Trip Down Memory Lane

Today I packaged up one of my old cell phones to send away to be recycled. Before I sent it, I went through and deleted all the numbers in the address book. Maybe 50% of those people I still know where they are. Some of them are people I don't even remember- nicknames that I can't remember who they were...

While there are some people that have disappeared, it made me very thankful for those people who are still around. Years later, in spite of change and often geography, they are still the most dialed numbers in my current cell phone.

That is something to truly be thankful for.

ODU lost and the Bengals beat the Steelers?

What an odd weekend!

ODU lost their first football game of the season on Saturday. The weather was absolutely perfect, the fans hyper but the other team better. So alas down by 3, they lost.

However, my sister text me last night to let me know that the Bengals beat the Steelers!

Some back story on the Bengals: several years ago, all of my friends were completely obsessed with football (this has not changed). Every Sunday afternoon I would be propped up at someone's house bored out of my mind while they all jumped around in brightly colored shirts with numbers on the back. So, Monday at work I looked at one of the resident football guys and said "Who is the worst team in the league right now?" Without even blinking he said "The Cincinatti Bengals." So from then on, they have been my team.

And you know what? They have gotten better. My first season I followed they were 8 and 8, got a new coach and Carson Palmer started showing promise. I have my one Bengals t-shirt that I wear on the rare events that I go to watch games. And while I know I am not a die hard fan, it does make me happy when they win.

Because they are MY team!

All Access 5 k

I love new races. My sister and I (and on occasion my mom) run races around the area (everything from 5k to marathons- thought only my sister does the marathon type races). And while you would think the races that have been around for a while would be the favorites, I really like the new ones.

Missy and I ran in the All Access 5k on Sunday morning. This race is at the Virginia Beach Amphitheatre. The weather was really nice and the course was pretty flat. Part of it was running through the parking lot (which I hated) but running through the actual amphitheater and the area around it was nice.

Afterwards there was Red Bull and Mexican food. Also we got to go back stage and see the dressing rooms at the amphitheatre where all of the celebrities have been. My sister rocked it out and finished in great time, it was not one of my better races. But I ran the whole thing and feel confident that when the 10k I am running on Halloween comes around I will be able to run it.

But here is the really great thing about new races-- they are small. There were only about 25 people in my age group, as compared to the several hundred people in my age group when I ran the Shamrock 8k.

My sister likes the pomp and circumstance of the big race, but I like not having to walk a mile to my car after running 5. I like not waiting in huge lines for food. And I liked the time to myself to just run, instead of tripping over those around me.

Regardless the exercise is great and I love spending time with my sister, so it's a win-win. And maybe next year we can run it with a stroller!

My roommate

Think she looks annoyed? Bella was sunning herself in a chair when I decided it was the perfect opportunity to snap a picture.

Quote of the Day

"All I ask is this: Do something. Try something. Speaking out, showing up, writing a letter, a check, a strongly worded e-mail. Pick a cause -- there are few unworthy ones. And nudge yourself past the brink of tacit support to action. Once a month, once a year, or just once."

-Joss Whedon, writer and film director (b. 1964)

ODU!

So I attended my first college football game on Saturday! It was the opening game for the ODU Monarchs, who have not had a football team since the 1930s!


Before the game, I tailgated with some friends of mine. We had amazing food and I played cornhole for the first time. I'm not half bad! Alicia played in her blue and white for team spirit!







The spot where we tailgated was only about two blocks away from the stadium, so after we finished eating we packed up and moved down to enjoy the festivities! The new stadium is beautiful and it was FULL!



ODU has never had a marching band before, so this was their first performance!




And then of course, there are the actual football players...



ODU ended up beating Chowan, so overall it was a great night!

Book Review- Max Lucado "Fearless"

Let me start by saying that this is a great book. It's one of the most relevant things I have read in a long time without actually being a book about politics or the recession. I don't generally think of myself as a fearful person. This book reminded me that fear comes in a lot of different flavors, often disguising itself as worry... which is something I do alot.

But more powerfully it reminded that me that God doesn't want me to fear. The story that Lucado highlights in the beginning is of the disciples on the boat with Jesus. The wind and waves get out of control, and the experienced sailors try everything that they can to get things under control. When they have exhausted their efforts, they finally cry out. We often do the same thing. We try every alternative possible before finally crying out to God to save us from the mess we are in. God wants to be our first thought- not an after thought.

Of Christ's 125 imperatives issued while he is on earth, 21 of them are related to us as believers NOT fearing. The second most common command only appears 8 times. Statistically it must be very important that we not fear.

But more importantly, fear affects our relationship with God. Lucado uses the word "corrodes." We fear because we don't trust. And it amazes me to think that I might not fully trust the Creator of the Universe.

None of the other books I have reviewed before have I recommended. I think this is a great book. I didn't expect anything less from Max Lucado but he surpassed my expectations.

Tailgating, Woo hoo!

I am so excited that I am going to my first college football game this weekend (it's probably only my third real football game ever, but we won't go into that). I am VERY exciting to be going to watch the first ODU football game with 20,000 other people who are VERY excited. I have very minimal football knowledge but know that Heather and Josh will give me a hand in understanding everything. Hopefully I will have pictures to post on Monday! Go Monarchs!

My Secret Project

I have been working on a secret project for the last little bit and today it can finally be unveiled. http://www.afrugalchick.com/ is up and running. I have been thinking for a while about starting a web site about coupons and finance because they are areas I am very passionate about. And people don't always realize how simple, little things can make a big difference! So, please go over and check it out! And if you have some advice or comments, feel free to leave me a comment or drop me an e-mail at afrugalchick@aol.com.

5 a.m.!

At 4:45 this morning I woke up. And there was no going back to sleep. It wasn't until I thought about it later I went to bed last night at 10 so my body thought I had a full night of sleep by 4:45.

Since there was nothing else to do, I went for a run. 4.5 miles in the cool weather of the morning- it was really nice running. There still were so many more people on the road than I thought there would be!

It has begun

Today I began my last class of graduate school. And it looks like I am taking the road less traveled on this one.

For our final class we have the option to do one of two kinds of projects. Thus far 16 people have responded which kind of project they would like to do and I am the only one who chose my avenue. I know it's the more difficult but I also believe it will be the most fulfilling. So hopefully I haven't gotten in over my head!