list!

Me at the MOMA, standing by Monet's Agapanthus

3. Pierre-Auguste Renoir 

Bal au moulin de la Galette

4. Edvard Munch: Even if you don't know him by name, you will probably recognize one of his more famous paintings.

The Scream

5. Paul Cèzanne

Still Life With Apples and Oranges

6.  Georges Seurat:

Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte

7. Norman Rockwell: My dad had a lot magazines and books about Norman Rockwell while I was growing up. These are two of my favorite (for obvious reasons). The Rookie (left) and Bottom of the Sixth (right).

8. Èdouard Manet

Garden Path in Rueil

9. Georgia O'Keeffe: I visited her museum when I went to Santa Fe back in 2003. I really enjoyed her artwork!

Ram's Head White Hollyhock and Little Hills

10. Andy Warhol

Me at the MOMA by Warhol's Campbell Soup Cans

11. Edgar Degas:

The Cotton Exchange at New Orleans

12. J.M.W. Turner: The Dallas Art Museum had a special exhibit of his artwork a few years ago.

Wrecker's Coast of Northumberland

13. Henri Matisse:

Vase of Sunflowers