WRESTLING WITH ADDICTION

I am here to report that a new addiction has taken over my life. Books are being left half-read on the bed side table, dust is collecting on the mantle, phone calls aren't being returned, dinner has been reduced to grilled cheese (not even w/tomato soup), my running shoes are feeling neglected (ok, that's really nothing new), my sleeping patterns are disrupted, even the dogs are suffering.

What is it, you ask, that has me in a headlock? Why do I feel like I've been body-slammed by the big boot and legdrop?

Hi. I'm Angela. I'm a Hulkaholic.

That's right folks. I'm addicted to Hogan Knows Best.

Let me define addiction: the intense feeling to race home from work and settle into my over-sized chair with a grilled cheese and find out what's happening at the Hogan house; the inability to do anything else while I have access to the DVR; staying up way past my usual bedtime to watch "just one more" episode; Aaron pointing out that I grin cheesily at the television screen as the Hogan's lives are played out.



I've been addicted to TV shows before. There was the Sex and the City run Renee' and I had when we lived together in our tiny one-bedroom apartment with no cable. And also the Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica fix, which was also co-chaired by Renee'. But it's been a while since I've fallen off the wagon. And I never fall for reality shows. (oh, wait, except for that Newlyweds thing.) Usually I just have an intense liking for shows (Grey's Anatomy, House Hunters, Dirty Jobs). Maybe those were just gateway shows. This is beyond intense.

So how did it begin? Where did I get my first taste of Hogan? It all started when Aaron innocently set the DVR to record Hogan Knows Best, just to check it out, see what it was all about. But isn't that how all addictions begin - what's one time gonna hurt? I'll tell you what one time will do! It will hook you faster than you can say Thunder in Paradise!

Although the show is in its third season, and the first taste was a Season 3, our DVR caught a re-run marathon and recorded the first 36 episodes. Yeah baby! That's what I'm talkin' 'bout Brother!

Really, though, Terry "Hulk" Hogan is a surprisingly normal, sensitive guy. Yes, he still sports the handle-bar mustache and yes, he only wears shirts without sleeves, but he is a genuine person and a great dad to his two teenage kids, with a bandanna-clad headful of great advice and sound parenting. "Fight the fight when you know you're right" was his battle cry in the episode where the city of Bellaire was trying to make the family get rid of one of their pets (gasp! can you even imagine?!) so they would be in compliance with city ordinances.



His wife, Linda, is really great too. She is the typical do-everything Mom. She's funny and laid-back, but passionate and loyal. So what if she has platinum hair and a chest as big as the Hulk's? She loves her kids, respects herself and does not overdo it in so many ways she could.

The kids are pretty normal too. Well, except for the whole thing about Brooke trying to break into the music industry. During the episode where the family goes to L.A. so Brooke can record her debut album, Aaron said to me "If she can release an album, you could release an album." Geez, Aaron, have you been drinkin' haterade? (but really, he's right.)

Overall the whole family seems to have a genuine respect and caring for one another. They have their moments, but they are a tight bunch.

This morning I found out that Nick Hogan was in a pretty bad car accident earlier this week. Luckily he's ok. Whew.

I really have to go now. I'm starting to have withdrawal.

I'm going to go tear my shirt off now. Grrr.

IF NOTHING EVER CHANGED, THERE'D BE NO BUTTERFLIES

You know that feeling you get when you are changing, I mean really changing? Not just something in your life, but something deep inside you is fundamentally evolving, when you feel yourself moving into more of who you are; when you have figured out another piece of yourself, how you fit in the world, what is important to you and what you believe in.

It reminds me of getting caught in a storm; how in an instant the sky turns dark and the temperature drops; the smell of impending rain fills the air, you can hear thunder in the distance and the wind begins to swirl madly.

It's exhilarating and scary at the same time. There's a sense of chaos; an impulse to run for cover. It's powerful, an awesome sight to behold. It can make you feel small and vulnerable against the forces of Mother Nature but also defiant in knowing you won't dissolve or be blown away. Proceed with caution; pay attention.

Then the rain pours. Whipping your head around to catch each instance of lightning slicing the atmosphere, bones trembling with thunder, eyes wide with anticipation, every sense on alert, maybe you get soaked; maybe you stand in the downpour and yell at the sky; maybe you huddle under an eave to assess the storm.

Then it passes. The earth is still turning, the sun still hangs in the sky, a rainbow appears. You see the world freshly bathed, bright and shiny, from your new perspective.

be strong and courageous.
do not be terrified, do not be discouraged.
for the lord your God will be with you,
wherever you go.
joshua 1:9

STILL PLAYS SUPERHERO AT THIRTY ONE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BRO!

TOTALLY TUBULAR

Here are some pics from our day at the lake a few weeks ago. We had a lot of fun tubing! Aaron is the best at driving the boat while pulling a person on the tube. We all got some mad air; Scott did some acrobatics. Angela was the brave first tuber; but everyone was too fascinated watching her skillz to take any pictures of her on the water donut.

Floating

Mr. Fancy Pants Scott

Sargent Sass Taylor

Captain Aaron

Proof I WAS there

Miss Pods

Baby Peters

Miss Pods and G

HAPPY THOUGHTS

Rainbows, Pink Cupcakes, Sunshine, Hugs, Lake Travis, Fireworks, Big meals with dessert, Snuggling, Someone saying "I Love You," Frozen drinks on the beach, Cozy fires, Silence, Smores!, A good book, Date night, Being up high looking down, Open windows, Duck Face, A clean house, Lip gloss, Soy Lattes, The Star Spangled Banner, Recently highlighted hair, Changing seasons, Ice Cream, Knowing that people are waiting for me to come home, Long kisses, Daisies, Waxed eyebrows, A clean car, Wagging dog tails, Sunrise, Walks on the beach by myself, Breakfast with friends, Spring Cleaning, Strawberries & bananas, Giggles, Bluebonnets, Butterflies, Warm blankets, Fun-colored pens, Love notes, New shoes, Garage Karaoke, Clever t-shirts, Pancakes. . .

TUESDAY TURNIP

a little weekly fun from mental_floss

SUMMER TOUR 2007

Summer Tour 2007 was a success. More pictures to come as soon as I gather them all.

complete with Tour tees



a gnome to watch over you


a really old mountain range


20 hours of car time


there's a big white house up here on the left

IF A TREE FALLS AND THERE'S NO ONE TO HEAR IT

I'm not sure exactly when this started, but I've been talking to myself for a while now, and it seems to be getting worse. Sometimes I silently move my lips along with my thoughts, and sometimes I'm actually mumbling aloud. Lately, my boss will walk past my desk and laugh because she heard me say something like "My band-aid came off" and she knows I'm not talking to her. Aaron has become a little frustrated with me at times because he can't tell if I'm talking to him. It goes something like the Brian Regan joke where you end up yelling some meaningless thought:

Angela inaudible mumbling: I need to remember to get mustard.
Aaron: What?
Angela slightly more audible: I need to remember to get mustard.
Aaron: What? I can't hear you.(!)
Angela loud and clear: I said I need to remember to get mustard(!)

So yesterday, I was driving home and where the freeway bottlenecks and usually adds 7 to 10 minutes to my commute, traffic was flowing along freely. When I came upon this afternoon-traffic anomaly, there in the confines of my little Accord, all by my lonesome, I let out a little "Woo Hoo!" Literally - that was the sound. I know I write Woo Hoo a lot, so when I heard myself actually exclaim it out loud I cracked up. . . and continued to cruise at an easy 55mph merging down to one lane with no problemo.

SWEETEST NIECE

Where did you get your eyes so blue?


Out of the sky as I came through.


Where did you find your smile so bright?


God gave it to me with the morning sunlight.

CHARLOTTE, IS THAT YOU?

This spider. . .


. . .has been spinning its web anew each night. . .


. . .for the past seven nights.

DID YOU GET YOUR HAIR CUT?

Because I know this has been a burning question keeping you up all hours of the night, breaking your daily concentration, dominating dinner-table conversation, filling your journal pages; I give you the answer to: Really, what are the Most Well-Known hair-dos and where the heck did they come from?

1. Mohawks

Originally sported by warriors of various Native American tribes, the hairstyle was adopted by a squad of U.S. Army’s bad-to-the-bone 101st Airborne Division during World War II, before being commandeered by the punk rockers in the 1970s.

2. Pompadours

Pomps of yore (the style originated in 18th-century France) depended on beef tallow, bear grease, and other artery-cloggers to cement them into place. Not surprisingly, slathering one’s hair with animal remains tended to attract animals (insects and other nasties), which occasionally turned the original pompadour into, quite literally, a rats’ nest.

3. Beehives

Like precursors to the Cracker Jack box, these 18th-century ‘dos served as treasure troves, housing exotic prizes like tiny caged birds, cupid dolls, and other bulky curios. Of course, not every hairdo was a winner. When millions of hungry peasants revolutionized France, the over-the-top hairstyle quickly fell out of fashion - landing in that little basket just below the guillotine.

4. Queues

A queue wrapped around the head
When the Manchu invaded China in the 17th century, they brought over a killer fashion trend - killer as in, adopt it or else. The Manchu sported the queue, a shaved-in-front, pony-tail-in-the-back haircut, and forced the Han Chinese to do the same. While much of China eventually submitted to the do-or-die trend, many thousands bravely chose to keep their hair - and lose their heads. So what was the big deal with getting a little shave? Aside from the queue not being such as flattering cut (even compared to, say, the mullet), it also happened to be against the religion of millions of long-haired Confucian Chinese, who believe that one’s skin and hair are sacred.

5. Mullets

Business in front, party in the back. Late 20th-Century takes full responsibility for this one.

And now, you decide. Will the Rachel become one of history's most well-known dos?

WHO'S LUCKY NOW?

And because I'm feeling bloggish this fine Saturday morning, another post for lucky you.

Just about one of the saddest things I've seen happened last night. Scoopie found a baby rabbit and I guess she thought it was so cute she couldn't resist playing with it. And honestly, who wouldn't want to play with a cute baby rabbit?

Now when I say "baby," I mean baby. Small enough to fit in the palm of my hand (don't worry, I didn't actually hold it in my hand), not yet fully furred, barely having its little beady eyes open. So as you might imagine where this is going. . . a baby rabbit and Super-Scoop don't necessarily make the best play mates. The poow wittle wabbit had the tiniest, most heartbreaking little SQUEAK, SQUEAK, SQUEAK (translation: HELP! What the heck?! Mooooommmy!)

Scoopie wasn't being terribly rough or anything. In fact, I think she was gingerly carrying the little thing around, maybe giving it a good little toss now and then. But again, I'm sure she was only thinking about how much babies like to be tossed above their adult's head, and giggle and squeal with delight. Except this baby rabbit wasn't squealing with delight.

Reenactment

Aaron: "Scoop's got some kind of animal out there."
Angela: "What? What do you mean?"
Aaron: "She's got something. It's squealing."
Both: Investigate.
Angela: "What is it?IsItAMouse?OhIt'sALittleMouse.Oh.That'sSoSad.Wait.IsItAMouse?WhatIsIt?IsItAMole?"
Aaron: "It looks kind of like a mole."
Angela: "Oh that's so sad. Poor little thing. Scoopie, you can't play with baby Moles."
Aaron: "Wait, it's a baby rabbit. Yep, that's a rabbit."
Angela: "What? A Rabbit?! OH NO! Not a little baby rabbit! Awww, Aaron it's so scared! Poor little rabbit! Do they know? Do rabbits know when their babies are missing? Its mom is probably looking for it! She can hear it squealing! Awww, ohhh, this is so sad. Scoopie took that little baby right out of its nest. Just snatched it right away from its momma."
Aaron: "Ang, it's ok. There are probably 12 more where this one came from."
Angela: "Yea, but it's still sooo sadddd. Oh my gosh, Aaron! It's moving! Look at the poor little thing. It's still alive! Is it hurt? What should we do?!"
Aaron: "It's only going to upset you more if you keep looking at it."
Angela: "It's so sad.This is making me cry.It's so little and scared and, and, and"
Aaron: "Why don't you go inside."

You might be lucky. But I guess that rabbit's foot wasn't so lucky.

QUOTABLE QUOTE

I recently came across this picture I'd saved from my Dad. This is the email he sent with the photo attached.

May 1, 2003
Subject: I sing for joy

I was singing these songs last Saturday morning at 7am when I took this picture.

I sing for joy at the work of Your Hands...Nothing compares to the Promise I have in You...

and

...I can only Imagine - what my eyes will see - when Your face is before me...surrounded by Your Glory - what will my heart feel - will I dance for You Jesus - or in awe of You be still - will I stand in Your presence - or to my knees will I falll - will I sing halleluja - will I be able to speak at all - I can only Imagine...I can only imagine. This is Debbie's favorite.

You can't always fly above the clouds in the heavenly places, but you can sure always sing about 'em.
thought you might enjoy.
Have a good day.

click on the photo for best view