Breaking the silence

Hello blog world!

Well, I have been out of the blogoverse (did I make that up or is it something nerdy I shouldn't say?) for a looooooooong time.

Between work and Stephen and the holiday seasonsss, I have found very little time for blogging.

And, to be even more honest, very little to blog about.

The most exciting thing to happen round here in the last few months (besides my 2 year wedding anniversary and our trip to WA for Christmas, which, while blog-worthy, happened so fast and went by like blurs!), is that my best Anna is illustrating a silly little children's book I wrote.

I've never been great at writing.

Don't get me wrong - I could knock out a solid B+ or A- research paper or reading response or other academic type writing.

And I've always been good at noticing other's good writing (which is why I love to read).

While in college, the most creative writing I did was for my poetry workshop and then the poetry writing class I took.

Poetry was not my forte, but I was actually proud of a few of my poems.

But not real writing. Not like, sit down and write a story writing.

But one day, bored and bored and bored, I wrote a little story for Stephen about 2 monkeys in the jungle who become friends.

Like any good husband, he loved it! And encouraged me to write more.

So then I had an idea for a story about a shark.

It stank.

And then, my best Anna drew a picture of a penguin.

(For those of you who don't know me well, I LOVE penguins!)

And the story just fell into my head.

So Anna is drawing the pictures to go with my story and pretty soon, there will be a real live (not really published but sill super cool for us) book, written by Heather Cowden and illustrated by Anna Robertson.

Years from now, when there are little Cowden's running 'round, I'll have a little illustrated storybook to read them that I wrote! And that Aunt Anna illustrated.

The same goes for Anna when she's got some babies!

It's cool and fun and I'm excited to see the finished product.

Penguin in Love, not coming soon to any bookstore, but coming soon to live with me!

Cowden's Rentals

Dear Anna,

This post is mostly for you. I think it is a fabulous idea for us to trade movies or tv shows! Such fun! Plus, who doesn't love getting mail.

Love, Heather

(P.S. If any of my other friends want to "rent" from us, please feel free to make a request!)

TV Shows:

Arrested Development (All seasons (1-3))

Best of Will Ferrell (vol. 1; SNL series)

Flight of the Conchords (season 1)

Friends (seasons 2, 3, 4, 5, 7)

Gilmore Girls (seasons 4, 5, 6, 7)

How I Met Your Mother (seasons 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

The Office (seasons 2, 3, 4, 5)

Movies:

27 Dresses

Alex & Emma

The Bachelor

Batman Begins

Batman Forever

Batman & Robin

Benny & Joon

Bewitched

Bridget Jones Diary

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason

The Dark Knight

Down with Love

Elf

Enchanted

Ever After

Fantasia 2000

First Wives Club

Footloose

Galaxy Quest

Get Over It

Grease 2

Hairspray

Harry Potter: Prisoner of Azkaban

Hope Floats

Hot Rod

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Seuss cartoon)

The Incredible Hulk (with E. Norton)

Iron Man

Iron Man 2

Joe vs. the Volcano

Leatherheads

Love Actually

Night at the Roxbury

Oceans 11, 12, & 13

One Fine Day

The Pink Panther

Prince of Egypt

P.S. I Love You

The Producers

Robin Hood - Men in Tights

Robin Hood (Disney cartoon)

The Sandlot

School of Rock

Sleepless in Seattle

Someone Like You

Step Up

Transformers

Walk the Line

The Wedding Date

When Harry Met Sally

Where the Heart Is

While You Were Sleeping

Wimbeldon

X-Men, X-2, X-Men 3 - The Last Stand

X-Men Origins - Wolverine

You've Got Mail

WOOOOO!

Here I go again...

I may never actually be a grown-up.

It's true.

For although I went to college, graduated with a Bachelor's in English, got married (and moved to Texas - ewww), I apparently still have no idea what I want to be when I grow up.

I've had approximately 1,000 jobs since I graduated.

OK not 1,000, but it feels like it.

And all the things I think I want to do seem just outside my reach.

For instance, with my English degree I thought I'd pursue a position in editing. Masters of Editing program, internship, then entry-level copy editing...

Um, God apparently had other plans, cause I married Stephen and we moved to Texas.

So there went the Masters, and the (unpaid) internships (cause although he may not look it, Stephen is a gold-digger).

And while I still get to use my editor-ing skills on small stuff at my current job and editing Stephen's school papers, I'm not that crazy about editing anymore. I think maybe I'd like it, if I could get my editing dream job, but that dream has kind of fizzled.

I've toyed with the idea of trying culinary school again. There are schools around with programs I could enter, but it would have to be part time, and once I was finished, even if I got a good job at a good restaurant, I'd probably work most evenings for dinner and this would be a tiring thing with Stephen in school and nights being my best time to see him.

And then there are kids. Someday (I emphasize, SOMEDAY), we'd like to have a couple kids. And, while I know that most people have jobs when they are preggo and then after the kids, suddenly, I feel like I could be a stay-at-home momma...

How weird is that?

I promise, this is not an option I would have considered in my younger days. But, lately, I can see it.

So I don't know. I feel sort of lost. Like a high-school senior who has no idea what they want to do after graduation. Like a kid on Career Day who just doesn't know what they want to be when they grow up.

But here are the things I do know: Jesus loves me, even in my indecision. And he knows what I'm going to do even if I don't. Stephen loves me and is incredibly patient with my job switching and my unknowingness. My family and friends love me, even if they didn't know all this before reading my post.

So at least I have a few constants in my sea of inconsistency.

And the constants are my favorite part.

An apology of sorts

Let me just tell you:

It is kind of hard to be funny when life is boring.

Not that my life with Stephen isn't happy (cause you know he will read this :)

It is VERY HAPPY!

I love him, I love being with him.

But my job isn't very exciting.

And I still don't have very many friends who I could just call up to hang out.

So my witty side is becoming wilted.

At the beginning of May, I made a summer reading list for myself!

I've already read all the books (except 1 - Anna Karenina. So boring. And weird. And all about adultery. All things that are offensive to me)

I wanted to blog about the awesome weekend I spent with my friends (Anna, Emily and Kristin - You know who you are!!), but it already feels like so long ago and all the stories are of the "you-just-had-to-be-there" variety.

The best part about last week was when Stephen and I definitely (maybe?) decided that we aren't going to move, so we hung up a bunch of posters and got a few new ones.

I did a 1000 piece puzzle (with some assistance ((ok a lot of assistance)) from Stephen) and I glued it together and we're going to hang that up too... Someday.

But-- On Friday the 10th of June, my sista SARAH arrives!!! This will be the greatest thing (no offense to all the other things/people in my life, but I haven't seen my sister since January)!!

And then in July, Stephen and I are planning a trip to the KCMO area to see his family and some of our friends (Anna, Emily and Kristin I hope!)..

So maybe after these events, I'll have some funny to share.

My sista and friends will help water the witheredness of my wit and I'll come back with a blog post so epic your socks won't just fall off -- they'll melt!

Muahhahahahahahahaha!

I love socks.

I have spoken!

I'm back!!! (For now)

I am a slacker.

You have been deprived of my awesome blog.

The truth: My creativity was swallowed by a giant sea monster.
--Not Nessie, she's gentle.

No, this monster is ugly. And mean. And a little bit sadistic.

His name, you ask?

Adult-ness!

Or maybe it's getting old-ness.

But lately, I feel a little purpose-less.

(that is a lot 0f-ess!)

Stephen has started his graduate program, which he seems to be enjoying so far.

It's a lot of reading, and he's gone a lot.

So I find myself at home, watching tv or playing on facebook to fill the hours.

What I need is other ways to fill my time, cause Fb is only fun for so long and I think I've watched everything we own on DVD at least 3 times.

So, here is my list of ways to fill my time:
(Please feel free to add to my list)

1. Get a library card- I used to read all the time. But lack of time and/or motivation has caused me to think I don't like reading anymore. This is false! I just need new material. Waco has 3 public libraries! And, now that Stephen has his Baylor ID, we can check stuff out from the Baylor libraries too!

2. Get a membership to The Center- One of the bigger churches here in town has a small fitness center. The memberships are pretty cheap for area ministers and their wives. They have a pool and a cardio floor. And some other stuff I'd probably never use, but I'd use those 2! So that could be good.

3. Make photo albums- I have a ton of pictures. Literally, I have a box full of pictures that weighs a ton. And then there are all the pictures on my computer that I can print out. Stephen and I have been talking about starting photo albums but, due to lack of time and funds, haven't yet. So now that I have some time and (thanks to Rush week at the bookstore) cash, this may be one of my projects!

4. Become culinarily creative again- It was once my dream to attend culinary school. And while I still enjoy cooking and baking, I just don't have much desire to be fancy in the kitchen. Till now-- with extra time and an extreme desire to do something, I can get new recipes and try new things! Plus I'm totally bored with all my usual dinner recipes.

5. Bucket list- I realize that there are some items on my bucket list that will be difficult for me to accomplish by myself, here in Waco (like riding on a cargo ship with Kristin Edwards- nearly impossible alone and in Waco), but I think there are a few things I can cross off the list. And maybe I'll add a few things to my Murtaugh list in the process (*see my Murtaugh list post from several months ago if you don't get this reference)

6. ??????

I am open to further suggestions. Or visits. Cause a visit from one of ya'll would definitely make me happier than anything on this list.

So, now, I'm going to get ready for bed. Cause I'm old and go to bed at 11pm.

Lame!

Giving Thanks

Well, I'm going to be cliche for a moment.

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of year.

I love fall, cooler weather, sweaters, and all that.

I love spending time with people I love, like my super awesome husband.

Being in Texas has made me realize how blessed I have been and still am today.

While I am far from my family and most of my friends, God gave me Stephen.

And even though it's been a tough almost-year for the two of us, I would not trade our first year of marriage for anything.

I am thankful for computers and Internet-- thanks to Skype, I was able to see my family and talk to them yesterday. My mom, my Nanny, and my 2 sisters (Dad was sleeping off the turkey)

I am thankful for airplanes-- Stephen's parents were able to come visit and we got to share an early Thanksgiving with them.

I am thankful for cell phones-- Though I am many miles from my closest friends, I can text and talk to them regularly.

I am thankful for the people that we have met here in Texas-- it was very lonely our first few months in Waco, without a church family or friends. But now we have both! And Stephen and I both have good jobs, working with good people.

God has been so faithful and I am confident that He will continue to be faithful.

To all of my friends and family, I love you!

And I hope you all had happy Thanksgivings!

Comparable

This is probably one of the funniest things I've seen.

It is comparable to some of the funniest events in my life.

Maybe it's just that not too much funny stuff has happened to me, but I choose to believe that everyone would think this is just as funny as I do.

The people at the UBS Spirit Shop seem to think it's just as funny as I do.

And here is what happened:

A few days ago, close to closing time, one of the guys I work with, Steven (not my husband Stephen, a different Steven) found 3 blue post-it notes under the hat rack.

Normally this would not be that interesting.

However, the contents of these 3 blue post-it notes cracked us up. For like 20 minutes.

We spent a good amount of time speculating the origin of these 3 blue post-it notes.

And came up with some interesting theories.

So we saved the post-it notes and moved on.

And then-- last night--

WE FOUND A 4th BLUE POST-IT NOTE!!!

Yes, oh yes, Steven wandered back to clean up again and, under the very same hat rack where the first 3 blue post-it notes were discovered, we found the 4th post-it note.

The story continued.

I will now share with you the contents of these 4 blue post-it notes (with all original line breaks and misspellings):

Bro/hubby = docs
antique casa 4 smmer
HUGE garden
something strange in casA
room upstairs = old
plAyroom
wallpaper torn
She isnt well
hubby dont want her
to write

Mary takes care
of baby?
the paper REALLY
bugs her
she dont wanna be
sent to weir Mitchell
but she will be if
she dont get
better soon

she cries alot when
Shes alone
Now she LOVES
wallpaper
follow pattern w/
eyes = Good as
gymnastics
baby = well and comfy
she tries to tell

(and this is where the third post it left us on the edge of our seats!)

hubby she may look
well but shes sick
in the head & he said
Yah Right
shes gettin better
caught hubby/jeannie
looking at it
woman in wallppr
creeps at daytime

Right?? Isn't that awesome!!!

Ok, so now, I want to hear your theories.

And let's be creative people.

The most obvious answer is boring. And we came up with it already.

Your job is to dazzle me with your theories.

The most ingenious theory wins a secret prize!

And once you've shared your ideas, I'll tell you the ones we came up with!

Now get cracking!

Long-Distance Friendships

I'm going to make a confession...

Currently, I am juggling several long-distance friendships.

Are you shocked? Well, at least it's not several something elses worse!

I am happy to report, that, for the most part, it's working.

I have a weekly phone date with Emily Iler. We stay pretty updated with each others lives. We usually talk for over an hour and almost run out of things to say! In fact, a few times we've made up stories to entertain one another. Although, recently life has been more exciting. I love Emily and I am very VERY glad that we have been able to stay close friends.

Just this week I made plans for a second weekly phone date with Rachel Greene. :)
This just fills my heart with joy, because Rachel Greene is AWESOME! Truly. We talk about life and reminisce about college days and quote TV shows and movies to one another-- it's great fun. Up until last week, our chatting has been sporadic, but now that we have scheduled a weekly phone date, I am super duper happy!

I have (nearly) daily facebook conversations going with Kristin Edwards and Anna Robertson .
Kristin and I trade job searching woes, tell fascinating stories, and basically write really long posts which (I think) are an indication of how much we miss each other! We also have plans to visit and/or build an awesome castle.

Today I managed to secure a phone date with the above-said Anna! Let me tell you, folks, I am stoked. Yes, we facebook back and forth frequently, but it's not the same as phone talking. And apparently I've missed out on some good things in her life, so I'm excited to talk with her.

I talk several time a week with Sarah Lewis, and we've made plans to watch a few movies together (via phone)! I am excited for this. I think our watching a movie while on the phone together is a brilliant plan. Yes, I love Sarah Lewis bunches and I am glad that our friendship is solid even across the miles. Also, I hear she's planning to visit me! Can we say woo-hoo?

These long-distance friendships are doing well. They are thriving, one could say.

However, not all of my LDF's are solid:

I am slightly failing with my Mississippi friend Andrea Brown. We text infrequently and facebook more infrequently. It's sad, cause I love her tons. I resolve to do better.

Also, I am majorly failing with one Janna Laugherty. Aside from a few texts and facebook posts, I haven't really talked to this amazing woman (who was my maid of honor) since my wedding. This makes me feel very depressed. I miss her tons and tons. And I fully admit to failing her.

So, my blog friends, I am blogging this down so that I am held accountable: I am going to continue to make these LDF's a priority. These people are so amazing and I feel pretty blessed to have such good friends. To those of you with whom I am doing well, thank you! It's a much to your credit as it is to mine that we are keeping in touch well. And to those of you with whom I am failing, I'm so sorry. I want to do better and get back in good contact with you.

I loves my LDF's, but still... I slightly blame them for my lack of desire to make friends in Waco.
They are so awesome-- why would I want other friends?

I wanna go backwards

Here's the thing:

Being an adult blows.

Bills, jobs, and responsibility.

The only good thing I got out of becoming an adult was Stephen.

So that is why I've decided I want to go back. Back to high school.

I'm sure some of you are staring at your computer screen with mouths agape.

I'm sure some of you are saying, "WHAT?!?!?" with a very incredulous tone.

The question on every one's mind is undoubtedly, "Who wants to go back to high school?"

I do.

And here's why:
Before I turned 18, my responsibilities were pretty limited. I helped around the house. I did my homework. Yep, that was about it. Now, not only am I responsible for a job, an apartment, and etc, but I'm also taking care of another fully grown human. We do share the responsibilities, but still. It's a lot.

I took for granted all the things my parents did for me. They fed me, clothed me, let me drive their cars, let me spend their money, talked to me, counseled me, loved me, and let me move to Missouri after I graduated. If I went back, I could thank them more and make sure they knew they were appreciated.

In high school, "money" was something I took from my mom and dad. I did not earn it or budget it or save it. I spent it. Now that I have pesky things like bills zipping into my mailbox every couple days, I think I'd rather go back to not caring about monies.


No one ever went anywhere. I mean, I think a few of my friends moved away in elementary school, but by the time I went to jr. high, I pretty much knew every one. I had the same group of friends from 9th grade until graduation. It was awesome. There was none of this moving to different states nonsense, like I have to deal with now. (BTW: I MISS MY FRIENDS)

Innocence. Bliss. This was high school.

Was it all candy mountain and rose petals?

No!

Most of the time, I hated high school. It was awkward and weird and... well, high school.


But it was a simpler time. And these days, with adulthood stretching endlessly before me, I long for the simpler days.

True story.

Hello children!

Well, look at me, blogging again.

I just can't stay away.

Also, I've had many a request for a new blog.

Apparently, ya'll can't stay away either!

(Yes, I said ya'll, I live in Texas and my parents are from Tennessee! Don't judge.)

So as some of you may know, last week I got to go to my little hometown of Federal Way, Washington!

It was a delightful trip, even though I had to leave my Husby behind.

We survived; thank you for your concern.

Like I said, the trip was super amazing. We did a whole lot of shopping, went walking round the block, took partial family photos (partial because Stephen wasn't there), went to Rachael's graduation, ate way too much food at Mongolian Grill, and basically just spent a whole lot of time together.

I love my family. They are amazing people and I wish that Stephen and I did not live so far away from them.

However, I feel completely blessed that I was able to spend 6 days with them (and I am VERY grateful that my parents paid for my plane ticket; without that, I would not have been able to go).

Still, it was not all fun and games. I had some pretty trying moments also. And because my downfalls are usually very amusing, I will choose to share one of these moments with you!

We took partial family photos in a little park near downtown Seattle. It was a beautiful day: 70 degrees, sunny, a few wispy clouds, a gentle breeze- basically the perfect Seattle summer day.

Stupidly, I wore heels.

This may not seem that stupid, but keep in mind that we were in a PARK!

And also, it's been several months since I've worn heels and I am not practiced in wearing heels.

So the photographer found this really cool looking, low-branched tree for us to pose under, and I was having a hard time balancing on my heels.

Then, as I headed to the tree to pose for my pictures, I was looking at the ground to try and step lightly, and my heel went all crooked.

In my haste, I over-compensated and ran head-first into a low-hanging tree branch.

I saw those little stars flying round my head, like in the cartoons.

A lump formed almost immediately.

I cried.

And laughed a little too.

And feel verrrrrrry sheepish.

So that is my story. It doesn't sound as funny told in blog form, but I'm sure ya'll chuckled a little anyway.

I miss my fam a ton already. Hopefully, in the not too distant future, we will live close enough so that we can see each other every few days instead of every 6 months or so.

The End.

(maybe I'll be back)

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

No, don't worry. I know it isn't Christmas time.

It's not Thanksgiving, or Easter, or even my birthday.

It was Memorial day yesterday, but that still isn't what I am talking about.

No, this magical event begins tonight.

"Tonight?" you ask, very confused as to what could be so exciting on a Tuesday night...

Well, it isn't Glee, as much as I like Glee. This is bigger than Glee. This is better than Glee.

This, my friends, is Wipeout.

WIPEOUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's right, John Henson and John Anderson return tonight to bring us endless entertainment as people fall on their faces (and other parts of their bodies) in pursuit of lots and lots of money.

It may baffle you as to why I enjoy this show. You may think, "How horrible! She likes to watch people fall down..."

And you wouldn't be wrong. Ok, you'd be sort of wrong.

I LOVE watching people fall down.

Please don't mistake what I am saying; it's not like I'm laughing when a little kid falls down on the playground.

These are grown people, who AUDITION to be a show where the goal is to MAKE you fall down so that Americans everywhere can laugh at you.

The hosts, John and John, purposely exaggerate a character trait (or even physical feature) that you possess and mock it the whole show. They are almost as funny to listen to as it is funny to watch the people fall.

Even if you can't understand my love of Wipeout, you should tune in at least once this season.

It's going to be hilarious.

I can still remember the first time I saw an episode of Wipeout. Anna and Kristin were with me I believe, but I don't think Janna was there. We were sitting in the living room, flipping through channels, and there it was. I don't think any of us knew what it was, but after about 10 minutes, I was hooked. From then on, I scheduled my homework around Wipeout.

Then last summer, when I lived with Nanny and Aunt Ethel, Stephen and I both looked forward to Wipeout night. It was a sad day when one or both of us had to work. Even Nanny and Aunt Ethel would watch with us! That was some hilarious times.

I am excited for this. Wipeout somehow means summer and good times ahead. While it isn't the same without Anna, Nanny, and Aunt Ethel, I am excited to have Stephen to share this magical time with.

After all, it's the most wonderful time of the year!

Wipeout season 3 is here!!!!!!!!! ABC, 8pm, 7pm central, Tuesday nights.

Watch it. Love it. I have spoken.

I am old.

Yes, older than dirt.

I know I have written several posts about being old and stuff, and it's because I am super duper old feeling.

For example, I slept about 9 hours last night. And I woke up thinking, "What did I just do? I slept way too long!"

As a teen, you can never sleep too long.

Stephen and I worked at the bookstore this afternoon, 12-5, which is the whole time the store is open on Saturdays. We spent some time rearranging shelves and every time I knelt down, I creaked. And getting back up I creek ed.

I don't remember being so creaky as a teen.

This evening we went on a date. Yes, a Date. Dinner, ice cream, and a movie!

Dinner was BBQ from Uncle Dan's restaurant. While it was good, I had no veggies. This troubled me.

When a teen, no veggies = happy.

We went to see Iron Man 2. It was loud. I came home with a roaring headache. Literally, a lion is inside my head, roaring.

And then, I am sitting here typing this blog, and the light from my screen is killing me.

It's also past 11pm and I am sleepy.

I'M SO OLD.

I'm too old for this stuff: kneeling on the floor, no veggies at dinner, loud movies in the theatre.
I'm just too old for this stuff.

I am not, however, too old for: dates with my husband, vanilla Frostys, or texting my friends.

And now, I will move my old bones to bed. Partly cause I want to sleep instead of hear my headache-lion and partly cause I am old and sleepy and have to get up early.

Musical life

I have this secret desire.

I want to be in a Broadway musical.

Don't laugh. It's true.

Now, I realize that for the last several years I have been slightly adamant about the fact that I no longer enjoy singing in public.

That is still very very true.

However, I can't help it.

Whenever I'm alone in the apartment, I crank up some tunes and I sing my little heart out.

Mostly in the shower, but still.

Or in the car, when I'm driving somewhere without Stephen (which isn't often) I like to belt it out.

The closest I've come to really singing in public in the last 2 years is at the karaoke bar with my sister Sarah.

But that doesn't really count. (It doesn't count as singing in public unless at least half, no, at least 3/4 of the audience is sober.

And yet, there is a very strong part of me that wants to perform again.

One of the happiest times of my life was during the 2 weeks of performances for Children of Eden, the musical I was in my senior year of high school.

Music wise, it was the best performance experience of my life.

Every night, I would go in and do my makeup and put on my costume for the first part of act 1. And the show night high would start.

And then I'd start to drag just before intermission.

But in the opening number of act 2, I'd get my second wind and I'd feel even higher than in act 1.

And then, at the end, when we all stood and took our bows, it just felt magical.

There is something magical about being on stage.

It was a high I'd not felt until those 2 weeks and I haven't felt it since.

Performing in a choir/ensemble isn't the same.

In the musical, I got to be someone else. I felt what that character felt through the music.

When I sing show tunes in the shower, or when I'm cleaning the kitchen, I get to pretend that I am in this other place and that I am someone else.

It's freeing.

So there you have it.

My dark secret, that isn't a secret anymore, because I posted it on my blog.

I'm pretty sure I won't be in a Broadway musical. Shoot, I doubt I'd even have the courage to audition for one.

And I suppose I could try to do community theatre or something.

But it's not the same.

The big production, the fancy lights and sets, the feel of the big audience, the band or orchestra playing...

I guess I'll just watch Glee instead!

What I have learned from marriage:

In my five months of marriage, I have learned many things.

Many things.

I could make a list of all the things I have learned so far, but instead, I will focus on an aspect that has surprised me recently.

If you have ever lived with me (and about 1/2 of the readership of my blog has lived with me: my mom, Sarah, Janna, Anna, Stephen), then you know that I enjoy my alone time.

I have always liked to have time to myself and time to do my own thing. Some might call me independent.

But lately, I've realized that I need a lot less alone time than I used to.

It's strange.

For the first month of our marriage, Stephen and I didn't have jobs. We spent time organizing our new apartment and trying to figure out Waco.

And then even after Stephen got his part-time job at the bookstore and I was looking for a job, we still spent a lot of time together.

So I suppose that I grew used to having him around. When he'd go to work, I'd be stuck at home. Sure, putting in online applications took up some time and so did facebook. But eventually, I'd run out of things to do.

And it wasn't just that I'd get bored, it was that I got tired of being alone.

This is a very odd thing for me to discover about myself.

I never used to mind being alone.

I had my own room the first year I lived in the dorm at SBU.

And I'm sure my former roommates can all vouch for the fact that I liked to go into my room and read or study and just be alone for a while.

And Stephen has ruined that.

Maybe when I get a full-time job, I can go back to having some independence.

Or maybe once I make friends here in Waco, I'll start to want my alone time again.

Any of my current friends want to move to Texas???

**Special Mother's Day Weekend Listing**

Today, my loving husband and I went grocery shopping at Wal-Mart.

We basically had no groceries in the house, so we piled items high on the rolly-register thing.

I think the cashier woman felt like she needed to talk to us, maybe because we had so much stuff or maybe because she is just a friendly person, but at any rate, the first thing she said to me was, "Are you a mother?"

AHHHHHHHHH!
That's what happened in my head.

I think I blushed and sputtered until Stephen said, no we've only been married about 5 months; if she was a mom, we'd be in trouble!

Then we all awkwardly laughed.

But it made me think:

Though I am not a mother, I am very thankful for mine and for Stephen's and for all my friends mothers, because without them I wouldn't have me, my husband, or any of my friends!

So, in honor of my mother, Juanita Lewis, who is, in my opinion, a truly amazing momma, this Sunday my weekend listing is a tribute to her awesomeness:

Top 10 reasons my mom is awesome:
10. She has aged gracefully, so I know that as I get older I'll look good.

9. She is the smartest person I know. Any time I have a problem or a question, I go to her first... (After I've talked to Stephen.)

8. Somehow she finds time to be a great mother, wife, daughter, friend and supervisor at work. (I don't know how she does it!)

7. She is an encourager. To everyone. Not just me, but to EVERYONE. She writes me little notes or calls and leaves me messages to let me know I'm loved and she's proud of me and she's praying for me. She does it for Stephen now too.

6. She used to scratch my back while I was going to sleep. :)

5. She always has time for me. Even if it's not right at that moment, she'll make time
for me later.

4. The only way she will jump into water is if she can do a somersault.

3. She made up a song to sing to us at night.

2. She has the greatest and most contagious laugh ever.

And the number 1 reason my mom is awesome is:
She loves me soooooooooooo much!

There are at least a bazillion other things I could list, so this is just a short summary.

I love you Mom! And to all mothers, Happy Mother's Day.

And to those of you who aren't yet mothers, I plan on staying that way for a while...
How 'bout you?

I have the attention span of a... OH! Glitter!

My attention span has greatly shortened since my graduation from SBU.

I could blame this on my husband, but I think the blame lies with Texas.

And I thought I had a short attention span in college.

It's true. I did my fair share of procrastinating. I focused in classes pretty well, I think. Unless it was choir with Dr. Campbell. Oops.

But my attention is diverted so quickly now! And I think it's because I have been bored so often. While Stephen is at work, I search for jobs and play on FB. That's about it.

Sure, I clean up the apt, but it doesn't get too messy when I'm cleaning it 2 or 3 times a day...

We don't do a big breakfast or lunch, so I don't have much to do for or after those meals.

I've read all the books in my personal library since we moved here. But it took me DAYS to finish some books. Which is just silly, cause I used to be able to sit and read for hours! Just this week, I started reading The Great Gatsby, which is one of my favorites. I've had to stop after every chapter and do something else. I just can't get hooked. Maybe it's cause I've read it so many times?

Stephen's attention span has decreased too, but I don't think he is as bad as me yet. We sometimes watch a movie with or after dinner, but in the last 2 weeks we haven't made it straight through any of them. We pause them and do other things. Tonight we watched X-Men III: The Last Stand, and I think we paused it about 8 times. To make dinner, to get seconds, to refill our water, to clean up after dinner, to go to the bathroom, to frost a cake I made earlier today (strawberry with chocolate frosting! YUM.), to play on FB. And it's been this way for weeks.

When did I put up the post about our super secret project? Um, like a month ago?? Yeah, it's still not done. I think we work on it maybe every other day... Maybe. We sit down to work on it and end up having staring contests or with Stephen asking for a back rub or me asking him to scratch my back...

I try to listen to music... but I always feel like I need to do something with my hands or sing really really loudly. I usually opt for sing really really loudly, until I fear people 6 blocks away can hear me. But I tend to view this like a child: if I can't see them, they can't hear me.

The last 2 or 3 days, I haven't even had the focus to write a full blog post for all of you! I'd be so distracted that it would be 11:30 before I'd remember I hadn't blogged and then I'd type some silly little nothing just so I could say I blogged... I apologize, loyal fans. I apologize.

And I know what you are thinking, "Today is Saturday! Where is my super favorite Weekend Listing??" Well, I am so attention-diverted that I didn't realize I should be typing a Weekend Listing till I hit enter after that last paragraph... Boo.

Ok, Weekend Listing, Weekend Listing... What can I list??

Got it! Here are the top five places I wish I could go out to eat:
5. Panera
4. Chipotle
3. Red Robin
2. Coldstone Creamery
And the number one place: Outback Steakhouse!

I know, that was like the lamest WL ever, but you all love me! So it's ok.

And now I must leave.

Turtle!
Umbrella!
Whiskey!

P.S. A special shout-out to my super awesome sister, Sarah, who has been GBWE-ing (Golden Birthday Weekend Extravaganza) it up this weekend (and will continue tomorrow) in honor of her 25th birthday! Sister, tomorrow I will have a very special Weekend Listing-Sunday style- in honor of you! Check it out!

They call me Eeyore:

"I cannot blog tonight," says I,
For if I do, I fear I'll cry.

And then my blog would no longer be funny;
for crying makes my nose more runny.

I've no jokes to tell, or stories, or songs.
My brain is mushed up, like stir-fry in tongs.

I know that I vowed to blog daily until
"Regular work!" I could happily peal.

But, my dear friends, I spoke a bit too soon,
for my life is more dull than I once assumed.

Weekend listing??

I know you are all curious.

"Will Heather post a Weekend listing today??"

Be curious no longer; it's time for Weekend Listing -- Sunday style!

Tonight's list is inspired by some of my very bestest friends:

Anna Robertson, Janna Laugherty, Kristin Edwards, Emily Iler, and of course, my husband Stephen.

I miss my friends. They are amazing! I think that is part of the reason I am so reluctant to make friends here in Waco. I like the ones I already have; I don't want new ones!

So I am going to list one of my favorite memories with each of these hilarious and wonderful and awesome people:

1. Kristin: There was the one time when we went to the City Museum in St. Louis. For some reason, you and I wandered away from the group and went into the creepy carnivally part. We sat in an old bumper car and proceeded to try and make it move for like half an hour. A couple of guys sitting at a nearby table got hit more than once and looked at us like we were nuts. We didn't care. It was just so funny. And now we have the picture of us in the bumper car to remember that time forever!!

2. Janna: There was the time I stayed at your house for Thanksgiving. We made like 6 happy mix CD's for the drive to Peoria and we went to see Enchanted 3 times in the theatre! We also made puppy chow and watched Hairspray with your sisters. Madison asking about the flasher will always make me laugh! We watched a ton of other movies and both bought copies of Joe vs. the Volcano. That was a very happy week of Janna-time.

3. Anna: There was that time when we were roommates and, while a lot of hilarious stuff happened when we lived together, my favorite night was the night we held hands and told each other funny elementary school stories and then sang like 2 NSYNC songs. We stayed up talking super late and we kept laughing and Kristin and Janna finally had to tell us to shush cause we were being super loud. That, my friend, was legendary!

4. Emily: There was the time when you and I drove to meet in the middle-of-nowhere Kentucky last summer so that we could hang out for a few hours. The town had all those pigs and we walked around those antique stores and you bought me that hideous/gorgeous ring! (I still wish the flower hadn't fallen off..) We ate at Sonic and talked about nothing and everything and life and our other friends and how much we missed those SBU times when we were all together. It was happy and so amazing to see you. The only stinky part was that we only got to hang out for a few hours before we both had to head back home. But still, it was great times!

5: Stephen: There was that one time when we got married. I think that about says it all! (I love you)

While I have other friends (like Rachel Greene and Sarah Lewis and others) that make my heart happy too, these 5 people have been there for me for a long time and they are more than friends now. They've become a part of my family.

Miss you guys and love you bunches and bunches!

Oh the places you go...

I'd like to share a story with you. It's no secret I'm not a big fan of pets. Just ask my husband.
There are many stories I could tell about ill-fated animals that crossed my path, but I was reminded of a particular one this week.

So anyway, I was working at an apartment compound's office this week, and on the desk where I sat there was a beta fish.

This beta fish was so unhappy.

It didn't swim much or eat much. It's scales were droopy and changing colors.
It looked close to meeting the Great Porcelain Gate to the Watery Beyond.
(or something poetic like that...)

Luckily, it didn't die while I was there. But it did remind me of the escapade that occurred several years ago involving myself, my then-roommate Erin B, and two fish named Zolton and Komini.

Erin and I had moved out of Leslie hall and into an apartment several minutes from campus in Bolivar. We were really excited about having our own place. Sarah lived with us for some months in our new abode, and moved out in January. Our place seemed a little lonely after she left, so we decided there was room for a pet in our lives.

So to Wal-Mart we went! Fish, we decided, was a safe pet for us. We bought a bowl and rocks and a plant-thing and food and a net and these flower pods that grow in the water. Once we'd picked out all the accessories, we looked at the fish.

We decided we wanted to go a step above goldfish. So we purchased these fancy fish. One was gold and one was silver. We named them Zolton and Komini (cause we love Gilmore Girls). So we took them home and set them up and waited for them to be exciting.

(*Spoiler alert: FISH ARE NOT EXCITING)

Well, they didn't seem to like their new home. Within 24 hours, Zolton died. Then about 8 hours later Komini bit the dust too. (I even wrote a little poem about our dead fishes)

BUT: did you know that Wal-Mart will refund your dead fish within like 60 days??
So we took our dead fish back and got new ones.

We decided to go with the goldfish this time, cause they are a hardier fish and they are cheaper.

These little guys were named Copper and Boom (again a GG reference).

And they did pretty well. We kept their bowl clean and fed them.

Pretty soon, though, Erin and I became bored.

Cleaning a fish bowl is gross and tedious. And, again I'll say, fish are boring.

So we decided to liberate them into the pond at the Bolivar park...

We put them into cups and drove out to the park. We said our good-byes and released them one at a time.

Of course, something big and murky probably nabbed them as soon as they hit the water, but we prefer to believe they are still alive and well in the pond. Maybe they are even giant goldfish now!

This is just one of my many attempts at being a good pet owner. They have all failed.

I'm not a pet person.

But at least I didn't try to liberate a puppy into the pond at the park...

Sunday-- Weekend Listing-style

It's 9:30pm.

For some reason, any time after 8pm feels late these days.

That is probably really sad and incomprehensible to most people my age.

And I agree.

I'm only 23. I am plenty young to stay up late and go out and do things.

But I don't feel that way. I feel old these days. There are a lot of things I did when I was in college that I feel too old to do now.

So (HIMYM-style), here are the top 10 things on my Murtaugh list:
(for those of you not in the know, Murtaugh is a character from the movie Lethal Weapon who always says "I'm too old for this stuff." I've never seen the movie, but this idea is used in an episode of How I Met Your Mother.)

10. Stay up past 12pm
9. Wake up later than 10am
8. Listen to music really loud like I did in Bolivar
7. Eat pizza for more than 2 meals in a row
6. Dance in public
5. Wander the mall for hours and hours
4. Have movie (or TV show) marathons
3. Drink coffee past 6 or 7pm
2. Make friends
And the number 1 thing I'm too old to do:
Go to Wal-Mart later than 7pm!

And there we have it!

In all reality, I'm probably not too old yet to do most of these things.

But, I stick by my list. Any challengers?