class of '97

My high school reunion was scheduled the saturday after thanksgiving. I was planning on attending with david and my friend, Grace, and her husband. Both Grace and I deliberated if we really wanted to go. Our initial unwillingness to go was countered by our insatiable curiousity about how our classmates turned out. We both wished we could be flys on the wall looking at everyone. Also, I have to admit that I wanted to attend so that I could show off my cute husband and newfound sense of style (don't think I had one 10 years ago). When my friend told me she couldn't go because her youngest was sick, I decided I didn't want to go either. It cost $60/person and I wouldn't have a buddy that knew classmates that I did and could gossip with me about them. Besides, there was something in me that cared too much about what those people thought of me. I certainly cared in high school but to care now because I want to prove something to all of them seems a bit more than I can justify. It seemed like going would be giving these people (who I have had no interaction with in 10 years) too much power. Overall, I don't feel much regret from missing it. And there is always the 20 yr reunion--though I doubt I will look as good as I do now.

random things to be thankful for

Inspired by my friend, Cristy's blog about random things she is thankful for, I thought I would come up with one of my own (not in any particular order).

1. The Office on DVD
2. David wanting to hold the leash while we walk the dog.
3. car heaters
4. remote controls
5. church starting at 11am
6. decaf coffee with half n half
7. barnes & noble
8. garage sales
9. my fingernails
10. inside jokes
11. computer keyboards that have the right amount of give with each key.
12. when it gets dark at 8pm rather than 5pm
13. the word "eclectic"
14. scotch tape
15. catalogues
16. coffee rani (you would have to be from covington or mandeville, la to understand this one).
17. calm hot tea from starbucks
18. my new last name being as simple as 'Hogue'
19. hot baths
20. Baby Blues comic strip

mistletoe marketplace, part 2

Last weekend, my parents and I attended the mistletoe marketplace. I don't know if there was a parking space further away from the entrance as ours but that was how crowded it was. We paid to get in ($10/person) and got going. My impression of the event was different than a few years ago. I didn't feel out of place or think that people were ridiculously overdressed which probably means that the attitude of the event has changed or that I've lived in Jackson too long. Anyway, the dress code was no big deal. However, what did grab my attention was how packed it was. You could not walk a straight line. To get anywhere you had to weave in and out of folks and then stand in line(!) to even get inside any of the booths to shop. We spent a total 15-20 minutes inside and decided that it wasn't worth it and left. I was feeling claustrophobic and wondered why everyone else didn't mind being packed in like sardines. I find no joy in fighting the crowds and will probably never venture to the mistletoe marketplace again--at least not in the next 3 to5 years.

mistletoe marketplace

I am attempting to go to the mistletoe marketplace again this year. I have gone once before and enjoyed the idea of having all these vendors in one spot. However, I was completely surprised to see women dressed to the nines (high heeled shoes, nice clothes) to go shopping. Comfort would seem important since you are walking around a huge floor for several hours--but not to these ladies. I have this rebellious streak that wants to walk in there with jeans, tennis shoes, and my LSU t-shirt just to fly in the face of all the froo-froo, ole miss lovin', haute couture wearin' ladies. I think I would do it too if it were not too cold for me to wear a short-sleeved shirt. We'll see how it goes. I may have a different impression this year.

some observations...

Has anyone ever noticed that presbyterians don't like to use the word "Jesus"? I will hear "Lord" and I will hear "Christ". If I use "Jesus", I see people begin to pale and look uncomfortable. Perhaps they believe I speak too familiar of our Messiah or perhaps they think that I'm a baptist (the worst of crimes for some presbyterians, unfortunately). Sometimes I will use "Jesus" just to ruffle unspoken feathers. This is His Name after all. Isn't it silly that some presbyterians will not use "Jesus" because it sounds less elegant than "Christ"? Is this just me? I get the same expression, by the way, if I speak too emotionally about my relationship to Jesus. If I were to say "I love Jesus" to some presbyterians, I would get a funny look and probably misjudged for someone who is not theologically bent. They would be wrong.

Also, here is another observation of Christian culture down here in Jackson. There are some people who don't talk about God at all. They start to look weirded out if I mention the role Jesus plays in my life. It is almost as if they think it is uncool to talk about things like that--as if it should be taken for granted. These people claim to be believers and I give them the benefit of the doubt (I have seen some fruit) but I can't have a spiritual conversation with them for anything. What is up with that? They seem to think that to talk about it would overspiritualize an issue. I get that there are Christians who will overspiritualize and that is not a healthy way to go, but must we move to the extreme opposite? Huh?!

I am not pregnant

Ok, now that I've stated that I can freely tell the world that I hate feeling nauseous which I am at the very moment. Blech!!

you can't beat free

I gotta call last week from some guys from "Specialty Brides" (so they said) telling me that I was signed up for something or so and won. Ok, I am really skeptical about this voice message and I don't call back. They call again and this time I answer. This very charismatic (too much so) tells me that I can have a condo for 7nights free if I go to listen to this sh peal (sp?) about some cookware and that if I want to get the free condo I have to bring my husband. I get the time, place, and date. I tell David about it knowing that he will feel as suspicious as I had. But at this point, I think that I could at least try it out. I was told that I didn't have to pay ANYTHING and we would get some free food too. David did feel suspicious and begrudged going (understandably since it seemed we were letting ourselves get duped). We walked into the hotel where the showcase was located telling each other that no matter what, we will not buy a thing. We will take the vacation if they give it as freely as they stated but that we weren't really expecting it to be as straight-forward as all that. We listened to a hyper guy talk about this cookware. It WAS really neat cookware and a very convincing demonstration. If I had not had cookware and was engaged and needed to register for it, I would have chosen this stuff. Nonetheless, that was not in our pact. We got the free condo. We get to choose from a variety of spots as well as get some great discounts for a year--like 50% off a cruise, or all-inclusive resort, or 4 or 5 star hotels. I'm glad David was with me because I would have bought something. I felt so guilty walking away with this vacation and not buying even a knife (which by the way cost over $100). I imagined the salesmen being disgruntled. David didn't feel bad. He was quite ready say, "We are not interested. Give us our vacation now, please."

If you get a call like this from Specialty Brides you should definitely go and acquire a free condo. I can't yet attest to what it will be like but I do have a list of great places to go like Gatlinburg, Lake Tahoe, Colorado Rockies, Orlando, Daytona Beach...etc. I guess I was less suspicious about it overall (not that I didn't have reservations) because growing up we took many free vacations through timeshare companies trying to get us to buy their stuff. We would enjoy a nice place and maybe spend a few hours with a sales rep as he/she shows us their property (with no intention to buy). You just can't beat free.

ouchie!

Yesterday morning I dropped off Cora at the vet so that she could get spayed. I felt terrible when I had to put her in one of their cages and walk away. I could hear her thinking, "Where are you going, Mama?" and "Come back." I could hear her crying and barking while I was in the lobby. When I picked her up in the afternoon she was still out of it because of the anesthesia but I still thought in the back of my mind that she just was forlorn. I interpreted her look as a you-betrayed-me look. I know this is good for her and the population of dogs, in general, but I still hated that I caused that pain. She kept us up a bit during the night because of her pain and restlessness. Poor thing.

This morning she is feeling much better. She was happy though she still felt pain and was moving slower than usual (which was a nice change of pace, actually). All the same, we are glad to have her back!!

at a loss for words

I don't have anything to say so I thought I would post a bunch of random pictures. How's that?


On a big boat in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico watching a song and dance show while we waited for our bartender to take our order for some yummy drinks.


My wonderful, fabulous God-send of a prayer group. We've been meeting together for a year now and I am so thankful for their friendships. Old picture though, because lady with the baby, Katie, has moved to Maryland and girl to the right of her, Megumi (Meg for short), is 6 mos. pregnant. But Laura Christel and I look the same.

Yes, I realize that this picture requires some explanation. Somewhere in that explanation are the words Harry Potter and book release and fanatics.



Cora's surrogate grandparents enjoying her rambunctiousness.

Cora at about 4 mos. old. She refused to pose for the camera.

retired

David informed Twin Lakes on Saturday that it was time for us to move on. So, it is official that after almost 3 years I'm not going to be spending one weekend a month there anymore. I feel very sentimental about it. I have a strong feeling of loyalty to that place and those people. As I mentioned on another post "they are my kind of people". I feel so at home there. It was a good job AND I met my husband there. Don't get me wrong, though. I am sad but I am not sorry that I won't have to spend winter nights on a golf cart with no heat and freezing winds in my face to all hours of the night while we wait for guests to go to bed. I get cold just thinking about it. Since I am making more money through the long stint of substituting I have been doing we are covered financially. Also, David was asked if he was interested in tutoring a Veritas student. So, that may come to fruition as well. The timing for leaving TL is just right it seems from both ends.