I'm a Netflix Moron

I love Netflix. It's a bill I gladly pay every month. And I usually go through about 6 DVDs a month, so in my opinion it's money well spent.

So last night I grabbed my pretty red envelope out of my mailbox. After shedding my jacket and dropping my bags, I opened it to reveal my new DVD- Ally McBeal Season 2 Disc 1. Having just finished Season 1 I was excited to keep going.

I push the button to open the DVD player and out in the tray comes Ally McBeal Season 1 Disc 6. I stared at it: Didn't I just send this DVD to Netflix? I only get one at a time- how have I managed to fool these people and get two DVDs at once?

I realize- I sent them the wrong DVD. I had looked at the name on the envelope and slipped in the wrong DVD. I must have sent them one of my personal ones. I look around- nothing I have been watching of late seems to be missing.

Then I look over at my DVDs that I have from the library. Yep, one of them is missing.

I SENT NETFLIX A DVD FROM THE LIBRARY!

So today I had to call Netflix and get it straightened out. Fortunately, because the DVD from the library has writing on it, it should not be too hard for them to find. Still, my pride is wounded.

The first week

So the first week of on-line dating has lead to the following conclusions:

1. People do not have friends who proof read their dating profiles. I have NEVER seen spelling like this from grown ups.

2. Do not put pictures with your ex cropped out. It's tacky.

3. If in your preferences you put do not want kids, don't put anything in your profile about the children you already have.

4. Don't be surprised if someone 20 years younger than you thinks that the age difference is an issue.

5. The questionaire at the beginning was incredibly long but very accurate. However I think they left out one vital question- cat or dog?

As far as the guys I have met, I have been matched with about 17 guys. Many of them had kids (which is a no for me), some of them were 15 years older than me and I also had to eliminate anyone who lives somewhere freezing cold. So that left 2 both of which I started communication with and then someone ended that after a series of questions were answered- one me and one him.

So after one week, I haven't found someone yet. But I look forward to seeing who the computer gods match me with tomorrow.

Day One

So today I set up my account with e-harmony. It was a REALLY long questionaire at the beginning- took about 20 minutes to fill out. But at the end of it, they give you a profile of yourself and the type of person you are looking for. They nailed both of them right on the head.

So I hit submit and 8 matches popped up from all over the country. There was a really wide range of guys, from a Native American black jack dealer in Wisconsin to a fox hunting, self-employed fisherman in New Bern, NC.

So I chose to try to open up lines of communication with two guys- one in South Carolina and one in Arizona. I eliminated everyone who lives somewhere cold and a few because of their age. They look like good guys on paper, so we will see what happens!

Let the on-line adventure begin

So it's been a while since I have blogged anything about my personal life, but on my other blog http://www.afrugalchick.com/ I have blogged a ton of about my finances! Lots has happened since my last post here but I can prepare that list for later. Instead, it's time to focus on 2010.

I haven't dated in forever. Haven't really met anyone interesting and been so tied up with school and work, that I just haven't really had the time to give a relationship the proper attention. So I haven't really even tried.

My new goal for 2010 is to start dating. School is finished and work is calming down, so I have a little bit more time. I am going to choose to let the internet do the beginning work for me in screening and locating people. And since most of my friends seem to find the whole on-line dating thing fascinating, I thought I would blog about it.

So January 1st, I am setting up a profile on e-harmony and we will see what happens. I promise to blog about it often and we will see what kind of interesting characters I meet!

U2 pictures- The Claw and the Edge!

Have some more pictures but here is a good one of "The Claw" (the name they gave the set) and The Edge (guitar player for U2).

The U2 concert continued

So the set U2 took with them on tour this year is the largest set ever taken on a tour. The previous record holder, from a Rolling Stones tour, would actually fit UNDERNEATH theirs. They called the set "The Claw". The tour had a total of 200 trucks and three stages that alternated from venue to venue. Here are some pictures during intermission of the stage. You can see how many people were there!

The band that opened was called Muse and they were incredible. For those of you who saw Twilight, they were the band whose music played during the baseball game. I will be downloading some of their music shortly! These are some pictures of Muse!

Before the U2 concert

Last week some friends and I headed to Charlottesville for the U2 concert! It was unbelievable! I finally got my pictures from the camera to the computer so here they are:

Alicia used to live there so she took me to the downtown mall for a late lunch. It's a beautiful area.

The town was definately ready for the concert! Most of the people downtown were talking about the concert, wearing U2 t-shirts or complaining about the anticipated traffic of the evening. I heard lots of people speaking different languages and ALOT of British accents (which are my favorite!) There were some great little shops downtown as well. We ate at an Italian place outside and waited for some friends to meet up with us. Then we went to the hotel, cleaned up and walked to the show! I will post some pics of the show in just a little bit!

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!

Camping!

My camera was MIA for the bulk of the weekend, but I did get a few pics! This is one of the cabins we stayed in. It's called an A frame and is tiny but has everything you need!

This was our fire pit. The fire burned all weekend courtesy of the guys chopping wood and keeping it going. That tent in the back is where my friends Brad and Andrea stayed while they were there. It was the first time that tent had ever camped, so they decided to use it instead of a cabin.

This was the night we got there. Everything had been packed in the back of Tim's truck, so we unloaded it. We were supposed to be there when it was light but we stopped on the way to the campground to help a guy out of a ditch. Tim's 4WD was enough to pull that tiny little Celica out.

On Sunday afternoon, we loaded up the truck and headed back home. Overall it was a great weekend. No one got really injured, there were no fights and everyone seemed to have a good time! Hopefully if I ever go camping again I will have my camera the whole time and can take many more pictures!

Book Review #2: "Let Go" by Sheila Walsh

The second book I reviewed for Thomas Nelson publishers was "Let Go" by Sheila Walsh. Back when I was a kid she was a recording artist and on the 700 Club, so I knew some of her background but was interested in reading her book, especially since one of my good friends just saw her speak at the "Women of Faith" conference. I have to admit though, this was a very long, tedious, cumbersome read for me. I have several friends that I feel would probably enjoy it very much- one of whom I have passed it along to. I promise if she likes it, I will post her positive review. Walsh does a great job starting each chapter with a story from her life which were always entertaining- kind of making me hope she has a biography out there I can grab at some point.

The book is about looking forward in spite of your past. I feel like shelves in Christian bookstores are FULL of these books- Beth Moore, Liz Curtis Higgs... many authors have hit on this topic. Which means that people must need to read the content but having read so many others along the same thread it makes the chapters seem long and redundant. It's also a very emotional book, so sometimes the text felt more like ideas than actual practical content. Overall I feel like the book would have been great for another reader...just not me.