Late Tuesday on Ash Wednesday

SO Let me play catch up first!  Yesterday I did weigh and I was down 2 pounds!!!  WHEW HOO!!!  However when the weather was getting so good it made me more than a LITTLE nervous about swim suit shopping this year.  It has been a while since it has been fun and I am REALLY hoping it will at least be bearable this year!

ASH Wednesday (aka the "Hey you have something on your forehead Day!")

As some of you know I was raised in the Methodist Church.  We have always participated in the season of Lent.  For many people this is an unknown concept.  Let is the 40 days leading up to Easter (not including Sunday's).  During Lent many people fast and it is a time of remember what Christ gave up for us.  I am almost through Leviticus in the Bible and although it has been a tough chapter it reminds me of the spiritual rituals we all participate in throughout the year.  Christmas Communion services are probably my favorite quickly followed by Ash Wednesday.  Years ago when I was in school at Auburn I had a close friend who had never participated in Lent decide to join me in it.  We are forever bonded by that experience and every year-to this day-we talk, catch up and discuss our plans for Lent. It is a wonderful time for us, even if we haven't talked in months.  My family has adopted her for this service and I know she will be participating with Neil tonight in Elba.  I enjoy Lent and encourage everyone to reflect on something you could do every day to remind you of what Christ did for you.  Happy Ash Wednesday!

The Big "C" on My List...Update

Sometimes it is hard to share things because if they don't happen it is even more of a let down when people keep asking about it.

Thus was the case of "Pat Watch 2011." For those who haven't studied and memorized my list from front to back let me explain.  Back in 2005 I finished Graduate School on the Plains of Auburn and I was pretty sure I would never want to read again. Once I started working with the State of Alabama it was all paperwork and (I know this may come as a shock to some of you) I was complaining that I was just a smidge bored with life.  My wonderful mother suggested that I start reading again. I just didn't even know where to start or any authors I would like to read.  She told me that I would LOVE this book called Beach Music, by Pat Conroy.  Being the beach bum I was raised to be I, of course, liked the title and told her, "Ok I'll try it."

I finished the book in 2 days flat.  I was engrossed with the writing and the plot and even the places being as I had recently been to Italy.  I liked that Mr. Conroy (Mr. C) wasn't afraid to show the dark side of life or the struggles that many have at one point or another.  Well, this was all I needed.  Immediately I went to the book store and bought every book he had written.  And then one day I found out there was a book he had written early on in his career that wasn't in print anymore.  AS IF!  I had to have it and got it for Christmas one year!  Nerdy right?!  But then again this is why most of you like me so much!

I tell you all of that,,,to get to the 30 in 30 part of the story.  Mom called me a few weeks ago and stated that Cassandra King (Mr. C's wife who is also a phenomenal writer-check out The Same Sweet Girls and The Sunday Wife) would be speaking at the annual Social Work Conference in Orange Beach...on the same weekend as my Mardi Gras Ball.  I felt the fates aligning as I packed everything up to head to Mardi Gras.  "Pat Watch 2011" had been in full swing for at least a week, getting tid-bits of information from the planning committee.  As the time grew closer I travelled down to Daphne to prepare for my weekend of wildness with visions of autographs dancing in my head.  Finally, we got the word, it was only the guest speaker herself attending.  But alas I thought, the wife of Mr. C and such a great writer, I wasn't going to miss her speaking.  As I gussied up to head down there, I was informed of a gigantically small problem...a float for the parade was stranded on the causeway!  For most of the AML girls this was no concern-for CA and I it was huge because we were the girls who fueled up the trucks to pull the floats!  We flew into emergency overdrive and I didn't get to hear Mrs. King speak.

(Man this is getting lengthy) Everything was fixed and the parade was a great success!  The ball was equally amazing and the weekend was as much wild fun as expected.  I came home and while coming down off my weekend high I decided to do some recon work on Mr. C. I check both his and his wife's websites for possible book signings.  Being as my goal is only to "Meet Pat Conroy," not shake hands, get an autograph, or have an in depth discussion. So I started with his website.  Ugh...no updated book signing or anything.  There was a place to get on his e-mail list so of course I signed up.  I thought to myself, "Hey Cassandra's website could be a possibility, after all they are married." (Yes she autographed a book for me so we are now on a first name basis in my mind!) And because she is in the process of writing a new book (YEAH!!!) she didn't have any updated speaking/signing dates either.  But she had a place to write her a note.  I thought why not I can thank her for the autograph and if she does read it let her know how much fun we had semi-stalking her and her husband.  I NEVER in a million years thought she would read it...non-the-less respond!  <<<insert giddiness here>>>

SHE RESPONDED!!!! 

Yes that is right ladies and gentlemen!  I got a response from the writer herself!  So I took a day to calm down before I posted this. Because she sail that she could make my meeting Mr. C HAPPEN!!  I want to say that no matter what comes from this...this is really cool!  Plus there is a chance that I will get to meet "Mr. C"!!!

I'll keep you posted!  For those wondering I tried to link both of their websites to their pictures.  I'm still learning the ins and outs of this so please bear with me! 

Better LATE than NEVER!!!

Recovery from Mardi Gras is a tough thing to do...especially when you are recovering and your dog is too!  That is right CHECK NUMBER 19 OFF THE LIST! 

This past weekend the Apollo's Mystic Ladies rolled through the streets of Daphne and strutted to the beats of the Velcro Pygmies late into the night!  I hear that Amy Ruddock and Michael Hall may have been in attendance for the first but not the last Mardi Gras of their young lives! 

The weather was the best it has been since I have been in attendance! And those Floast 4 Girls were making their hips "SWING"!!!  Love you guys!

Saturday morning after everyone was on their way home Roxy and her cousin Al were busy getting all dolled up for their parade!  This was the 8th year of the Mystic Mutts of Revelry Parade in Fairhope, AL.  This is a fundraiser for the Haven, which is a no kill shelter.  After I was showered, and rejuvinated we all loaded up and headed downtown for the parade. 

Final tallies are as follows:

409 Humans+

350 Dogs+

1 Cat=

Over $12000 Raised for the Shelter!

Now THIS is a Goooood Barking Group!



Purely Presidential

Today is a wonderful holiday to celebrate our wonderful Presidents.  It got me to thinking this morning about something I thought I had completely blocked from my memory...

The Presidential Physical Fitness Test! 

Do any of you remember having to take this when you were in elementary school?  I remember dreading it...and I guess it's because I knew I probably wasn't in the shape I needed to be in even then.  But alas I did pass and I have a certificate somewhere to show it. 

So me and my nerdy self this morning went online to see what was going on in the Presidential World of Physical Fitness and LOW AND BEHOLD I found an "Adult" part to the test!  I mean seriously!  For those of you who do not believe me take a look here:
http://www.presidentschallenge.org/challenge/active/index.shtml

Anyway...I thought it was good to think about as I headed for the gym!

HAPPY PRESIDENT'S DAY! I think a good way to spend this day is at the gym.  I spent 25 minutes on the treadmill and I am going back for more!

Tuesday

Weight gain happens! Fortunately mine isn't because I had someone bring me lasagna by mistake!  HA!  I was up 2 pounds today.  Which in the grand scheme of things isn't the worst thing ever! 

BUT I have a plan to tackle it...a BLITZ to Mardi Gras!  I am going to see how much weight I can loose between now and next Friday.  I know that I must get back into my routine of working out and this is my plan to get me started! 

I hope you all are having a great week! Just have to stay motivated!

The B-I-B-L-E!

So I have been meaning to write about this and since I didn't update you all on the weight stuff last week.  After Church today I thought I should share with you how this is going. 

I started my reading on the cruise.  I have already made a few observations..the biggest of which is I know where southern people get the whole idea of "Who is his/her Mom and Dad?" That is a big part of the Bible.  Who everyone belongs to.  So once I tackled that I am running into things like...Lots daughters got him drunk and "laid" with him.  Really?! No one forewarned me that the Bible is a big 'ole SOAP OPERA!! There are some really juicy bits.  I finally made it out of Genesis and in Exodus where the plagues are coming in Egypt.

In the last week I have really dedicated myself to reading during my free time.  So I am keeping Bibles everywhere with me-1 at work, 1 in the car, 1 at home and who knows where else. As I work through this item on my list, I will keep you informed of the parts I struggle with, find totally interesting and especially the parts I think you would relate to!

Today in Church the gentleman speaking (our preacher is over in India on a mission trip) spoke about the commitment we make to God.  How "Maybe" isn't an appropriate answer.  That when Jesus called on the disciples from the shore of Galilee that they didn't say "Let me talk it over with my Dad" or "Give me a day or two to think about it." They simply threw down their nets and followed him.  It reinforced my desire to read. So I will pass it along to you. We have become a society skilled in the art form of telling "Maybe" to someone.  Rememnber what your commitments are and recommit yourself!

Tired Tuesday

It has been a rough week, but a productive one.  Since last Tuesday I am down 3 MORE POUNDS! I am def on the right track to hit my goal this year! I am so ready to get started back at the gym.  For those who don't know I have a personal trainer who somehow puts up with me every week.  SHE IS FAB!!!

Mom came up on Friday and we painted my new office and my assistant's office.  We were worn out but we got it all done in one night.  Saturday we touched up the paint and then went to hit a bucket of balls at the driving range.  I gear up for ONE golf tourny every year and I would only do that for my Gray Headed Dad!  Needless to say...I need to start working now to be ready by summer. 

I had a lot to get done at work yesterday, but yesterday morning I found out that a good friend, mentor, and amazing woman passed away.  When things like this happen it puts the rest of your life in perspective...the silly relationship drama that you feel is the most important thing becomes nothing.  Mrs. Angeline Pinckard helped bring the Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) to the state of Alabama.  Through this program alone she changed many students with disabilities lives as well as the college students working at YLF.  I am one of those college students that she touched.  She is one of those people you just "click" with.  I will be travelling to Troy tomorrow to support her family and pay my respects.  She will be missed...there will never be another like her.