In memory of a friend

Rest in peace Tonya Parker.

Tonya was an HIV/AIDS colleague, having worked at CarePoint in Oklahoma City for a few years, and for Guiding Right, OKC's leading African-American HIV/AIDS agency. Tonya was so quick witted, cheery, and her laughter was contagious. She was only 37 years old, afflicted with a condition called TTP-HUP, a rare blood disorder.

Sympathies to her family and to her extended family from Guiding Right.

Only the good die young.

Hippity Hoppity

The Easter Bunny came to visit me!! Did you know the EB is named Linda and drives an SUV? Cool! Now if only I can catch the Tooth Fairy.

Went to southwest Oklahoma yesterday to see my step-pappy and the family. My nieces are way adorable and Miss Harper (who's 2) is a champion egg hunter. 24 hours in sw OK is enough for me and I drove back home early this morning. I was in charge of the Easter Egg hunt at church and I admit we went a little overboard this year. We anticipated quite a few kids and of course not all showed. I think we filled about 20 dozen eggs which is a hell of a lot of eggs. Oh, I guess I'm not supposed to say "hell" when talking about Easter eggs. *shrug* It was cold out but the kids had fun and that's what counts. One family has 6 foster kids (six!!) so we made sure each kid got loaded up.

So, when I got home from church there was a message on my answering machine. Yeah, I know--can you believe someone actually called me? Moving along.....so on my outgoing message I say "this is Rachel and Aspasia...." because random callers don't need to know that I'm the only one who lives here & most don't know who Aspasia is. Um, Aspasia is my cat, but hey--she lives here too. So, I listen to my message and it's this voice going meow meow meow meow for a minute or so. My oh-so-funny brother, Rev. Dan, decided to leave the cat a message and translated it into English for me..."this is your brother, happy easter, i love you." Hmmm....I worry about him sometimes. I mean, it's one thing to put your cats name on an answering machine but it's another to LEAVE a message for the cat, in her language no less.

Still waiting on my rejection letter from OU school of social work. I hate being patient.

Do you ever get songs stuck in your head? I have "Popular" from the musical Wicked playing over and over in my head. It's annoying me.

Happy Easter!

The forgotten princess

There was a time when I, Rachel, was the princess, mistress, and controller of my domain. Then, I got a cat. Why is it that cat's think they own everything? Why does a cat think it can sleep, shed, and stretch just anywhere it wants?
I realized tonight that my cat, Aspasia, has very sneakily gained control over me. I should have realized it when she started sleeping on top of my pillow, just above my head. Now, she jumps up on furniture she knows she's not supposed to be on. She walks all over books or papers. She leaves piles of hair (not hairballs) all over clothes, my bed, my shoes, my carpet, wherever....
The worst though---she thinks every glass of water is hers! If I leave a glass of water out she'll knock the damn thing over. I yell, stomp, and threaten to wring her neck but she still does it. And THEN, she has the nerve to bite me when I'm petting her?? There's no pleasing some people.

I want my status as Princess back. I refuse to play ugly stepsister to a cat.

Side note: I just realized that I devoted one whole blog entry to my cat. I've become one of "those" people. I need therapy. Please help.

Congress and Court and Schiavo, Oh My!

It's hard not to follow the news on the case of Terri Schiavo, the Florida woman in a "persistent vegetative state" brought on by heart failure in 1990. I have firm personal beliefs about end of life care and such but no matter what side you're on, this poor woman is being pulled in 50 different directions. Let her go in peace. The Courts and Congress have enough work to do. Peace peace peace peace peace peace peace.

Rumors are....

A: Always true when heard in church
B: Become true when mentioned in several places
C: Best if remembered by the people who started them

Answer: C. Ok, so my friend Trina and I were "wishful thinking" earlier this week about who the new church pastor might be. We've been hearing names here and there, mostly speculations and nothing concrete. We discussed a pastor named Kathy who is currently a District Superintendent (that's Methodist lingo). We would LOVE Kathy at our church. So, Trina and I kept saying that over and over, from our lips to God's ears.

So, Sunday after church another church member says to me, "wow, I hear that Kathy (the pastor we like) has resigned her current position and is available." I was like hmmmm....wouldn't that be great??!!!
I call up Trina and tell her what I've just heard and she laughs and reminds me that she and I were the ones who STARTED that rumor. Oh yeah. I forgot.
Must be time to color my roots again.

Change can be a good thing

Today, Palm Sunday, I stood before our congregation and announced that both our pastors would be leaving. Our associate has been with us for 10 years and she is very well loved. She found a wonderful position doing children's ministry which is really her passion. She will only be with us for 3 more weeks. Then, we received word this week that our senior pastor, David, would be moved in June after Annual Conference (gotta love the Methodist system). Our Staff-Parish Relations Committee agreed that telling the congregation all at once would be better so as chair of that committee I did the deed. When I announced the first move everyone was surprised, when I did the second it seemed everyone was dumbstruck. It was a lot to take in all at once. But, I tried to remind everyone that this is part of our United Methodist heritage and uniqueness and that change is good. We are a strong and growing church and whomever comes along to be our pastor will grow with us.

After church, one person said to me, "wow, if I ever have to drop a bomb I'm going to call you." I think it was a compliment.

Interesting day...............

Take heed

Gonorrhea Lectim
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has issued a warning about a new virulent strain of sexually transmitted disease. This disease is contracted through dangerous and high-risk behavior. The disease is called Gonorrhea Lectim (pronounced "gonna reelect him"). Many victims have contracted it after having been screwed for the past 4 years, in spite of having taken measures to protect themselves from this especially troublesome disease. Cognitive sequelae of individuals infected with Gonorrhea Lectim include, but are not limited to: Anti-social personality disorder traits; delusions of grandeur with a distinct messianic flavor; chronic mangling of the English language; extreme cognitive dissonance; inability to incorporate new information; pronounced xenophobia; inability to accept responsibility for actions; exceptional cowardice masked by acts of misplaced bravado; uncontrolled primate style facial smirking; ignorance of geography and history; tendencies toward creating evangelical theocracies; and a strong propensity for categorical, all-or nothing behavior. The disease is sweeping Washington. Naturalists and epidemiologists are amazed and baffled that this malignant disease originated only a few years ago in a Texas bush.

(gosh i wish i had seen this e-mail before november....)

Fabulous website

If you want a good laugh and are a bumper sticker/magnet/button freak like me, then check out www.evolvefish.com
Kudos to James for pointing me to this most fabulous website.

One of my favorite buttons:
"You're pro life? That's fine. Now get one and stay out of mine."

When I hit it big on the Tunica slots I'm going shopping on this website. This is exactly the laugh I needed!!

Cursed by the tire gods

I am definitely cursed. Today I had to drive out to Wellston to see a new client. Getting to his home required driving 3.5 miles one way down a gravel & dirt road. When heading home, I decided to take historic Route 66 instead of the toll road. I had been on 66 for no more than 1/2 mile when I felt my car doing something weird. I pulled over and sure enough, my left front tired was flatter than flat. I cursed. Cursed some more. Laughed, then called my co-worker to tell her I was stuck in the middle of nowhere. Thankfully, a very kind schoolteacher/coach (it's spring break) stopped and cheerfully put my spare on for me. It's nice to know there are good Samaritans out there and he didn't try to stab me even once. I creeped into Edmond and found out that the old tire was not fixable, so I had to buy two new ones. There was a 4 inch nail in that tire--I saved it! The nail, not the tire....
I am ALWAYS getting flat tires and nails and whatever. I don't know how I do it. It's not like I'm going off-roading or something. Of course, the stupid agency I work for won't give us cell phones for when we travel to see clients. Thank goodness I have my own and of course I have to foot the bill but I guess my safety isn't that important to my employer. *

(*that was sarcasm in case you didn't catch it)

So Tire Gods, I am sorry to have offended thee but please, stopeth making my tires go flateth. I shall bring you offerings of burnt cat hair and gum wrappers. Hail Tire Gods.

So be it.

Hear the beat of dancin' feet...

Friday night three friends and I went to OCU (my alma mater) to see the American Spirit Dance Company's spring show. This is the student company and they do a couple of major shows each year. I love dance and let me tell you, if you didn't know that these were students you would think they were just in from Broadway (well maybe off-broadway). By the second act the dancers were really warmed up and pumped and you could see the excitement in their faces and in their moves. My favorite piece was a ballet one, called Irish Bitter Suite. It was well choreographed, executed, and passionate. Well done OCU dancers!

When I was in college I was friends with and knew several dance majors. I loved watching their performances, partly because their skill was so honed but also because I knew them personally and was in awe of their talent. I haven't seen many of those people in years but I'm sure they are entertaining and delighting their audiences now. Maybe, just maybe I'll get to see them perform again someday.

I almost went back to the show again tonight! I must make a conscious effort to go to more OCU productions.

No apologies

All of a sudden I'm in a bad mood and I got to thinking--i'm not going to apologize for other people and the idiotic things they do. and while i'm at it, i'm not going to apologize for a boring blog or what i perceive to be a boring blog. i'm too damn nice sometimes.

The L stands for loser

Ah well, I was not successful in my run for House District Chair for the 87th district. Not that big of a deal, but a little. The vote was 12 to 11, if only I had stacked the room a little more. Ha. As a consulation prize they made me vice-chair. I've never met the guy who became chair. He's not been involved in county or state functions though I'm not entirely sure he's bad since he's involved with Dean for America. I think he was recruited to run by John Morgan, who ran for representative out of our district. Mr. Morgan does not seem to like me very much and has said not-so-nice things about me to another political acquiantance. I really do not care what the man thinks but please, if you are going to slander me at least make it interesting. Tonight I was pleasant and actually went up to Mr. Morgan and his wife to say hello. I held out my hand to her and she gingerly shook it, literally turning her head so she wouldn't have to look at me. He did the same thing. Talk about lame--you can't even make eye contact with me??!! If I had known they were going to react that way I would have spit in my hand before I offered it to them. Rachel Cooties.
Anyhoo, I'm good with vice-chair and I'll bring just as much to the table as I had planned as chair. It's the "politics" part that gets me. I should be used to it by now but it still amazes me how childish people can be. You know what Mr. Morgan, if you have a problem with me then it's just that---YOUR problem. Being bitter about losing the race helps no one and only hurts your reputation. So there.

Wish I could remember who sings that "I'm a loser baby" song....it's running through my head right now.

To quote my dear friend Chance, "be bitter, it helps."

peace!

30

I'm not one of those people who believes in lucky numbers or the signifigance of a number appearing over and over. But, today the number "30" has stood out.

30
--my age
--the number of times Dynanners has asked me if I am going to update my blog
--amount of AIDS Drug Assistance Program applications I have to complete
--the number of towels I stole from Salt Lake
--days until my vacation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
--the number of years since the bathroom near our office has been cleaned

Ok, so I didn't steal 30 towels..........

The Salt Lake trip was great. I always enjoy these Young Dems meetings because I get to catch up with friends, stay up late, get up early, and laugh. On Saturday night, 5 of us from Oklahoma had dinner at a Brazillian place. There's a central salad bar then the waiters bring by roasted/grilled meats and you take a few pieces off the skewer and devour. Well, we ate more meat than any 5 humans should eat in one sitting. It got funny at one point and we sat at our table crying because we were laughing so hard. Let me tell you, a vegetarian would not survive in that place.
On Sunday, we took off early for the mountains and enjoyed the snow and skiing that Utah has to offer. I was going to go snowmobiling but turns out it wasn't offered where we had gone. Oh well.

Tonight are the Democratic Party precinct and house district meetings. I'm running for house district chair and hope there's no opposition. I had to choose between Survivor and House District meeting....tough choice, I know, but thankfully I have a VCR so I won't miss out on any of the action. I know, I'm a goober.........

I apologize if I don't blog too much this month. March is our busiest time of the year here in my office so don't get on my case too much!!! Ok Dynanners???!!
Oh, another word of warning....don't believe ANYTHING that The Friendly Bunny says about me. He lies. All the time. Lies lies lies.

Peace people!

Chief Procrastinator

My graduate admission statement is done and mailed! I had started it quite a while ago but never got past a rough draft. I spent several hours in the last few days re-writing, tweaking, and finalizing the stupid thing. If I get in then I get in. If I don't then I'll work for DHS for the rest of my life. Scary.

Heading off to Salt Lake City on Thursday for another Young Democrats of America meeting. My two year term of Vice President of Programs is up in August and I'm pretty much ready to hand over the reigns now. I realize it's a political organization but there's too much politics going on right now. People running for office are constantly calling, want to know what I think of this, what about so & so, who's she supporting, who's the best, blah blah blah. I'm NOT bitter that I have not been asked to run again but now that I'm becoming an outsider I find amusement in all the B.S. that goes on. Politics. Oh yeah, so I'm going to Salt Lake for 4 days. That area of the country is beautiful and I have a bit of free time so I'm going to explore some of the mountains and lakes. Our hotel is right off Temple Square so I'll do the whole tour thing as well. Missionaries love me.

Work is ok at the moment. My co-worker, Happy Gaila, is back after being in a three week training. I refer to her as Happy Gaila because the girl is too damn chipper sometimes. Let me tell you, she will sing cheery songs until you want to throw up. It's actually a good quality but I can't let her know I think so. We need her in the office because she's the buffer and sometimes peace-keeper.

Once again I apologize to all three of my readers for the boring blog. I'll try to be more creative in the coming weeks.

Follow me blindly

I fully realize that this has got to be one of the most boring blogs in the world. Yet, I'm rather ok with that. I'm not forcing anyone to read it and if you had something to say you'd probably post a comment so what the heck, I'll continue the mundane ramblings.
However, tonight I was thinking that it might be interesting for me to do a post, or series of posts, on "a day in the life of Rachel." Hmmm. In fact, it might be rather humbling for me to reveal what really happens in my world and my thought processes. Who knows, you might learn something you never knew about me. Or you may run in fear.
I'm going to keep tossing this idea around. Feel free to vote yay or nay.

No sleep for the wicked

I'm recovering from my latest cold/cough/congestion episode. I haven't been that sick in a long time and I hope it's a while before I am again. My coffee table was just covered in medicine bottles, packets, cough drops, juice, tissues, you name it. It was like having my own little CVS in my living room. Ah yes, Oklahoma now has CVS, which until now I had only seen on the East Coast. Their prices aren't any better than Wal-greens but it gives me some place different to shop.

I'm trying to finish up my admissions statement for my application to OU. It's a silly little requirement but I haven't felt like doing it, so I'm approaching the final hour. It should be easy--it's basically a brag-about-yourself paper, but tie some social work experiences/lessons in with it. Boring.......I have promised myself to have it done by Thursday. We'll see.

And yes, I'm having trouble sleeping. Part of the problem is the cold medicine; it hypes me up and keeps my brain buzzing. Now I understand why meth is made out of Sudafed. Even when I go to bed early, I just lay there (lie there? lay there? oh who cares) and think about all the things I could be doing. So, I get up and next thing you know I'm painting the bathroom. I seem to paint best late at night...go figure. Once I fall asleep I'm fine. It's just getting to sleep that's the problem.

If anyone has suggestions that are non-medication related I'd love to hear them. Please, no counting sheep. I lose my place and have to start over.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Soothing Sunday

I'm behind on my blogging but I was sick all week. I tell you, my body cannot take another cold! I finally started to feel better on Saturday and got out of the house for a little while. I was pretty much back to normal today, Sunday, but didn't try to overdue it. I went to church (like the good kid I am) and we had a really good service. We had an adult baptism so most of the service was centered around that, around the meaning of baptism and being brought into the fold. Our closing hymn was Blessed Assurance, which is probably in my top three of favorite hymns. I love the song not only for the assurance of everlasting grace but also for the reminder of Christ being central in our lives, in everything and in every moment. I won't get started on a mini sermon here....I know you're thinking I'm going to....

Anyhoo....I had a church council meeting late in the afternoon and the rest of the day has been household chores. I'm trying to catch up on laundry, ran to the grocery store, and am vacuuming up cat hair. That last task is never ending. I need to get on the ball and finish my admission statement for OU and get that in the mail. That will be tomorrow's task since I am off for President's Day.

and with that ends this dull excerpt from my dull life. vaya con Dios!

Cough cough sniff round 3

I am on my third cold in three months. This could be a new record. Yesterday I started feeling a little yucky but I chalked it up to allergies because our weather has been shifting drastically. But, when I woke up this morning I barely had a voice and could feel all the drainage in my chest. Blah. There is one good thing about having a cold--my clients are nicer! They hear my scratchy, creaky voice and they feel bad that I'm work when I'm sick, so they tend not to talk long or demand much. Maybe I could fake the voice year round...
I hope that this cold doesn't get much worse because I just don't have the time to take off and stay in bed. I'll down some Nyquil tonight and get some rest, maybe that will help.........

Stay healthy!

Remembering Dad

Today, Sunday Feb 13, is the 15 year anniversary of when my dad died. I actually kind of forgot about it until last night. What strikes me is the 15 year thing---he died when I was 15, now I'm 30, so for as many years as I had him in my life I have also lived without him. He was a good man, far from perfect and slightly odd, but that part doesn't really matter to me. I'm sure my memories are clouded and I dare say that my relationship with him was very different than that of my brothers (as they are considerably older than myself). But, he loved me, I love(d) him, and now that's all that matters.

Miss you dad. You'd be proud of me. I've accomplished a lot and have some great things yet to come. Thanks for the memories.

your only daughter.

I don't need no stinkin windows

When I was at Sam's Club the other day I was approached by one of their salespeople/product pushers, who told me about their window/patio replacement guys. I agreed to have a home estimate done because I do need windows and figured what the hey--I'll see what their price are like. So, Thursday night some guy came over and he was very charming, a true salesman. He wasn't cheesy annoying though, but I could tell he had been doing this a long time. When it finally got done to measuring windows and talking prices I put on my poker face and went with the flow. I have several very large windows in my house and all of them are steel casement, which I understand makes replacement a little more difficult. He tallied up the cost of single hung windows and gave me a quote of: (drumroll please.....) $12,000. I wanted SO badly to laugh and roll my eyes but I didn't. BUT WAIT--because I'm a Sam's Club member and I have all my teeth I get an additional 20% discount or something, so now the price is only $9600. Does this seem excessive to anyone else?? I was like thanks, but that's not going to work for me. He pulled the whole-what's it going to take to get you to buy them tonight-routine and I said lower the price another 3 thousand and we'll talk. Ummm...no.
So, no new windows yet for me but I'm going to continue the search. I do have to say that I actually liked this little sales guy and he really wasn't pushy or annoying, but those prices are just unrealistic. Then again, maybe I am unrealistic in thinking I can get quality windows for $7000. Dunno.
I'm hoping to win at slots when I go to Tunica in April so then I can do all home repair I want. Come on, a girl can dream.....