a bad day

so i don't typically post news stories, but i couldn't resist this one from the bbc. my favorite part is, "Crocodile attacks and shootings are rare in Australia.
To suffer both at once is - to say the least - unfortunate."

read the whole story here.

editor's note: i just reread this post 3 weeks later and that line still just cracks me up. i mean seriously, the guy is shot while they're trying to save him and the best way it can be described is "unfortunate". it's just so understated. and so part of why i love the uk.

good line

i'm a fan of sex in the city now that it's on tbs. not that i agree with everything, but if you're single and over 30, there's some pretty funny stuff in it.

tonite charlotte says "i've been dating since i was 15. i'm exhausted. where is he?" i saw that on a t-shirt in the turner store at cnn center last fall and seriously considered buying it. all i can say is "ditto".

looking back

ok last post was late october (really didn't mean to go that long without posting) so looking back, here's where i was:

• st. louis (national youth workers convention--8 days)
• atlanta (national youth workers convention--8 days)
• tulsa (thanksgiving holiday--7 days)
• colorado springs (meetings--2 days)
• pasadena (core test--1 day)
• tiajuana, mexico (staff christmas party--1 day)
• tulsa (christmas holiday--12 days)

if you're counting that means i was gone for 39 of 67 days since my last post. that's just crazy! and since this post has developed a counting theme, the last 67 days have also held:

• 18 flights
• 1 piece of luggage "redirected" (note: the "redirected" bag was on xjet--and my non-stop san diego to tulsa flight--the only non-stop trip i took and they couldn't get my bag on the plane!)
• 1 plane bathroom not working (also on xjet--"we'll be landing in tulsa in about 2 hours, try to wait.")
• 3 movies (4 if i count seeing enchanted twice)
• hundreds of photos taken (i took our ys photo album pix from st. louis & atlanta plus part of the ones from mexico and lots of family pix)
• countless hugs and laughs with friends & family

and then there's the food. here are the highlights of where i ate

• ted's cafe escondido (fabulous chips, salsa, queso, tortillas and the best sopapillas ever)
• sonic (love the 1/2 price happy hour on sodas)
• braum's (crinkle fries dipped in chocolate shakes)
• chick-fil-a (favorite option in the cnn center in atlanta)
• coney i-lander (ah, the best little coneys smothered in chili, onions, mustard and cheese--they deserve a post of their own one day)

the only regret over the past couple months is that i have a bunch of tulsa friends i either didn't get to see or didn't get to see enough of, but that is something to change and look forward to in the new year which will also be the subject of my next post.

fire update & thoughts

To answer the questions I've been getting about the fires here...

I'm fine. My house was on standby for evacuation on Monday so I packed up the irreplacable items and put them in storage at my office. I've left them there because we've been on the border of an evacuation area for the Harris fire since then. Monday & Tuesday night, I could see flames in the distance. This afternoon, we received conflicting instructions on whether or not to evacuate. We've stayed put because we can't even see the glow of flames and the sheriff hasn't shown up to tell us it's time to go.

There is a ton of devastation here. I've come to the conclusion that tornadoes are preferable to fires. When you survive a tornado, you're more likely to find a few belongings. With a fire, it's just so rare to find anything that's survived intact. Tornado warnings and watches last hours; the tornado itself is over in minutes. Fires last for hours that actually stretch into days. Fires rain smoke and ash for days; they have to be fought. Tornadoes are gone as quickly as they arrive. The commonality lies in the ability of both to bring out the best in people during the worst of times; to cause one to evaluate their priorities; and to remind people that memories and life are to be cherished and treasured; the rest is just stuff.

the victory & defeat of shopping

today, i bit the bullet and went shopping. it's the time of year when i typically find i need to add a few items to my closet. i was dreading this trip. i knew i'd gained some weight. i was not looking forward to seeing the tags in the back of the clothes.

i was fairly sure i'd need a 16... a size i haven't needed for 3 & 1/2 years; a size i'd promised myself i'd never need again. i took the 16's to the dressing room and they were clearly TOO BIG! i was thrilled and went in search of the 14's. whew. i was relieved. my comfortable, i feel healthy, look healthy weight has me wearing 12's and the occasional 10's. Knowing I only need to drop a single pant size feels really doable! i was very excited and relieved.

but then came my shopping defeat. there's an adorable pair of nine west shoes i've been ogling since i first saw them. they went on sale so i decided i could afford to splurge. i couldn't wait to wear them. and then, they didn't fit well. i tried several different sizes, all without success. i looked for another pair i also really liked, not as much but i liked. and they didn't have anything close to my size. defeated by the shoe department, i took my smaller-than-i-thought-i'd-need jeans and went home, mostly smiling.