The Reality of the Job

Last weekend, the Manpanion and I stopped in at the Sheppard Spinal Clinic in Atlanta to see two Police Officers who were wounded in the line of duty; one from Florida-a motorcycle cop- and one from West Virginia-a patrol officer. Both were hit on the street, in the line of duty.

As we walked in the door of the hospital, I didn’t have a lot going through my head. I think I expected two guys in hospital beds whom would carry on normal conversations with us, thank us for coming by, and we would be on our way. What I got was a harsh reality check. 

2012: The Year of Frugality

2011 brought great insight into my spending habits, both good and bad. I kept incredibly detailed financial records last year and found it helped tremendously in curving my expenses. I know what my weaknesses are and I know where my strengths lie. So, my number one resolution this year is frugality.

Goal Numero Uno- Shop Local

Some of you, including my mother, are going to say that this will prove more expensive. But in what? Food? Yes. But, if I am striving to shop local, it’s going to keep my out of my weak areas (i.e. Target, the mall, etc.) The Manpanion and I were talking about charitable giving not too long ago and he realized that he was an isolationist, meaning he likes to keep his money in our community. I like that. Charity starts at home and so should the shopping. Start local and if I have to buy outside of Columbus or even Georgia, at least buy American products. I like knowing that I am supporting my friends-many of whom own local businesses.

Goal Numero Dos-Cut Out the Extras

This is a hard one for me. I told the Manpanion that we shouldn’t go to the movies on NYE because while we had the popcorn bucket, we had no passes to go with it. We don’t NEED to spend $50 to go to the movies. Eating out is also an expensive habit. Lunch is a HUGE weakness for me. I love lunch. More than any other meal. But I am determined to brown bag it this year. This includes gas, new clothes, jewelry and…gulp…books.

75 things Columbusites and those in the Tri-County Area talked about in 2011

In Thursday’s New York Times, there was an article called “75 Things New Yorkers Talked About in 2011.” I wanted to see what I could come up with for our area. This is by no means a complete list of all the things that happened in 2011 in and around our city, but it’s about as complete as it is going to get off the top of my head at 6:45PM on New Years Eve. Enjoy!

1. Afgan War
2. Auburn mascot flies into window
3. AYP…a lot of AYP stories.
4. Bob Tant, president of Columbus Water Works, passes away
5. BRAC
6. Charter Review Commission
7. China, China, China
8. Civic Center Ticket Sales-Gate
9. Civilian Job cuts at Ft. Benning
10. Columbus adopts new Alcohol ordinance
11. Columbus man banned from Muscogee County
12. Columbus’ first female mayor
13. Columbus High wins ANOTHER state championship in baseball
14. Columbus was labeled the “Brokest City in America”
15. Condoleezza Rice
16. City hands over contract in Expedia case
17. D.A. seeks death penalty in Heath Jackson murder
18. End of Iraq War
19. Fake Cop terrorizes local residents
20. FBI investigates Talbot County Sheriff’s Office
21. Fire at Public Safety Center
22. Former City Councilor and Mayoral Candidate Wayne Anthony leaves Columbus to take over church in South Georgia
23. Former CPD Officer robbing a bank
24. Funding for Port Columbus
25. Furlough Days
26. Gilbert Gottfried
27. Homeless initiative
28. Isaiah Crowell wins SEC Freshman of the year
29. Isaiah Crowell fails drug test
30. Jarvis Jones makes All-American
31. Judge Johnson
32. Judge Land
33. Judge Pullen
34. Management change for Columbus Regional
35. Mark MacPhail
36. Mayor forms “Passenger Rail” Commission
37. Mike Gaymon steps down from volunteer position with Crime Prevention Board
38. Milgen Road K-Mart Closing
39. Municipal Court Judge Haywood Turner dies
40. New Publix opens in MidTown
41. Parks and Rec Scandal
42. Paul Olson makes good on promise to leave Columbus
43. Paul Olson renigs on promise
44. Police Chief Curtis McClung passes away
45. Political unrest in Phenix City
46. Politics
47. Public Services Director Gary Stickles retires
48. Ribbon Cutting for the Dorothy W. McClure Academy wing at the Springer Opera House
49. Richard Anthony steps down from Synovus
50. Robberies in Uptown
51. SEC Football
52. Section of RiverWalk Collapses
53. Sheriff’s Office cars go green
54. Shootings in Uptown
55. St. Elmo Mansion suffers fire
56. St. Francis expands
57. Steeplechase
58. Steve Melton gets a new job
59. Steve Toms murder
60. Suk Kim Ho
61. Sunday Alcohol Sales
62. Swift Mill Fire
63. The Braves
64. The Curry Case
65. The death of Osama Bin Laden
66. The Fall Trace Line
67. The First Columbus Triathlon
68. The Manhunt in North Columbus
69. The Stock Market as it pertained to local companies
70. To Buy or Not to Buy property for the Liberal Arts Academy
71. Tornadoes
72. Unkempt graveyards
73. Uptown Concert Series
74. MCP Warden Bill Adamson retires
75. White Water Rafting

To Store and Ponder

This Christmas week fell perfectly, in my opinion; Sunday to Sunday to prepare our hearts and minds for the gift of a lifetime.

Sunday morning as I was sitting at First Baptist listening to Jimmy Elder talk about how no one made room or time for Jesus on the night he was born, I was reminded that more oft than not, I am hard-pressed to find the time as well. And yet, I still expect great things from Jesus. And by great things, I really just mean that I expect things to go my way. I expect a peaceful home life, a great financial situation, and complete happiness that comes from life living up to my ideal and dream-world expectations.

But life doesn’t that work that way. And this week certainly hasn’t worked out this way. Doubt has filled my heart more than once. 

Today I am Thankful for:

1. Healthy babies (Congrats, Jeannie and Tyler!)
2. Black coffee
3. Laughter
4. Sara Elizabeth
5. Love that endures all things through hope
6. Crazy Sisters
7. Contentment
8. God’s faithfulness to me
9. Sorrow that turns to joy in the morning
10. Peace that passes all understanding

This week I learned…

First week on the new job and there is a lot of information to digest. I am still processing, but I thought I would share some of the things that stuck.

1. When you work for a Georgia Congressman, you can have all the coke and peanuts you want. And that is completely ethical.
2. My calendar fetish is only going to grow during my time with the Congressman. We are all about schedules here in the 3rd District.
3. Contrary to popular belief, Congress’ healthcare plan is no better than mine.
4. The ride from Columbus to Newnan is not all the exciting, but makes for great NPR/Music/Thinking time.
5. My mother might be more excited about this job than I am.
6. After my “Cyber Safety” training I was pretty much convinced that all communication on my part- other than verbal and handwritten- would be the demise of America as we know it.
7. The iPhone is definitely better than the Blackberry. And I get to compare all.day.long. since I now have two phones.
8. This is definitely the kind of work I was cut out to do. While I spent most of my time in the office this week, that will not be the norm.
9. Buying my car was probably one of the best decisions I have ever made.
10. The Troup County Sheriff’s Office has an iPhone App. You should get it. I did.

Christmas Wish List

For the past several years I have been increasingly amused at the changes in “The Christmas List” as my siblings and I have gotten older. Last year, Caroline had us rolling with this doozy:

For Christmas this year I would like the following:

1. World Peace  
2. A Solution to World Hunger
3.  A more efficient and plentiful power source (think air or water)
4. Taylor Swift
5. A porthole from the Titanic (I think it’d make a lovely sky-light)
6.  A watch (sporty, not cutesy)
7. A way to breathe underwater forever
8. A new president
9. A dresser
10. A sea monkey that actually grows to the size of a small goldfish 
11. An irresistible revolution of love that laughs and dances and know no limits
12. An economic shut-down (1800s style) so people will really question what they’re living for
13. True Love To Change the World
14. For Jesus to come back (heaven’s gonna be AWESOME!)
15. A small monkey named Jackson that can live in my pocket
16. For Jesus, God, and “how to” be saved to be the most googled words/phrases
17. For the power of love to overcome the love of power A washer/dryer unit
18. A life of service and gratitude

 I’m so excited to see what’s under the tree this year!!!!!!!

She did get a couple of those things…like the watch. Last year I asked for running shoes, an external hard drive, and new sheets for my bed. A far cry from the Hello Kitty paraphernalia,  American Girl dolls, and the newest toy on the market. The year before I asked for a tea pot and and book. And this year, I just asked for money for bills. Yes…how the years do change things.

As I look around the community and I continue to experience what the “real world” is really like, I am reminded that Christmas isn’t about me. And it’s not about “gifts.” Not the way we think about them, anyway. Last night as the Manpanion and I were eating dinner, he kept saying he was going to get me a gas card and a blue tooth and dog food for Oscar, etc. And I just made a face and said I didn’t want Christmas gifts to be practical. His response was that it made him happy to take care of me and those were all things that would help take care of me. I thought about that all evening and again this morning. When he called me on his way to work I apologized for being so ungrateful last night. I mean, think about all the people who would love a gas card and food for their dog.

I forgot what Christmas was really about. It’s about the love that God showed us by sending His only Son to live a perfect life here on earth and eventually die on the cross for our sins. It’s about hope. It’s about peace. And it’s about giving and sharing the blessings that we have been given. And there is really no definition for those blessings; whether they be food, clothing, or the experience of a loving family, it’s may be something that someone else doesn’t have.

This year, Caroline shared this list:

Ahem. (excessive throat clearing noises):

This Christmas should be like no other

With gifts for each sister and brother

And don’t forget dear mom and dad,

(not as if we ever have)…

And when searching for the perfect gift

Don’t forget your eyes to lift

To the gift that we should always remember

That came about this time in December,

The gift that revolutionized our lives

That never fails to fill our eyes

With tears of laughter and joyous cries

Ringing out year after year,

“YESSSS! CAROLINE IS HERE!!!!!!!!!!”

You’re welcome everyone.

You can scratch me off of your lists because I promise, no swear, to come to Christmas this year :)

Now for MY list:

1. Money in any amount to help pay for my study abroad trip.

2. Picture frames that can be hung on a wall (preferably in black)

3. And last, but not least, one random act of kindness towards a stranger this Christmas that takes you just a bit out of your comfort zone….

Isn’t she funny? :) The last thing she wrote should be a good reminder to all of us of what the Christmas season is all about. And, it says a lot about my sweet sister.

So what will your random act of kindness be?

This Land is My Land…

We buy at least two newspapers, if not three, every Sunday; The Ledger-Enquirer, The New York Times, and the Atlanta Journal Constitution. I read the front section and the Local section in the LE, every word of Sunday Styles and the Travel section, Sunday Review, and most of the front section of the New York Times, and then I skim the AJC. I read all three online throughout the week, but I especially look forward to Sundays and having the real thing in my hands.

My favorite section is the NYT Travel section and I have to admit that there are times when I am incredibly jealous of the person who gets paid to travel and write about the hotel room they stayed in. But it’s not usually the articles about places across the seas that grab my attention. It’s usually the place just a few state lines away that makes me look up from the paper and say to the Manpanion “Let’s go there!”.

Last weekend I read about Mount Dora, Florida and an incredibly expensive antique show they have a few times a year, but what really got me was the description of the “tiny little vintage town” with Victorian-era homes, good food, and live music…AND giant oak trees with Spanish moss. My mind is already painting pictures. And, yes, I have already googled “Lakeside Inn.” You should too.

Another spot that caught my eye was Roanoke, Virginia. Apparently, you can do some salvaging, some hiking and biking, and enjoy a great historic district all while staying at a neat-o restored Tudor-style hotel called Hotel Roanoke. Adding it to the list as we speak. (Although, I have to admit, it sounds a lot like Columbus with a few variations).

But, whowouldathunk I would be itching to head to Wisconsin. I am dying to visit one of Northern Wisconsin’s so-called “Supper Clubs”, a hold-over term from the Prohibition-era. Cabins and woods and snow and cheese. Yes, please?

The more I read about ice cream cocktails and fried cheese curd, the more and more I re-realized that our country has far more intricate cultural differences than just sweet tea vs. un-sweet tea. And I am so interested in exploring what we have here in our country and seeing cities and states I haven’t been to before. So, while there are places all over the beautiful earth that I want to visit (i.e. Rome, Paris, Spain, Germany, Africa, etc…), I am more than content to see the rest of the good ole’ U.S. of A. in the meantime.

Where do you want to go?

Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart

As we sat around the dinner table yesterday, my dad asked us to each talk about the things we were most grateful for in the past year. It was such a sweet time listening to all my siblings talk about their love for Jesus and for each other. Each one unique, yet connected not just because of DNA, but because of grace.

I am incredibly grateful for the life I have been given and the ones that I share it with. I didn’t take nearly enough photos and completely missed the second half of my day, but here are some snapshots.

Dad reading the paper...

Carving the turkey!

T and Ben

The Feast...Mexican Style.

Joe and Katie

Sammy and Ben

Mom and Ben

Caroline artfully avoiding cleaning up the Thanksgiving Aftermath...

T and Caroline

So much to be grateful for. Sweet siblings, loving parents, a loyal little pooch, and my sweet Manpanion. Yes, God is good.

Just 5 more minutes…

The New York Times had an article on the front page of  ”Sunday Styles” about women and the prescription meds we use to sleep. A growing number of women are using more than Tylenol PM to sleep at night. The article cites Xanax, Ambien, low-dose anti-depressants, Lunesta, and melatonin as the drugs of choice. The reasons for our inability to fall asleep are many. Whether we have kids or not, jobs, family issues, volunteer obligations, and the lists of responsibilities and activities that go with them are what keep us awake until the wee hours or wake us long before the alarm sounds.