Comfort Zone

If you didn't see Elf (again) over the holiday season, you're missing a few free laugh out loud moments.  And to me, those are rare!  I've posted a video clip above of Buddy's trip to the mall;  the escalator scene is especially near and dear to my heart because I experienced the tramautic ride in Dilliards at Broadway Square Mall in Tyler almost 30 years ago.  I don't remember much about the episode except my mother's face--filled with horrr and embarassment.  How she managed to free me from the grips of that moving staircase will always be a mystery, but I'm sure of one thing:  my flexibility and perfect high kicks (a la Southern Belle) are mainly attributed to early splits training. 

How true this image applies to our lives:  We want to flee from our present situation, but getting out seems impossible....even when an exit strategy is mapped out for us.  We make excuses because we don't like change.  It's not the airplane ride we're scared of, it's not knowing what to expect once we land.  I mean logically, we all know the odds of dying in a car crash on our daily commute is much more likely to happen, right?  But, it's routine....we know what to expect once we get to the office, school, or wherever you're going that you've been time and time again.  Think back to that first day of work, or even further (strain really hard) to the first day of kindergarten.  That's got to be the most horrible day for children and parents alike.  If you were observing this event for the first time, you would swear the kids were going off to Auswich concentration camp and sweet little Miss Jones was really Hitler.  But that's our fear at an all time hyper pitch. 

Fear can be debilitating to the point of paralysis even if it means staying in a bad position.  John 5 narrates a historical recount of Jesus healing the sick one Sunday (regarded as the Sabbath in Jerusalem). 

"...Crowds of sick people—blind, lame, or paralyzed—lay on the porches.s5 One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years.6 When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, "Would you like to get well?"



7 "I can't, sir," the sick man said, "for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me."


8 Jesus told him, "Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!"


9 Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking!....

I love how Jesus asks the question, "would you like to get well?", to emphasize it's OUR choice.  We can take it or leave it.  Astonishing is the answer of the sick man, "I can't, sir".  As if his handicaps were too large for Jesus to heal.  This is glaringly true in my own life everyday.  I can't count the times I've not accepted Christ's eager attempts to deliver me.  I even know what's on the other side of the escalator, and I'm still wired to stay put because I think (scratch that, Satan thinks) I get caught up in doubting myself.  It's easier to stay wounded and use it as a crutch vs. accepting grace and living with purpose.  Why?  Because Satan tells us so.

Next time God asks you a rhetorical question like, "you want me to help you Whit?"....don't say "no thanks, I'm ok".....say, "yes sir, I'm yours....take me to the top!"

Prayer

"Father,

Please don't let me be so impatient with myself.  I fret, I scold, I deplore my many shortcomings.  Why am I so messy?  Why do I get myself into so many complicated situations?  Now why did I say that? Won't I ever learn?

My mind carries on an idiot monologue of self-reproach.  Or I lie awake bewailing the day's mistakes.  I wince before them.  I call myself names I would never call other people.  I am stung and tormented by these self - lacerations.

I know all this to be useless.  The more I berate myself the worse I seem to become.  And it gets between us.  It is unworthy of the trust I should have in You who made me as I am, and who loves me despite my faults.  I know that You want me to be aware of them and to improve as best I can.  But help me to forgive myself a little more quickly, to be a little kinder to myself." 

by Marjorie Holmes, For Women Only: The Fine Art of Being a Woman

Slipping

click here to order off Amazon

Psalm 40:12-13 NLT
For troubles surround me--too many to count!  My sins pile up so high I can't see my way out.  They outnumber the hairs on my head.  I have lost all courage.

If you've read Beth Moore's book, Get out of That Pit!, you'll find yourself nodding your head and saying, "you go, sister!"  But if you've never heard of the book, get it, it changed my life. 

Recently, I've faced the music and re-visited all the slimy pits I've either been thrown into, unknowingly slipped into, or repeatedly jumped...(scratch that) DOVE into.  Everyone can relate to their own dark, stinky pit, but they all have 2 things in common: 

1. Satan wants us to believe there's no way out.  (enter guilt....I deserve to be here....God is punishing me)
2. Satan makes us feel like we're all alone.  (enter shame....embarassed to reach out for help....even worst, embarassed to ADMIT there is even a problem to ourselves)

One of my favorite quotes directly from her book:  "Ironically, nothing makes us feel more alone than being in a pit, yet we've got enough underground company there to displace the overpopulation of West Texas gophers and leave them homeless for years!"

Everyone one of us is carrying around some secret, horrible pain.  From the alcoholic bum begging for quarters to feed his addiction (eventually leading to death) to the beautiful stylish neighbor, married to a doctor, mom to 2 children, always smiling, always impeccable, always on time.  She's also carrying a secret: prescription pill addiction.  Whether it's a brown paper bag or a $5,000 Hermes Birkin purse, they hold the same thing: JUNK

Let me end with these absolute truths:

1. Satan wants you to stay right where you are.  And he is a smart, smart cookie.  I could go on and on about all the different tactics he manipulates to make you believe that you're right where you need to be.  (another day, or book!)

2. God wants you out!  He's got incredible things waiting for you to accomplish!! Do you know your experience in that pit can be a gift to keep others from slipping?  What do you think I'm doing right now?  I've got to share the GOOD news.  What is possible through all the pain and darkness that seems to last forever.  (that's Satan too, b/c mine only lasted short term, but it SEEMED like eternity)

3. God still loves you just as much as he did before.  Of all Satan's lies that I believed, the one I grabbed onto most was that there was no way that God would punish me, pull away from me, could love me anymore.  We are surrounded by a world filled with conditions:  the prettier we are, the more attention we get; the more successful and money you make, the more friends you have.  Even in mother-daughter relationships AND marital relationships, you see the constant conditional love doses that are given contingent on what one perceives as "good enough".  Stay with me here:  GOD LOVES US UNCONDITIONALLY NO MATTER WHAT!  In order to understand "unconditional", you must delve into the Bible.  But, rest assured:  you are absolutely secure in the unchanging love of God.

I would encourage you to go get/order the book by Beth Moore "Get out of That Pit" because it's an easy, uplifiting, honest book that will change your life no matter what pain still lingers. 

Look forward to hearing more success stories as we move through this "thing called life".

How to lift a stain from your heart.

Isaiah 1:18 

"Come now, let's settle this", says the Lord.
"Though all your sins are like scarlet, I will make them white as snow
Though they are red like crimson, I will make them white as wool."

Will you ask Him to make you clean?

Psalm 51:1-7 (David's repentance)

"Have mercy on me, O God, because ot your unfailing love....against you, and you alone I have sinned....Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow."

Bored from Information Overload?

There are plenty of books and websites dedicated to starting a new project, whether it's organizing your home, sharpening your time management skills, building a nursery, starting a blog, joining a Bible Study, getting married and staying married. All of these "projects", big or small, have the same key elements: Set Goals. Establish Priorities. Develop a Game Plan. I completely agree that motivation to start the task is imperative, but what about finishing? None of these books address the forks in the road each one of us encounters along the way. When the fun and "newness" wears off, or an urgent email from your boss demanding you scratch the business plan you're almost through with and focus on another plan. Or, Being just as determined in the 4th quarter as a losing team fan as you were at kickoff. (I’m talking to you Cowboy fans)
Nobody understands boredom better than me—I was diagnosed with ADD just one week ago. Since then, I’ve delved into the widely diagnosed disease that has spread like wildfire over the past decade.

This excerpt was taken from John Spalding’s article you can find here: http://www.somareview.com/boredom.cfm
(great read after you read my entire post, of course)
It may be an entertainment overload that’s boring us. “When stimulation comes at us from every side,” explains Winter, “we reach a point where we cannot respond with much depth to anything. Bombarded with so much that is exciting and demands our attention, we tend to become unable to discriminate and choose from among the many options. The result is that we shut down our attention to everything.”

You wonder why advertising companies spend millions of dollars on 30 second commercials. The emails I write and receive today have no grammatical accuracy whatsoever; the texts are shortened to abbreviated acronyms, phrases, numbers, that I usually have my 8 year old neighbor interpret for me. I often refer to the Cheesecake Factory Menu being a joke. There are too many choices from pizza to pad thai, and after flipping through their book of choices, I’m too exhausted to eat. Take me to Houston’s, where I’ve tried all 8 of their entrees and it’s always good. KISS…Keep it Simple Stupid is my motto. Because brain overload is destroying us.

There are 2 types of boredom (in my opinion):

Lack of Stimuli: you’re in a doctor’s waiting room and have left your blackberry/ipod/whatever in the car. The only thing to read is Highlights for Kids and Diabetes Management, and the colorful pharmaceutical pamphlets that always convince me, “I need this…I’ll ask my doctor for a sample.” (That’s another topic, but pharm companies have brilliant marketing campaigns)
Too much stimuli: too much distraction can actually cause boredom. Sounds extremely contradictory? Not really.  (another excerpt taken from link above)

“The brain is always adjusting to new stimuli,” says Augustin de la Peña, a psychophysiologist who has studied boredom for 30 years. “Once the brain has seen something new a few times,it no longer finds it interesting. The brain’s ante for stimulation is always being upped, just as a drug addict needs larger and larger doses to get high.” ……“We live in an ADD culture, and the effects are crippling. Students today are very good at retrieving information. They can scan the Web quickly and find what they need. But to get them to read just a paragraph in a text, to really mull it over and make sense of it, is increasingly difficult. As a result, some of their cognitive skills atrophy.”

The RESULT: EMPTINESS (Stay with me here, this is important!!)

Boredom has been considered taboo to study in Psychology since the 1930’s. It’s impossible to measure boredom in the way that you can a rat’s success in finding cheese in a maze. We want to think that we do most things in life out of a sense of nobility, and not just because they’re bored and have nothing better to do. (Another excerpt from the link above)
But maybe being bored is exactly where God wants us to be. Quiet. Examine our life. Pray to Him. Read His Word (Bible) for encouragement. If we listen, He’ll whisper, “you’re bored because you’re not seeking me to fill your time, entertainment, pleasure, and struggles….24/7.” After 32 years of filling my emptiness with different worldly choices, I am finally understanding boredom = emptiness of Jesus Christ.

Proverbs 4:25 NLT
Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.

bethel college "trick pass"

This is why i love college football so much more than pro! 

Fort Hood Tragedy

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/110909dntexpenalty.4081ec8.html
I am horrified by the recent attack on Fort Hood, less than a 3 hour drive south from here.  I'm even more disturbed from this recent article this morning  from Dallas Morning News. (click on link to read latest)

I'm sickened by the fact that this terrorist will probably escape the judgment he deserves. I have never considered myself to be radically skewed right/conserative/republican, but after experiencing this recent attack, I support the US Military taking more extreme measures to screen potential candidates before a "free for all" approach in accepting applicants. It's moved past discrination and on to protecting our lives from murderous enemies. Enough is enough.

JUST TEXAS

Oh my goodness! I usually despise Jeff Foxworthy and all things associated with his humor, but I have to say, this is worth reading--grammatical mistakes and all! Thanks to our dear friend Mike Barber who married Clay and I (almost a year ago, hooray!)

(I have no idea who the original author is; something tells me it's a culmination of Texan's editing and adding over the years (or centuries).)

Personal note: Mom, please note this one very true fact cut and pasted from the post: "If the speed limit on the highway is 55 mph --you're going 80 and everybody's passing you, you may live in Texas" and this was NOT added by me!!



Pep, Texas 79353
Smiley, Texas 78159
Paradise, Texas 76073
Rainbow, Texas 76077
Sweet Home, Texas 77987
Comfort, Texas 78013
Friendship, Texas 76530

Love the Sun?

Sun City , Texas 78628
Sunrise , Texas 76661
Sunset, Texas 76270
Sundown, Texas 79372
Sunray , Texas 79086
Sunny Side , Texas 77423

Want something to eat?

Bacon , Texas 76301
Noodle , Texas 79536
Oatmeal , Texas 78605
Turkey , Texas 79261
Trout , Texas 75789
Sugar Land , Texas 77479
Salty, Texas 76567
Rice , Texas 75155
Pearland , Texas 77581
Orange , Texas 77630

And top it off with:
Sweetwater , Texas 79556

Why travel to other cities? Texas has them all!


Detroit, Texas 75436
Cleveland, Texas 75436
Colorado City, Texas 79512
Denver City, Texas 79323
Klondike, Texas 75448
Nevada, Texas 75173
Memphis , Texas 79245
Miami , Texas 79059
Boston , Texas 75570
Santa Fe , Texas 77517
Tennessee Colony , Texas 75861
Reno , Texas 75462
Pasadena , Texas 77506
Columbus , Texas 78934

Feel like traveling outside the country? Don't bother buying a plane ticket!

Athens , Texas 75751
Canadian, Texas 79014
China , Texas 77613
Egypt , Texas 77436
Ireland , Texas 76538
Italy , Texas 76538
Turkey , Texas 79261
London, Texas 76854
* New London, Texas 75682
Paris, Texas 75460
Palestine, Texas 75801

No need to travel to Washington D.C.
Whitehouse, Texas 75791

We even have a city named after our planet!
Earth, Texas 79031

And a city named after our State!
Texas City, Texas 77590

Exhausted?
Energy, Texas 76452

Cold?
Blanket, Texas 76432
Winters, Texas

Like to read about History?
Santa Anna, Texas
Goliad, Texas
Alamo, Texas
Gun Barrel City, Texas
Robert Lee, Texas

Need Office Supplies?
Staples, Texas 78670

Want to go into outer space?
Venus, Texas 76084
Mars, Texas 79062

You guessed it. It's on the state line.
Texline, Texas 79087

For the kids...
Kermit, Texas 79745
Elmo, Texas 75118
Nemo, Texas 76070
Tarzan, Texas 79783
Winnie, Texas 77665
Sylvester, Texas 79560

Other city names in Texas , to make you smile......
Frognot, Texas 75424
Bigfoot, Texas 78005
Hogeye, Texas 75423
Cactus, Texas 79013
Notrees, Texas 79759
Best, Texas 76932
Veribest , Texas 76886
Kickapoo , Texas 75763
Dime Box , Texas 77853
Old Dime Box , Texas 77853
Telephone , Texas 75488
Telegraph , Texas 76883
Whiteface , Texas 79379
Twitty, Texas 79079

And last but not least, the Anti-Al Gore City ...
* Kilgore , Texas 75662

And our favorites...

Cut n Shoot, Texas
Gun Barrell City , Texas
Hoop And Holler, Texas
Ding Dong, Texas
and, of course,
Muleshoe , Texas

Here is what Jeff Foxworthy has to say about folks from Texas ...
If someone in a Lowe's store offers you assistance and they don't work there, you may live inTexas ;

If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you may live in Texas ;

If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you may live in Texas ;

If 'Vacation' means going anywhere south of Dallas for the weekend, you may live in Texas ;

If you measure distance in hours, you may live in Texas ;

If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you may live in Texas ;

If you install security lights on your house and garage, but leave both unlocked, you may live in Texas ;

If you carry jumper cables in your car and your wife knows how to use them, you may live inTexas ;

If the speed limit on the highway is 55 mph --you're going 80 and everybody's passing you, you may live in Texas ;

If you find 60 degrees 'a little chilly,' you may live in Texas ;

If you actually understand these jokes, and share them with all your Texas friends, you definitely live in Texas .

Here are some little known, very interesting facts about Texas .

1. Beaumont to El Paso : 742 miles
2. Beaumont to Chicago : 770 miles
3. El Paso is closer to California than to Dallas
4. World's first rodeo was in Pecos , July 4, 1883.
5. The Flagship Hotel in Galveston is the only hotel in North America built over water.
6. The Heisman Trophy was named after John William Heisman who was the first full-time coach at Rice University in Houston .
7. Brazoria County has more species of birds than any other area in North America .
8. Aransas Wildlife Refuge is the winter home of North America 's only remaining flock of whooping cranes.
9. Jalapeno jelly originated in Lake Jackson in 1978.
10. The worst natural disaster in U.S. history was in 1900, caused by a hurricane, in which over 8,000 lives were lost on Galveston Island .
11. The first word spoken from the moon, July 20,1969, was " Houston ," but the space center was actually in Clear Lake City at the time.
12. King Ranch in South Texas is larger than Rhode Island .
13. Tropical Storm Claudette brought a U.S. rainfall record of 43' in 24 hours in and aroundAlvin in July of 1979.
14. Texas is the only state to enter the U.S. by TREATY, (known as the Constitution of 1845 by the Republic of Texas to enter the Union ) instead of by annexation. This allows the Texas Flag to fly at the same height as the U.S. Flag, and may divide into 5 states.
Also, can secede from the union at our discretion...which we may do in short order if things in Washington don't change soon!
15. A Live Oak tree near Fulton is estimated to be 1500 years old.
16. Caddo Lake is the only natural lake in the state.
17. Dr Pepper was invented in Waco in 1885. There is no period in Dr Pepper..
18. Texas has had six capital cities:
Washington -on- the Brazos, Harrisburg , Galveston , Velasco, West Columbia, and Austin .
19. The Capitol Dome in Austin is the only dome in the U.S. which is taller than the CapitolBuilding in Washington DC (by 7 feet).
20. The San Jacinto Monument is the tallest free standing monument in the world and it is taller than the Washington monument.
21. The name ' Texas ' comes from the Hasini Indian word 'tejas' meaning friends. Tejas is not Spanish for Texas .
22. The State Mascot is the Armadillo (an interesting bit of trivia about the armadillo is they always have four babies. They have one egg, which splits into four, and they either have four males or four females).
23. The first domed stadium in the U..S. was the Astrodome in Houston .
Cowboy's Ten Commandments posted on the wall at Cross Trails Church in Fairlie , Texas :
(1) Just one God.
(2) Honor yer Ma & Pa.
(3) No telling tales or gossipin'.
(4) Git yourself to Sunday meeting.
(5) Put nothin' before God.
(6) No foolin' around with another fellow's gal.
(7) No killin'.
(8) Watch yer mouth.
(9) Don't take what ain't yers.
(10) Don't be hankerin' for yer buddy's stuff.

texaholicgirl at gmail.com I NEED YOU

Dear Google, I understand you respect the privacy of all our gmail accounts, but PLEASE, OH PLEASE, see that texaholicgirl@gmail.com belongs to me and only me. I have no idea how I lost access to this email seeing that it's the only one email associated with THIS blog. So, my readers can't reach me and it doesn't bounce back letting them know I'm not available. Therefore, all the comments, critiques (lots of those), and community love has been sitting in Google cyber space and now I'm friendless. Will you please return texaholicgirl@gmail.com to it's rightful owner ASAP? Until then, I'm all alone. (with Dixie, my dog, that has not learned how to text or email....thank God)

Texican pulled

Have you tried this tasty new burger yet? It's good. Real good. Thank goodness they didn't take away the sandwich, or the "little spicy Mexican" flavor that makes this Whopper so, well....Texican.

"Mexico's ambassador to Spain said Monday he has written a letter to Burger King's offices in that nation objecting to the ad and asking that it be removed. Jorge Zermeno told Radio Formula that the ads "improperly use the stereotyped image of a Mexican." nbcdfw.com

I was surprised to hear that the Mexican community felt they were shown inferior compared to the alpha male tall cowboy. Personally, I think the wrestler is way cooler. He's the celebrity signing autographs and swimming leisurely while his lanky runt of a roomate is left to lick his envelopes and clean his pool. I would think all would consider it a positive spin for the stereotype of Mexican immigrant images that constantly portray them as domestic and labor workers.

This isn't the first time they are offended from a fast-food advertisement. How can we forget the loveable, Spanish speaking Chihauhau demanding "yo quiero Taco Bell".

The controversy has taken the focus on another theme in the commercial: the rise of roommates due to the economic fallout. Craigslist reported 20,000 more room-share postings in January 09 compared to January 08 with Dallas alone increasing 3200. It's not just seen on college campuses; suburban neighborhoods are renting out rooms to strangers because they have to.

Here's a brilliant idea: get Jack Black in his Nacho Libre suit to replace the unknown actor and justice will be done. And, the burger will not lose it's Mexican flavor.

PUMA buzzword alert

I was leisurely reading the style section of my Sunday Dallas Morning News when a certain sneaker caught my eye. Puma's are be-hoofin' every stylish male (and some female) monikers at both casual and upscale events. This trend got me curious, so I wiki'd the brand to find out much more about this everywhere shoe line. These smart sneakers have truly invented form meets fashion with Alexander McQueen and Japanese fashion guru Mihara Yasuhiro as current contributing designers.

If this seems a little "haute couture" for you, Johnny Damon, the all star center fielder for the New York Yankees, dons both cleats for games and casual sneakers at night. Who couldn't love the whimsical shoes with names encouraging both trend setters and retro lovers alike. Top sellers King LS-Old School Pumas and The Suede-Sweet Street Shoes are examples of cross genre appeal.

Digging further, I stumbled on another lightweight P.U.M.A. transportation device: Personalized Urban Mobility and Accessibility.

"It’s based on the premise that many cars are “over-engineered” for some driving situations. A Cadillac Escalade, for example, is probably unnecessary to drive a few blocks in Manhattan, where research says the average speed was 18.8 miles per house and three-quarters of the population doesn’t own a car, according to research cited by GM, which has been working with Segway for about 18 months on the project." http://cycledallas.blogspot.com/

This looks more liked a tricked out wheelchair then half a Smart Car, but General Motors is demanding we take it serious: this is the future in transportation.

Can you picture this: cruisin' along Dallas Tollway North in your SUV and coming upon a 2 wheeled motorized cart. This will go over like a fly in a punchbowl, especially considering they max out at 35 mph. But we're going GREEN, ya'll!!!

You'll catch me in a pair of PUMA sneakers way before getting in a P.U.M.A. to go grocery shopping. Which leads to my next question: where in the world do you put your groceries from SuperTarget? Let's just face it, Texas is and will always be "supersized".

Ferrari owner watches train collide

Only 2 days after April Fools, Jeff Sabold watches as his Ferrari gets pummeled by a train. No joke.

NBCdfw.com posted the audio clip of the 911 here...check it out!

A 911 operator received a call from Mr. Sabold at roughly 3:00 AM, but didn't have much luck understanding his whereabouts. Upon asking his location, he only had time to respond "railroad tracks and some woods" before the obliterating crash was heard through the phone. Sebold answered into the phone, "yep, it's gone".

And so was Sabold. He named Arlington and Mckinney, 40 and 80 miles repectively, off=target before decisively confirming he was in Mansfield. Fortunately, the operator was clued in from the very sober train driver that had dialed in after slamming into the sports car. Turns out, Sabold and his scrap metal were over 100 miles from his approximation.

Police officers arrived at the scene and arrested Sabold for intoxication after failing field sobriety tests. We know one thing, he's not skating out of trouble like Ferris Bueller after destroying his red Ferrari!

Makeover revealed: Nefertiti

Updated technology has detected "a slightly different face at the core layer of the Egyptian queen’s famous 3,300-year-old bust than the finely chiseled planes of the statue’s surface—one with a bumpy nose, less striking eye and cheekbone structure, and wrinkles around the mouth." (read WSJ full article here) I found this article more humorous than archeologically compelling. Our modern times buzz with millions of hush-hush ways to attain beauty. Victoria's Secret, "Maybe your born with it, Maybe it's Maybelline", and Preparation H for undereye bags (yes, it works) are proof that society thrives on masking flaws. As i perused throught the numerous images of ancient Egyptians, it was virtually impossible not to find a face, both women and men, that wasn't painted heavy with kohl. Not only was it decorative and ornamental, the practice also served medicinal, magical and spiritual practices. An unadorned and thus unprotected eye was believed vulnerable to the Evil Eye. I deeply relate to this necessary, almost spiritual application of makeup growing up in Texas. My mother literally believed it was the 11th commandment, "thou shalt not leave the house without lipstick on". I still feel a teeny bit ashamed when I forget to line my lips and guiltily reach for the Carmex stashed in my glovebox. Perhaps that's why my lipstick to blush ratio is 100:1; all those unplanned trips to Walgreens beauty aisle due to being unprepared. So even though archeologists think they uncovered a truly garrish lie, wakeup and smell the Botox!! Beauty secrets ain't going anywhere. Kudos to the original beauty queen, Nefertiti. She had a good run at fooling us all on her natural state.

Bruce marries with Demi in tow

In a private ceremony at his residence in Parot Bay, Turks and Caicos, Bruce Willis, 54, married model, Emma Heming, 30 along with Demi Moore, their 3 daughters, and her husband Ashton Kutcher.

This is the second marriage for Bruce Willis after being a playboy among Hollywood young starlets. Ironically, the age difference between Willis and his young bride mirrors the decades between Demi and Ashton. But the media circus gabbing about the age discrepancy with Willis/Heming is minimal, if not non-existant compared to the uproar when Moore/Kutcher wed.

As we look at the phenomenon, many slang terms exist to describe these pairings. "Cougars" are women pursuing men at least 8 years their junior. The name implies these women are merely predators rather than females that are attracted to younger men. Don't we all have our preferences when it comes to dating? Some like tall, some like short, some like quiet, others outgoing--thank God for Baskin Robbins' 31 flavors! On the flip side, a "cradle robber" refers to the older male involved with a younger woman.

These are recognized for spousal age differences, but what about the men and women that are dating/married to other people of "interest"? Loud dinner guests? Selfish narcissists? Brainless pretty boys? Gabbing airheads? Texas Cheerleader Moms? and the worst, Obnoxious know-it-alls? You know the ones. I'm sure you have an actual name tied to every one of these descriptions and your cringing about the next time you have to be around them and their unfortunate spouse.

Without knowing, I just coined a new term, "unfortunate spouse". This covers all the poor souls that (electively) stay with those that are deemed "unacceptable" to us. But, our perception is not a reality for all: We may intentionally not invite Demure Annie and Loudmouth Billy to our annual neighborhood BBQ soiree, but they may be dining with Brad and Angelina at Le Cirque that weekend anyhow. What's acceptable to one is not universal for all.

Google even now has application for "labels" for Gmail. Thank God my "labels" aren't universal...there would be no order in the New World! My quirky "labels" work fine with me, but who am I to impose them on you? They're working for me.

Congrats Bruce and Emma! Hope this "Hollywood marriage" lasts longer than most. Oh, darn---that's a label.

Is KFC coming to Dallas streets?

What a genius branding campaign: KFC has sent a letter to the nation's mayors offering to patch potholes for free leaving a stenciled impression, "Re-freshed by KFC".

"In honor of our Frest Tastes Best campaing, we want to come and Re-'Fresh' your roads!" KFC president Robert Eaton says in the letter.

US roads are plagued with 350 million potholes which equates to every one man, woman, and child in America.

I'm constantly annoyed when I find myself in one of the mini-canyons that seem inevitable around my quiet Dallas neighborhood. One would thing in a neighborhood flanked with speed-bumps, the lows wouldn't be as drastic as the highs. My tires and shocks get a beating, not to mention whoever is sitting shotgun to witness my outburst of "road" rage.

KFC is choosing 4 lucky cities to "Re-Fresh" their roads, and I am passionate about Texas being a grateful recipient.

Give me some material to compose a pleading "call to action" to our Texas mayors.

Flying High

Do bigger promises give room for hope or disappointment?

When I first heard the news that Southwest Airlines was launching wireless Internet access during flights, I yawned and quickly scanned the long list of boring Gizmodo.com techy news. I surfed over to PerezHilton.com and re-charged with the titillating content surrounding Britney Spears' Circus tour.

Looking back, in the expansive time of the Industrial Revolution, people were fascinated by the key enabling technology: the steam engine. Come on! If there was ever a time to open another web browser, it would be now...but Perez can wait.

Studies show that it took centuries to perfect the device until it became a power producer. But people were hopeful and remained loyal to the fact the someday it could (and would) change the world.

Fast forward to today. We have so many vast promises from techies pumping out programming code, that our appetite has become insatiable. I recently overheard a recent business traveler complaining that their "firewall wasn't fireproof". Because of the glitch, they lost one loyal passenger that had been satisfied with his backward ride to Memphis once a week.

We may be saying, "Gimme more" along with Britney, but are we ready for more? I say NO! Let's concentrate on perfecting what we have before we roll out the next blunder!

Lions, and logos and teeth, oh my!

Looks like losing NFL teams just need to tweak their logo, and POOF: re-emerge as a winner.

I laughed out loud when I read the Detroit Lions (may) have revamped their image of a lion with "detailed eyes and teeth". After a losing streak of 0-16, they might as well drink the magic potion the Cowardly Lion did to cover all of his fears of inadequacy.

Shallow healing has become so predominant in today's society that all walks of life are hoping for the power of false preconception to take them to the finish line. Just think if we put as much effort on our moral compass as we did in the topical masquerade? I say it's time to admit we're all cowards and get down to the basics of trying to attain greatness; not fake it.

Reese's birthday surprise!!

No, it's not a ring from Jake, but it IS a bedazzled phone which she seriously acts to "dork out" from excitement. She turns 33 today and I found this clip interesting because she pretty much summed up what I've discovered recently....I really don't know anything whatsoever! Summing of what she says in the first 10 seconds, you know you're finally maturing when you have completed your "know it all" phase and enter the oblivious stage of life.
Great, right when I had all the answers, the rug has to be jerked out from under me!! Actually, it's a bit humbling, and I can think of a person or two that needs a big dose of reality.

CHALLENGE QUESTION: What is the one "thing" you've come to realize you actually had no clue about before?

Brain Matters

Do you remember reading T. Boone Pickens donating $5 million dollars to the UT Dallas Center of BrainHealth recently? If not, you may be needing a "brain health physical".

Memory games and Sudoku are present day time fillers replacing tic tac toes and cross-word puzzles of yester year. The Alzheimer's rate is roughly 10% higher in US than 5 years ago, and the number of Canadians with Alzheimer's is expected to double by 2030 according to the Alzhiemer's Society of Cananda.

Dr. Sandra Chapman, director of the Center for Brain Health, explains that your mind needs a regular workout by testing "higher mental functions" as they do in their state of the art facility off Mockingbird in Dallas. I'm having a hard time visualizing this "brain gym", so I'm hoping for a visitors pass before I join.

We are aware that the injection of overprocessed carbohydrates and junk food on every corner is causing our obesity. But what's the culprit here? What is the blood sucking memory tic of today's fast paced world?

The information highway we are forced to drive day after day with no diet in sight. There's simply too much STUFF coming our way in every direction, every second, of every day. "Multi-tasking" has become a perceived necessity to survive: as a superstar in the boardroom or Super Mommy. But, it's time we slow down and stop.

We weren't designed to do 2 or more things simultaneously...it's unnatural and sooner or later, your brain is going to rebel.

(click HERE to read "How NOT to Multitask - Work Simpler and Saner" at ZenHabits.net)

Spring Bouquet

Spring has sprung! And no worries, you don't have to have a green thumb or green in your wallet to add some floral color.

Lookie here....dozen roses purchased 5 days ago from Tom Thumb only $9.99. This picture does not do them justice, but these mammoth buds are ridiculously gorgeous and guaranteed to brighten a lackluster kitchen, entry, or bedroom.

For this price, you can afford to add some decadence in your life. And no reason to tell, fake the splurge and let him wonder about your secret admirer.....wink.

Chris and Rihanna--who's to blame?

The media scrutiny around the violent attack of pop singer Rihanna has left many wondering, who's to blame? Personally, the answer is blaringly apparent: Chris Brown deserves retribution like any other criminal committing this heinous crime. However, surveys and polls are proving surprisingly overwhelminging support for Mr. Brown. 46% of Boston teenagers say that Rihanna is responsible to what happened to her. This had me scratching my head, so I began to look back at historical events that would shape our disappointing moral compass. It didn't take me long to reflect on a tragic Shakespeare play I read at the tender age of 14. Was true love the reason for Othella murdering his wife?
Wrong.

"True love must embody compassion, empathy, and a determination to do what is best for the beloved. It must also embody trust. Othello’s love for Desdemona is full of fiery passion, but he does not trust her, does not feel compassion for her, and certainly the fact that he murders her indicates he does not have her best interest in mind. He only wants to satisfy what he experiences as a broken heart and possess her forever, for if she is dead, certainly no one else can ever have her."
source unknown

We've heard the mantra, "love doesn't hurt", but do we really buy into this? Has JEALOUSY always been an accepted excuse for causing harm to the ones we love?

WATCH THIS CLIP and share with your kids and loved ones. It's a strong but powerful message.

I challenge you NOT to forward....

BLOGGING gives BACK!!!

Oprah would be proud. A way to finally turn this cyber chat fest into a charitable gift annuity with every stroke.

With all the "blogging" going on these days, one has to wonder, "what is the purpose of a blog?" Of course, depending on which blogger is giving you his/her definition, you have an array of opinions.

OUR blog, not mine, is to serve as a "town hall" centered around conversation spurred topics that cultivate ideas, growth, and possibilities. I firmly believe that you must have an assortment of content, both light and heavy, to be threaded interactively in order to maximize a sense of community.

But what good is a community if it doesn't push towards a positive net change? What if your well thought out opinion was truly a donation to society? How much time would you invest in your contributing thought before you let your voice be heard? (or your fingers punch the keyboard?)

Now it's time>>>>I am putting a dollar ($1.00) match to every opinion you have!! Here's how it works:

1.) FOLLOW / SIGN IN texaholic.blogspot.com
2.) Every Monday I will post a CHALLENGE QUESTION
3.) Reply with your answer as a COMMENT to the post
4.) every complete answer = $1 dollar match to charitable organization
5.) 1 week later, a winning contributor is chosen based on his/her COMMENT
6.) I will write a personal check in the amount of total COMMENTS posted to *winner's choice of charity up to $100.00
7.) The contest starts over every Monday when new CHALLENGE QUESTION is posted.

A penny for your thoughts? Nah, too cheap....make it a buck, and pay it forward!

Introducing......SXSW

Two of the hottest afterhours parties during SXSW will take place at the former Safeway location next to CVS on the I-35 frontage road and East 12th Street. The Thursday night bash will be hosted by Playboy magazine and C3 Presents. Then, on Saturday at around midnight, gossip-monger Perez Hilton takes over. Lady Sovereign, Little Boots and Jeppe are confirmed acts we could find for that one.
http://www.myspace.com/jeppe

THOUGHTS????

Divorce may not be so easy...

http://www.nbcdfw.com/topics/?topic=Warren+Chisum

Divorce has never been easy for the innocent children caught in the middle. In fact, I think it's fair to say more times than not, their feelings are disregarded for adult driven motives. Growing up, I was an anomoly amongst friends affected by the unaviodable curse of the divorce rate. Now spiraling upward past 50%, it is unevitable that the crippling epidimic will affect every one of us. So, just as persons contemplating adoption must comply with adoption laws, doesn't it make sense that persons contemplating divorce must comply with standards that help ease the pain for children caught in the fire? Don't we owe at least this last ditch effort to our children?
A bill has been proposed which requires spouses filing divorce to complete workshops in "conflict management, communication skills and forgiveness skills". So, not only may this spare the kid's anxiety and emotional stress from parent's separation, it may also save the marraige upon completion. Sounds like a win-win, no?

Opponents see two problems: a hardship for the poor and disaster for domestic violence victims.

No matter what economic state we are in as a nation or a family unit, I believe a child's emotional health is invaluable and definitely worth the bargain price of $150 mandatory workshop if filing for divorce. Besides, if divorce is no longer a "get out of jail FREE pass", maybe we will look before leaping into a serious, life changing decision. Plus, the bill excludes anyone with "evidence" of domestic violence (police reports, doctor's notes) so that easy refuge can be sought.

Maybe, just maybe, this could not only mean fewer divorces, but fewer marraiges resulting in fewer innocent children caught in the fury of regret.

Love makes you better?

I just realized that being loved by the right person, your soulmate, makes you a good person.

What do I mean? Opposed to the cliche, "He/she makes me want to be a better person", when loved by the most amazing person in your universe, you've been elevated to that "better person" status.

This also represents a kind of love that is intangible to most...unconditional love. It's an eternal love that doesn't judge when your flaws surface. Your flaws are like pimples: you cover them up while out in public, but you gotta wash your face on a daily basis. Guess who gets to stare at your imperfect face?

On the flipside, don't expect bonus points for doing extra credit. I am the consummate reminder to my husband of my honorable actions throughout the day: "By the way, I organized your closet today" or "Darlin, did you notice your full tank of gas this morning?" I found myself actually pouting when I wasn't applauded. But, today it hit me like a ton of bricks when he shrugged off a moody tantrum without a nasty reply. He simply smiled and said, "How 'bout I take you to dinner?"

It was then I realized: no matter how many good deeds I do this week, it just doesn't compare to how much he already loves me. I just don't deserve it.....no, wait---I do!! I must, because he loves me!!

Sunshine Cleans!

I'll be watching THIS over the weekend!!

Although this could be the most FAB movie of the year, I doubt that it will be nominated for an Oscar. The sad truth is, when a movie comes out this early in the year the Academy overlooks the movie & the actors performances. Not because the actors or the movie aren't good, just that it's so early and the award contenders usually get released in October, November, & December. Plus the award nominations are in February 2010. But Amy Adams might be nominated for another movie that comes out towards the end of the year.
I like the fact that Amy and Emily care about their fans' sanity of much needed quality entertainment. So many A listers are too concerned with ripe timing that qualifies them for Oscar nods.

Now support your fellow selfless actors and go see this movie!

Forgive and learn

This story first touched my heart when I read the article in People titled "She Sent the Wrong Man to Prison" in this March's issue.

Watch and read to this true, inspirational story of hope, faith, and FORGIVENESS.

Magill's

Am i clairvoyant or what? As I mentioned in the previous post, this "other" spitfire couple is already making waves....airwaves that is. Check out the talented duo and their spirit filled music. And who said Love was not alive?

www.themagills.org
Move over June and Johnny.

3 of my FAV things...

"coffee, beer, and swine", say what? that's what Nathan Camp says.

"food is the common denominator of humanity....we don't just eat to live, we live to eat." This is the motto that packages their series in a tidy, cute package. But don't let the ho hum "been there; done that" make you log off quite yet.


There's plenty of other reasons to tune in and salivate:


1.) How can 2 beautiful people be so darn loveable?

It's just not fair....a dark brooding model, a masculine husband that loves his wife, an equally beautiful wife, and a quirky love that makes the whole exhibition totally believable. The likability factor between these 2 is magnetic and a recipe for success.


2.) I can relate.

No, I'm not a model nor do I live in Manhattan. But, the universal, down home charm warms the heart of every foodie and desperate housewife (natch!). From female to male, and confused genders between, this may just be the crossover show that boosts the Food Network to Primetime ratings. I'll watch for sure.

3.) Their friends are just as beautiful AND likable.

You couldn't have casted a better team; but they didn't. Their friends are the best collaboration since, you guessed it, Friends. Not only are they a perfect mix of hungry critics and entertaining guests, they also beg more exploration of telling their story. Matt and Megan (in the latest Thanksgiving episode) are cute to boot!! This Texan and Oklahoma couple are not only a talented, musical duo, get this: they have a Gerber baby in tow, little Maggie! I smell a spin off reality in the works...

To sum it up, Nate narrates in the pilot, what defines his life? God, wife, family, and friends. Oops, Nate, that 4 things not 3! That's OK, we'll match you with 4 stars instead of 3. I recommend you judge for yourself.

Do yourself a favor, and check it out. If you're as hungry as I am for good, ole fashioned casserole, this one will be worth the bite. Enjoy!

www.nathanlivestoeat.com

Idol is B I G G E R than ever!

With the world at an economic low point, it's hard to keep our chin up, and downright impossible to be "happy". In fact, with friends and family losing jobs left and right, it's almost unsympathetic verging on bragadocious to wear a smile these days. Enter our sadistic need to get our s&g's alone, in our safe haven of couch potato TV land.

Case and point: American Idol had it's largest number of voters last night, even AFTER the "big" return of AI Season I alum Kelly Clarkson. Giving a new meaning to "everything is bigger and better" hailing from our lone star state, her stage presence lacked the confidance her voice deserved which proved my initial theory: she's a lot more comfortable on the couch with her bag of chips.

Furthermore, the judges look as if they've all been sharing Paula's grab bag of meds. Is it just me or do they all look a little bleary eyed? Or perhaps it's just the front row view of the circus they've created that have their minds spinning...."is THIS really the hightest rating show?" No, Dawg, it's the only hoot and holler we can privately watch with glee...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meAsGBHnGuM
Click above if ya'll missed it last night....whacha think???