WISDOM WITH AGE

Today I am 33. Tomorrow I will be 34. Kind of upsetting since I was finally starting to remember how old I was when people asked. Now, I’ll be like, “I think I’m 32 or maybe 36, something like that.” I have seriously had to ask Will in the past how old I was if I needed a quick answer. I’m not even kidding. That is sad.

I’d like to think I am another year wiser and not think about the degeneration of my physical being. However, one certainly begins noticing changes at around the age of 30 and they just keep going from there. Oh well, as they say, age is just a number right?

I will try and reflect on 10 things I have learned from the ages of 0-33. I hope to learn more the older I get.

10. Even if I check my weight 3 times in a row and kick and call the scale names in between each check, the number will still be the same.

9. Laughing at inappropriate times, such as during a group meditation class, will always be a flaw of mine.

8. I have an above average sense of smell and it is not always a good thing.

7. No matter how many times I try pizza, it will always taste like wet bread, grease, and vomit to me and people telling me I am crazy for not liking it will not change that.

6. Some birds can talk and will tell me that the creepy crawler is coming and that they are going to Wal-Mart and Florida for 40 days.

5. The sun really does cause wrinkles and age spots and baby oil and iodine, used during teen years, make them worse. Who knew?

4. I know that PMS is real…very real…and can be used as a weapon.

3. I will always have air headed moments, even if I hate them. And by the way, gas with an octane level of 89 does not mean it was created in 1989. (don’t ask)

2. I will never be a morning person and will always cringe a little at those that are. I think when people start smiling the second their eyes open they should be evaluated by a psychiatrist.

1. Although he will never admit it, I have learned that my husband will always love football, the dog, and Heather Locklear a little more than he does me.

COMMERCIALS

I really hate commercials. I am one of those people that channel surfs during them. They are such a waste of airtime.

But, Sonic commercials really crack me up! My favorite one is with the two ladies who eat their ice-cream and want to order another one, but they are too embarassed. So one of them decides to try and talk like a man to disguise her voice and she starts practicing in a low tone.

To make it more convincing, she puts her finger abover her lip to be her "mustache" and then her friend tells her that the mustache helps. I never tire of it.

Think of me laughing with you next time you see it!

I DIDN'T MEAN TO, HONEST!

On my way home from school today, I noticed a state trooper behind me. I did what every person would do and slowed down to the exact speed limit. We stopped at a red light and I noticed he was still right behind me. After that, my memory is blurred because the next thing I knew he had his blue lights on.

I got over in the right lane and wondered who he caught for speeding and how he knew they were speeding since he couldn't really see around me. But, he didn't go around me. He followed me! I pulled over, but still doubted it was me he was after.

He came to the window and the first thing he did was ask me why I have a Gamecock steering wheel cover but have a Clemson hitch cover. I mumbled something about going to USC and then just stared at him like he had lost his mind. I couldn't even figure out how to explain the Clemson hitch cover because I was in some kind of shock.

Then he asked me why I was in such a hurry. I mumbled something about being in class for 5 hours and I must have been thining about the lecture material, but didn't really know. Duh! It was then that he told me I "took off from the redlight at 58 miles an hour in a 45 mile per hour zone."

Ok, first of all I don't even think that is possible. I love my Jeep but I am pretty confident that it doesn't do 0-58 in 5 seconds. I started babbling that I knew he was behind me and I was trying to stay at the exact speed limit. He gave me a look and then I realized how that sounded! Then, I grabbed his hand on instint and said, "No, no, no! I didn't mean to imply that I wouldn't have been watching my speed if you weren't behind me!"

Just for the record, I think it is a really dumb move to grab a state troopers hand. I am pretty sure they don't like people touching them. But, he just said ok and then went to research my record. I got a speeding ticket a few months ago that I kind of deserved, but that's another story. So, I figured that I would get another ticket for sure.

When he handed me a warning, I started babbling again about not meaning to speed! I don't know why I thought I needed to add more detail since he had already let me off with a warning! I don't know what was wrong with me. I guess I was just in shock about the whole deal. One thing I learned is that I can go from calm and collected to total babbling idiot in 5 seconds flat!

WILLIS JAMMIN' OUT

He is still a bit scared of the camera, but I was trying to do this funky white girl dance to keep him going. Perhaps seeing me doing that would have been even funnier than this video! Ha! I think Willis will forget about the camera soon and I will be able to post more video of him. He keeps us laughing around here!

NEED YOUR HELP

We have a tree in our yard that is producing tons of these little things. We cracked it open and it had what looked like lima beans inside...about 3 of them. We have no clue what these are and neither does our neighbor. Any ideas?

HISTORY LESSON

I recently watched a documentary about Americans’ Martin and Gracia Burnham. They were captured by an Islamic rebel group in the Philippines, while celebrating their anniversary. They, along with others, were held hostage for over a year. Sadly, Martin was killed on the day they were to be rescued.

During the documentary, Gracia spoke of one day when Martin was forced, by the Islamic group, to sing our National Anthem. They heard, by radio, of the events that happened in America on 9/11 and the Islamic group was mocking us. Gracia said Martin’s heart ached for America, and with tears streaming down his face, he sang The Star Spangled Banner with all his heart. Gracia said that even in his current situation, his thoughts were with his home and the tragedy that occurred here. He stood up and got through the song while their capturers laughed and mocked him the entire time. That, folks, is what you call a hero.

Now, fast forward to this past weekend…Will and I were watching the Olympics as Phelps won a gold medal to add to his collection. Our president was in the audience watching the event and we felt proud when our National Anthem was played right there in China. But, we were shocked when someone cut it off before the final words were played out. We are sure that was not an intentional move.

As we sat there, we started talking about teaching Willis the words to the National Anthem. We both started singing it to him and both realized that during certain parts we were sort of singing without forming words and then singing the words we knew really loud. I was pretty embarrassed that we didn’t know each and every word.

I immediately looked up the words and we sat there singing that song over and over until we had the words down. Yes, it sounded like of one those American Idol auditions that they use to show how badly people sing, but we didn’t care. And, guess what? Willis now sings, “Oh, say can you seeeeeeeee….” He hasn’t gotten any further, because I think he just loves to say “seeeeee” and then start over.

My point about this blog is that every American should know the words to our National Anthem. I challenge you now to try singing the song. Yes, right now. Go ahead….I’m waiting.

Did you know all the words? If so, that is great! If not, you might feel a little embarrassed like Will and I did. Actually, we felt a LOT embarrassed. We talk about our soldiers a lot and all that America has faced to date. We should have known those words, but when you don’t sing it every day, you forget. We did. We know them now though, and we are proud of it too!

I would like to print the words for you here. By the way, if you don’t know what the word rampart means…we didn’t…here is the definition—A type of defensive wall consisting of a low earthen embankment topped by a parapet or palisade.

Now, stand up, put your hand over your heart and sing LOUD…I want to hear you right here in South Carolina. And the next time you are at an event where this is played, I want you to sing each and every word as loud and proud as you possibly can!

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light,

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,

O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?

And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Also, check out this link—if it doesn’t bring a tear to your eye, then I don’t know what will---

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSiRUSjSJnQ

CLEMSON DAM

Our attempt to find a bike trail night before last didn't pan out. We were told the general vicinity of the trail, however, we never found it. We ended up on a 5 mile long dirt road with no end in site. We just kept driving and driving in an attempt to find an end. After driving for what seemed like an eternity, we came up on a dam. There were beautiful views out there. We walked around and saw the sights and then headed back home. Of note though--even though we were in a very beautiful, peaceful place, it was partially ruined by a drunk fisherman who decided to pee...a river...right in front of us. We both decided that was one tough bike workout...getting the bikes in the Jeep at home and then not taking them out, that is. Will had to work last night, so maybe we will try again tonight. Wish us luck!