Braids

I wanted to post this for a couple of reasons. First, we are VERY close to welcoming yet another little lady into our Estrogen Den. A false alarm to the hospital this morning proved frustrating for some yet spelled short reprieve for others (mainly to continue my much overdue spring cleaning spree). Second, I wanted to show you my French braiding handiwork. Yes, dear reader, French braids are possible for non-(Mayfield)-beauty-shop-professionals. Even lowly HR personnel can pull them off!

Go Big Blue!

In a Friday night nail-biting scrap, Carlisle batted in one run to break a 4-4 tie in the bottom of the 7th, stealing victory from the PTHS Lady Tornadoes. Although Brittany pumped a one-run homer and Amanda pushed an RBI over home plate, the Lady Comets pushed their singles with stolen bases to pull runs from the Lady Ts. Both teams played tight defense, and the Lady Ts held it together with some of the best teamwork I've seen all season. Even though the team lost by one, they played like true professionals.

With slighly overcast skies, this was a great night for photos. Following is one I snapped of Brittany (left) and Alexis (right) in the dugout.

As always, PTHS Lady Tornado Softball Fans held their own against the throngs of home Comets. With hoots and cheers, these two PTHS fans in particular kept momentum strong and hopes high throughout the tense evening game. Regardless of their home team affiliations and/or residential zip code (as the case may be), they held true to Big Blue!

Namaste!

Time

Good evening, wonderful you. I just wanted to write a short update to tell you that the shower was nice. It was so great to see everyone and to meet a few new people, too.

I entered into a conversation with my aunt during the shower by making an observation that as I age, time seems to gain momentum. It all started earlier in the day when I asked my cousin how her new job was going. Her response was, "Good. I will have been there a year next month." My mouth fell open. I honestly felt that time had passed differently for the two of us. To me, it seemed as if she'd only been at her "new" job for two or three months, but she said that she felt the opposite. It felt completely like 12 months to her. I went over and over this in my mind for some time that day until eventually entering into the conversation about time gaining momentum; when in actuality the theory of time dilation may fit the bill more precisely. But how does that explain what happens when you see an old friend from years or decades earlier? When you speak with them, it is as if no time has passed since your last meeting. All the while, your mind is processing physical clues to justify the time passage. Even when you do notice the wrinkles or gray hair or extra weight, the actual connection between the two of you exists free of any constraints of time. Why, for example, hasn't your personality aged or your spirit or your interpersonal connection?

If you have thoughts on this, let me know. This is the kind of thing that will keep me up nights until I get some kind of reasonable explanation.

Well, per instruction from Suz, I am going to take a hot bath and de-stress. This time thing is killing my brain.

Namaste

Today I am preparing for a bridal shower in honor of my cousin. Last night I came home and made Mexican wedding cakes and Curtis Grace praline cookies for the occasion. If you have an opportunity, pick up this cookbook. It includes all of his best recipes. My daughter Barclay bought a copy for me one Christmas and had it signed by Curtis shortly before he passed away. In it he wrote "To Christa - good food and good friends are life's greatest pleasures!" I cherish it and use it constantly (thanks, Haley!). Following is his incredibly easy recipe for these heavenly treats:

Praline Cookies

24 graham cracker squares

1 1/2 cup pecans, chopped finely

1 cup light brown sugar, packed

1 cup butter

Place graham crackers close together on 12x15 cookie sheet or jelly roll pan; sprinkle pecans over crackers. Boil sugar and butter 4 minutes. Pour hot syrup over nuts. Bake at 325 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.

That's all there is to it!

I heard tell that Project Runway is gearing up for another season, but I can't find anything about it on BravoTV.com. Ugh! We want more Tim Gunn! Oh how I wish he would come down for a visit. I think he would enjoy the Lowertown Festival, don't you?

Also, if you haven't tuned into Bravo lately, Six Feet Under has begun its cycle anew. If you've never seen it, I beg you to give it a try. It's the best television show I've seen in years. The writing is fabulous. You will not be disappointed.

Well, I guess I'd better get back to cooking. I have a few more things to make for the shower. See you soon!

Namaste

Home from LOO-uh-vull

That's how you say it, people...LOO-uh-vull...not LOO-ee-vill or (God forbid) LOO-is-vill. The idiots who say LOO-ee-vill are the same ones who say noo-or-LEENS. It makes me crazy! Anyway, I just returned from the big city and couldn't be happier if I'd gained TWO hours coming back. Don't get me wrong, the UofL staff was phenomenal. (I kid you not, these people know how to kick it.) I am just happy to be able to sleep in my own bed again and not have to pay $6 to move my car out of the driveway.

The luncheon today was really nice, and I think other than their hospitality, it was UofL's best feature. The food was good, but the service was great. I go to so many of these things, and rarely are we treated as well as we were today. Kudos to UofL for their event. You guys rock!

Other than talking to a bunch of kids and bored corporate types, I drove home. When I got here, I was excited to find "Children of Men" patiently awaiting my return. I'm so excited. I LURV Clive Owen, and I've heard the movie's pretty cool, too. That said, I guess I'd better get to it.

You are BEAUTIFUL! Thanks for stopping by.

Namaste

Wasted away again in Derbyville

Eastern time...I am confused. Should I be tired right now? I guess regardless if it's Eastern or Central time, I should probably be a little wasted either way. I am here in fabulous downtown Louisville, KY. When I arrived at around 5 p.m. (CST or EST, I'm not sure), I came in the room, worked through some emails and then went 'round the block to The Spaghetti Factory...a SUPREME disappointment. I must have been on heavy drugs last time I ate at one of these places, because I came away very nearly disgusted. The waitress was bitchy, the food was gross, and the crying babies were everywhere. The only thing good about this experience was the chianti.

Unfortunately for me, after dinner I decided to do a walk through of my Courtyard by Marriott's "amenities." That's when I ran into the Dredging Convention. No, I'm not kidding. It's "all dredging all the time" at least once a year in the Midwest according to my new friends. Lord knows at this point I couldn't tell you anything other than the fact that Kevin works for the Corps of Engineers and Dan works for "some place that recently bid on work at Westlake Chemicals." The real demons of the night were a bunch of drunk guys who live in Louisville that just got back from Mardi Gras (how is that possible when Mardi Gras was in February?). Anyway, a drunk (and evidently rich guy) Todd took it upon himself to purchase a bottomless glass of Merlot for me. The bottom was capped at two, but talk of partying beyond the Courtyard was imminent, and I was already having trouble separating Kevin from Dan and bowed out to be with you...you...you!

I'm really sorry, but I can't keep this up. U of L recruiting is looming very heavily, and two glasses of Merlot = Ambien for days to me.

I love YOU. Thanks for visiting.

Namaste

And away we go...

The primary purpose of this blog was to post a comment about a funny little book for my favorite blogger, Suz. And then all of the sudden, I'm totally outside my comfort zone (and quite possibly my area code) blabbing about what a long, strange trip it's been.

If you have watched as much Discovery Science Channel as I have tonight, you might continue reading this blog out of sheer boredom lest you experience yet another rerun of Cosmic Cosmos. Personally, it was a shock discovering that Jupiter's size was equal to that of 1300 Earths, but then the graphics got a little hokey and I lost interest. Before I knew it, my ass had covertly eased over to my circa 1982 rolling chair and [abracadabra] here you are. You...you...you!

So, Burkhead's head was, indeed, the deed doer. Did he not know that his mug would be plastered all over the web AND hell's half acre? If so, why not go ahead, push the envelope and wash that nappy hair? What gives? Dreadlock prep? Please, Lar, we expect more from an ex-photographer ex-lover of an ex-living ex-billionairess ex-playboy centerfold. At least with this daddy news, maybe he'll be able to afford a little Pantene or even...hell...Biolage. Maybe he will also now have enough money to go back to court and drop a couple of names off that kid (Dannielynn Hope Marshall Stern).

Namaste