At last!

The summer after 8th grade my family moved to a small town north of Houston. It was only a move of about 20 miles, but those 20 miles were significant. Those 20 miles meant changing schools. I had already gone to three different schools so it wasn't a big deal to me. I started high school that fall and loved the small town feel of it. The best part was that the high school had been growing significantly so the 9th grade was given a campus all it's own. I loved that! I didn't have to wonder who the upperclassmen were. Everyone in my school was in 9th grade just like me.

Because I was new in the district I didn't know anyone. I watched the kids to see who I wanted to be friends with. I always seemed to plan these sorts of things. I guess that was a side effect of moving a lot. The planning. Friendships happened naturally for me, but for some reason some people stood out more than others. There were people I noticed. In 9th grade that person was a cute, blond girl in my dance class. She seemed fun and was well liked by the other girls. She had a best friend who she seemed to spend a lot of time with. I tried to be her friend. I tried to sit by her in class. I did whatever my 9th grade self thought to do to be noticed by this girl. Once she was fixing her hair after class, and I told her how cute it looked. She asked her best friend what she thought and then proceeded to take her friend's advice and change it. It was obvious. She wasn't interested. She had friends already and didn't need another one. I eventually stopped trying to be her friend and made other friends. I never did stop idolizing this girl though.

The funny thing is that I'm sure she had her own insecurities back then. What 9th grade girl doesn't? I'm sure she had no idea I was trying so hard to be her friend. I was fairly shy so I didn't do anything over the top to get her attention. I bet she didn't even think about it. She was never mean or ugly to me at all. She just didn't notice me.

Recently I noticed this girl, the one I had so desperately wanted to be friends with, on facebook. I didn't go searching for her. We had some mutual friends, and a notice popped up on the sidebar that told me I might know her. I thought about how much I had wanted to be her friend back in 9th grade. I wondered how she had changed since that time. I decided to send her a friend request just to see what would happen. She accepted it. After all these years I can finally say I'm her friend. I don't think she remembers me, and I didn't send a note with my request. Still, she said yes so I am counting it!

Amended...I certainly hope nobody is taking this post the wrong way. It was meant as a look back at a little of the angst of a 14 year old, and as 14 year olds go I had a perfect home life so really there was very little angst there. Having a 9th grader who is new to a school has had me thinking a lot about 9th grade and making friends lately. It was interesting to me that I saw this girl on facebook after I had already thought of "our" story. I am even tempted to let her know I've blogged it. She seems like a lovely person and might like to know that someone thought she was so great all those years ago! If she hadn't accepted my friendship request I wouldn't have been offended at all. I honestly can't see how she would remember me. I moved again after 10th grade so we only went to school together for 2 years. And in the grand scheme of life and things it really wasn't much of a story!

41 isn't that old.

Today is CJ's birthday. You may know her as Witty. Or Charlie. Or Carleh. Or maybe even something else. I'm sure she has been called many other names over the years. Well today she is 41. I sent her this e-card because it made me laugh...especially the end. Hee hee!

CJ and I met online in February through the world of blogging. Then in March I had the opportunity to meet her in person. Here is that story. And while we have had quite a few ups and downs in our brief friendship she is someone I am so glad I know. Thanks, CJ, for being such a great friend. And Happy Birthday!

Leave your birthday wishes here, and I'll make sure she gets them!

You...yes...YOU!

Ok...stealing another idea here! Because what's a good idea if it can't be stolen. So Marie came up with an idea for a YouYou. Then Ronnica shamelessly stole it and changed the questions. Now I am going to take a shot at it as well. The way you play...leave me a comment. Say anything you want in the comment. Then it's my turn. I will respond to these 4 items based on YOU!

1. I'll remind you of the first time we met. (If I haven't ever met you I'll just make something up!)
2. Where I would go on vacation with you.
3. What superhero you remind me of.
4. The one food item we love to share.

If you have a blog I will be scouring it for some hints as to who you are so make sure to leave me your blog address! Thanks for playing. (EDIT - It's never too late to get in on this action. Just leave me a comment here, and I will do a youyou for you! If you have a blog make sure you leave the address or that it is in your profile. Thanks for playing!)

(Aren't you glad I am coming home today? I'll actually have time to sit down and write a post instead of scheduling them to post while I'm gone. And I know...I didn't have to post anything...I just thought it would be fun! Now...get to commenting! I'll be back soon!)

Not an Espy, not an Emmy, not an Oscar...

but an Arte! I've been given an Arte!

Actually I've been given an Arte Y Pico. Which is totally cool because what little bit of Spanish I used to know has totally been taken over by Turkish. I can't even begin to decipher this website. I have no idea what this award is really for. I just have to take whoever translated this websites word for it.

"This award was created and to be given to bloggers who inspire others with their creativity and their talents, also for contributing to the blogging world in whatever medium. When you receive this award it is considered a 'special honor'.

And I do...I totally do consider it a special honor! I first received this award on Saturday from one of my favorite bloggers ever...the illustrious Over-Thinker who loves my blog so much that she even got her cat, Fidget, addicted to it!


See!

And she doesn't really know me and doesn't have to shower me with compliments. But I love that she did! It totally made my day!

Then on Sunday as I debated who to give this award to I decided to award it to LiteralDan who is a daddyblogger of the highest order! So I hopped on over to his site and discovered this! Again...I was recognized by someone I love reading! How fun is that?

I really am honored that they chose to give this award to me. I have been blogging for 2 years, and this is the first time I have ever been given an award. So thanks guys! I really appreciate the love.

And now the moment you've all been waiting for. It's time to share the love!

The rules for passing on this honor:

1) Pick 5 blogs that you would like to award this honor to.
2) Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.
3) Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award itself.
4) Award-winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of 'Arte y Pico' blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award."

(And I totally plagiarized The Over-Thinker who plagiarized Hyphen Mama who previously plagiarized LouCeel on anything written in green type. Plagiarizing...the gift that keeps on giving and giving.)

And now it is my turn to pass this award on to 5 bloggers who inspire me.

Happy Meals & Happy Hour
Totally makes me laugh until I cry! So funny! This is a relatively new blog with only 39 posts, but if those posts give a glimpse into what Sue has in store for us in later posts you might want to make sure you're not drinking anything and that your bladder is empty. Seriously! Anyone who can take a Bratz doll and turn it into a major blog character deserves some recognition! I love you BG! Oh...and you too, Sue!

Nanny Goats in Panties
I mean just the name makes me laugh! This Sacramento blogger loves to recycle and refuses to go hands free! You must go read her. Get to know her. And unlike some of us she is an actual writer. I am always inspired by actual writers! The way their words just flow...man!

Does This Blog Make Us Look Fat?
Kiki and Greta are my dieting heroes! I love that they have tried just about every diet there is and then blog about it! They've even tried some I've never heard of! They are best friends blogging and who wouldn't love to share a blog with their best friends?

Musings of a Barefoot Foodie
Brittany has got to be one of the funniest people ever! Her recent eyebrow herpes just about put me over the edge! And how many people can write a post about mangos and John Tesh? That is talent! And she is a foodie and you know how much I love food.

Thursday Drive
This blog is a great combination of wit and poignancy. It makes me think. And she totally played in the World Series of Poker which makes her funny, serious, and just plain cool! And again...she's a writer. Like a real one!


Oh...and here we are walking the red carpet to the actual Arte Y Pico award ceremony. Don't we look fabulous?

Oh...and if you have already received this award just consider this further recognition of your awesomeness!

Witty

Well...I've been in America for 48 hours, and I still haven't really written a blog post. And, honestly, I haven't felt like writing one. I still have a cold. This morning I also have a headache. My grandmother is still hanging in there. While I am in waiting mode I have just been hanging out. Waiting. And what better way to wait than with family and friends.

I'm sure there will be many things I will look back on from this trip and really savor. One of those things happened the day after I arrived. I got to meet the Witty Writer Gal from my blogger world live and in person! Seriously!

Witty lives in Austin. I was chatting online with her when I got the call from my dad telling me I needed to come to the states. She was concerned as any good friend would be. She said that if I needed anything to just call her. She would pick me up from the airport or help out in any way that she could. I told her that I was pretty sure someone could pick me up from the airport, but I would call her from America when I arrived. Fast forward 24 hours. I am sitting at my sister's thinking that Witty is willing to come see me. I want to meet Witty. Hmmm. I'm not sure what will happen with my grandmother so if I want to meet Witty it needs to happen sooner than later. So I called her, and we made plans for her to come see me the next day.

She arrived just before lunch, and I took her to Pappadeaux's. Actually she drove there and paid for the meal, but I told her how to get there and ordered the food. Does that count as me taking her there? No...well then ok. We went to Pappadeaux's. There. Is that better? Good. Now on with the story...


Witty sat back and let me do the ordering.


We each had half of a shrimp poboy, and...


a fried soft-shell crab. A fried piece of paradise is more like it! It was delicious!

Our waitress, Keysha, loved Witty from the moment she met her. I am telling you...that Witty is a charmer for sure! By the end of the meal Keysha was happily searching the kitchen for something sweet for Witty to take back to the hotel to have for breakfast with our leftover bread. She was also telling her what days she worked so that Witty could request her next time she visited. I wish I had taken a picture of Witty and Keysha!


Later we checked Witty into the hotel where she was spending the night. There we met Shirley. Witty was her charming self, and before we knew it Shirley was telling us a story about 45 gay cowboys and the fact that she never knew cowboys could be gay. My head was on the desk I was laughing so hard. Then when Shirley mentioned the fact that she knew about sheepherders being gay I had to excuse myself to go get some air. I honestly thought I was going to pass out. Poor Witty couldn't look at me because she knew if she did she would have lost it as well. We loved Shirley!


Because I had been in the country for less than a day I was dragging from jet-lag. We sat in her hotel room so that I could rest for a bit. Well, she sat in the chair, and I laid on the couch. With a pillow. And a blanket. But my eyes stayed open the whole time. I promise.

Other highlights from her trip...

A trip to Target where I petted bags of peanut butter m&m's and boxes of cheez-its, and pretty much made eyes at anything that I couldn't get in Turkey.

Dinner with my sister and her family and my youngest brother and his family at a new pizza place. Witty ordered the pizza...pepperoni, red onions, and roma tomatoes. It was yummy...way better than Turkish pizza, but I do wish that I had ordered extra sauce. She even said to order extra sauce if I wanted, but I didn't listen. Note to self...listen to Witty when it comes to pizza. She knows what she is talking about.


You knew I wouldn't forget to take a picture of the pizza...surely you knew that!

Staying up until the wee hours of the morning talking and laughing...and almost crying.


Taking pictures of the two of us with my computer.

Church on Sunday morning. She even went to Sunday school with me. Of course when I invited her to church she didn't realize that Sunday school was part of the package. I didn't even think to mention it to tell you the truth. She got to meet several of my friends and was surprised by what she witnessed and experienced. She has written a great piece about her experience. If you would like to read her words leave me a comment and I will email them to you.

Olive Garden for lunch after church. The salad and bread sticks and...well...what can I say? All the food was great! But sadly I forgot to take pictures of it!

This is getting long. This is getting out of hand. I will just end with this. Witty is everything I thought she would be and more. She is compassionate and loving toward everyone she meets. She was exactly what I needed. I am so excited that she came to see me. That she wanted to meet me. That despite our very real differences she wants to be my friend. She is an amazing person! I love you, Witty!

Crazy Sumer

I love Sumer. Love her. She is a teeny-tiny sweet, crazy, fun-spirited friend. She lived in Ankara for a few years, but has lived in Istanbul for the past two. She was in town today and was visiting our church. She noticed we weren't there so she left mid-service to come see us. How fun is that?!? I wanted to take some pictures with her but realized that Brian took the camera with him when he went out of town yesterday. Then I remembered that my computer takes pictures with it's built-in camera. Here we are...





Awww...Sumer.

cj's words

you see the world outside your window, and you want to be the bird, the sky, the tree, the grass. not just read about it, and understand it, but really be it. when i see you as the sky, the bird, the tree, and the grass i know why you are there, and i think you get there and get caught up in the experience of experiencing before you know how you got there.

i asked for clarification and was told this...

if we think about the pictures you take, you are there as a witness and you see whatever you see through the lens, but part of you becomes what you are looking at for just a second. and then the other part of you pulls you back, and you know you missed something, but don't know what.

i told her that i didn't always want to miss things. and she said...

you don't when it comes to other people, only when it comes to you.

probably the most beautiful thing and the saddest thing someone has ever said about me. ever.

Lane

Yesterday our friend, Lane Stricklin, passed away. Lane was an encouragement to all who knew him. Everyone who witnessed the way he and Deana faced his illness was blessed by the example of faith they exhibited. It was truly a gift from God to know him.

PS...Brian had the opportunity to play on the same softball team as Lane before we moved to Turkey. He said that Lane was the only guy on the team who didn't make fun of him...but that he probably wanted to.

The occassion

Mentanna's comment to my Roomies - 2 post reminded me of the occassion for the picture in that post. I happened to have a picture of those gangsters. But, why did they dress up as gangsters...really...that is the question. But why did they do any of the things they did? Really.

Roomies - Part 2

Another picture of Kristen and yep, you guessed it, Mentanna. I really don't remember what the occassion was, but it was picture worthy then and today...well, it is blog worthy today. I laugh every time I see it.

Roomies

While in America 3 of my college roommates and I got to have a roommate reunion. It was so fun seeing everyone again. It had been 6 years since we had been together. Of course Mentanna was in France so she couldn't be there to complete the reunion, but we found a way around that. I brought my new computer which has a built in video camera, and Mentanna's husband, Scott, set up his computer which also has a camera so we got to see each other and chat for a few minutes. It was so fun seeing her on camera and getting to be "together". Here are some pictures of all of us from then and now.

The four of us in college. We look so young!


The four of us at Mentanna's wedding in Oct. 1997.


Lauren, Kristen, and I in 1990

And again on Dec. 30, 2007...16 years later!

Dixon

Our friends, Murat and Nese work at an embroidery kiosk in the local mall.  We went to visit them the other night and they had made hats for us!  We were so excited.  Here is our family picture.  (I have no idea why this is all underlined.  I am using my new computer and can't figure out what I am doing.  I just started typing and this is what showed up.)

Brian and Murat.  (What happened?  Where did the underlines go?)

Enjoying a Starbucks coffee and snacks.

Deniz and his mom, Nese

A close up of the hat.  

FYI - if you are ever in the need of hats or t-shirts with embroidery on them visit our friends Murat and Nese.  They are Turks who won the green card lottery so they took the chance and came to America to live.  They know English really well so no worries there.  They operate an embroidery kiosk in Willowbrook Mall in Northwest Houston.  They would love to help you and be your friend!

PS...please be patient with my blogging efforts over the next week or so.  This new computer is great, but it is kicking my tail on some things.  I can't figure out how to move the pictures around on the blog to put them where I want them.  On my old computer I would just drag them where I wanted to put them.  That doesn't seem to work anymore.  Hmmmmm...and the underlined text at the top of this blog.  I have no idea how to change it.  Believe me I have looked.  I can bold it or make it in italics, but i see no options for underlining or un-underlining. 

Friends and food

More friends...Tracey, Dawn, Robin, and Ken. 

I love coming to America!   People invite us over and feed us yummy food!  Tonight's menu was beef vegetable soup, cornbread, another yummy bread, pizza, chips, queso, brownies with whipped cream, and peach cobbler with ice cream.  I had to make sure to write all of that down, because I didn't take any pictures of it.  I know...shocking!  

There were 10 kids running around as well.  They were given a bag of marshmallows and told to have fun.  They roasted them in the chiminea in the backyard.. only almost starting a fire twice.  Not bad.  

Dallas

Well, I did it.  I met Kerri.  After being email buddies for a month and a half and blog buddies since the end of September we decided it was time to meet.  Actually I happened to be coming to America, and I happened to be only 2 hours from where she lives so I took advantage of it. French Bistros, thrift stores, Starbucks, indie movie watching, meeting friends, and girl's night at a charming old hotel...we had lots of fun!   

I got to meet some of Kerri's friends...people I had read about!  Notice the hookah/nargile on the table and then read below for more on that.

Kerri taking a drag on the hookah/nargile I brought her from Turkey.  We definitely caused a scene in the pub we were in.  Smoking was allowed, but I'm sure they weren't thinking people would bring a hookah in to smoke.  We were asked by one pub patron what we were smoking...cappuccino tobacco all the way from Turkey!

Thanks for the great time!  Next time we'll do Turkey!

College Memories

When I go to America in 12 days one of the things I am most looking forward to is having a roommate reunion in Waco. I lived with Kristen, Lauren, and Mentanna my junior and senior years of college. Lauren still lives in Waco so Kristen and I are planning to go for a little visit. Sadly, Mentanna won't be able to make it. I guess living in France makes traveling to Waco a little difficult. Oh well...we'll remember her in spirit for sure!

I have some fun memories of college with these girls. Once Mentanna dressed up like a Spanish lover complete with a drawn on mustache. Kristen put on a red and black polka-dot dancing dress, and they proceded to pose in all sorts seductive ways. So funny! Another time Mentanna took her mattress off her bed and used it to slide down the stairs. I don't remember if anyone else actually tried it, but I do know that we almost wet our pants from laughing so hard. The best part was the mattress getting stuck on a step and Mentanna continuing to go down the stairs. One time when Lauren was doing laundry in the community apartment laundry room someone stole all of her underwear out of the dryer. She went to get her clothes out of the dryer, and all of her panties were missing. We were thinking that someone with a fetish for college girl panties had taken them. The next day the doorbell rang and there was a frozen block of ice and panties. The guys next door had taken them just for fun. There are so many more memories I could share, but I will just share some pictures of my roommates and the boys next door. Apartment living at it's finest!


Lauren sitting on my bed in our apartment.


Mentanna and Gidget relaxing in our living room.


Kristen studying hard!


Bart...one of the boys next door...at his house. I'm not sure why I have a picture of him sitting on his bed talking on the phone, but here it is.


Kevin and Mike...more boys next door...having fun in the apartment swimming pool. Notice the people in the background not paying a bit of attention to the fact that there is a canoe in the pool.

And finally...I had to share a picture of the four of us together. This was taken in the spring of 1996. I had two kids by this point; Kristen and Lauren were both pregnant; and Mentanna...well she was looking good compared to the rest of us! (I know what you are thinking Mentanna, and I so totally agree!) The last time the 4 of us were together was at Mentanna's wedding about a year and a half after this picture was taken. I can't believe we haven't all been together since then. That was 10 years ago. Mentanna, are you sure you can't make it to Waco over Christmas? Man...

Birthday Party - Day 2

On Saturday night several of us went out for Korean food to continue to celebrate Liz's birthday. The bibimbab, kimbab, and curry were to die for! Oh...and the french fries...you just can't go wrong with an appetizer plate of french fries! Notice we drank Turkish tea with our Korean meal. It's too yummy to pass up even on Korean night!

After we finished our meal some people left and the rest of us sat around and talked about how cool we were. Then we decided that the night was young and that we needed to have another dance party...this time at Club Dixon. We came back to our house and cranked up the music. It was fun, and now my muscles are sore! Two nights of dancing...whew! I am not getting old...I am not getting old...

Happy Birthday, Liz!

In honor of Liz's 27th birthday we spent the weekend partying. Friday night was a dance party at Murphy's. There were 18 people celebrating Liz!


Jalah, Kim, Jenna


Liz hating the salsa music they insisted on playing the first hour we were there! When they were finally finished with the salsa they broke out some good dance music. Venus by Bananarama got us to our feet and on the dance floor. Then Justin brought sexy back, and we boogied.


Hannah Lee, Jeff, Eric, and Hicran


Tammy, Rachel, and Seth


Crystal and me


Wendy and Liz

Liz

I had to post a picture of me and Liz. Liz is one of the most creative people I know. She paints, collects pictures of doors, makes the most amazing food, and just basically comes up with some fun and crazy ideas. She is the one who painted the shirts with my friend, Derya's, face on them. I am tempted to have her help me make shirts with my face on them to hand out to all my friends. So who's interested in having a picture of me on a shirt? You know you want one!

Jeannie

This is Jeannie, and she lives across the street from me. She is my movie watching buddy. If she is in the mood to watch a movie or if I am in the mood to watch something we call each other to make a plan. The plan is for that moment or sometime in the next couple of hours...spontaneous movie watching. I love that!

I can also stand on my balcony and see if her bedroom light or office light is on. I have been known to call her at midnight just for fun. Hey, she was awake...her light was on! She has caller id and always knows it's me. She can't hide from me...especially at midnight! She has an apartment mate now so I'll have to think twice about those middle of the night calls...

Shawn

This is my friend, Shawn. We met Shawn and her family our first summer in Turkey. We had been in country for about 4 months and were attending the annual 4th of July celebration at the military base in town. Shawn and Greg had 2 boys at the time (a third child (a girl) has been born since then) and their oldest is Will's age. Our families really hit it off, and we've been friends ever since. She's one of those moms everyone needs to be friends with. She plans the fun parties, spaghetti eating contests, scavenger hunts, water fights, and many other events that my kids get to participate in. I think about how much planning those things take and how much of a mess I'll have to clean up later, but Shawn thinks about how much fun the kids will have. I'm glad my kids have friends with such a cool mom. Shawn also heads up the children's program at our church. She does such a great job at making sure things are top notch. Just wanted to share her with you...she's great!