best words, part 4

I'm currently reading The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd [before I see the movie that is already in theaters!], and stumbled upon this little gem...

"I hadn't been out to the hives before, so to start off she gave me a lesson in what she called "bee yard etiquette."  She reminded me that the world was really one big bee yard, and the same rules worked fine in both places: Don't be afraid, as no life-loving bee wants to sting you.  Still, don't be an idiot; wear long sleeves and long pants.  Don't swat.  Don't even think about swatting.  If you feel angry, whistle.  Anger agitates, while whistling melts a bee's temper.  Act like you know what you're doing, even if you don't.  Above all, send the bees love.  Every little thing wants to be loved."

donkeys or chicken hawks?

I love the Denver Broncos.  I grew up watching EVERY Denver Bronco game, and even from a young age [though I did not understand any football rules whatsoever until high school] I have always rooted for the Broncos...DUH!  I used to get freaked out by my dad screaming at the TV every Sunday...but now, I have joined him.  I love me some Bronco football!  Of course, we affectionately call the Broncos 'the Donkeys".  Sadly, since they are so far west, I do not get to see all of the games anymore, as they are not broadcast down here in the southeast regularly.

Now that I live in Atlanta, my secondary choice of a football team has become the Atlanta Falcons (aka, Chicken Hawks, per my superintendent at work).  My good friends John and Lizzy have season tickets for the Falcons, and today I got to go with them.  Now last week, the Broncos absolutely squashed the Falcons in Atlanta, and the Falcon fans are quite upset about the whole ordeal.  So this week, they came back and played and won a great [and important] game!  [Sidenote:  The Falcons play in the Georgia Dome...Indoor football is kinda strange for those of us who grew up watching football in the freezing cold!]

An unfortunate event occurred, however, while I was watching this game.  Out of the blue, a drunken idiot tripped and fell, causing the Coke that he was carrying to spew all over the back of my head and down onto my white, brand new, sweater.  The ice cubes hitting my head was also a nice touch.  He, of course, had no idea about the whole thing.  [It really struck me actually, to think about how much his actions had affected me and my mood...only momentarily of course...without him knowing it...kind of a deep thought for being in the midst of a mess, eh?]  Anyway, I had to sit through the rest of the game with a stained (very stained) shirt and CRUNCHY hair...Not exactly what I had in mind for the afternoon...but not to worry, I still had a fantastic time!

In the end, I must proudly display the Bronco hard hat that my dad recently sent to me, and cheer for the team that I love.  Go Donkeys...forever and ever, amen.

best words, part 3

"Some people come into our lives and quickly go; others stay for a while and leave footprints on our heart, and we are never, ever the same."

- Flavia

[No one will ever be the same without her].

the official start of the holiday season

Ok.  I absolutely LOVE Christmas...It is definitely my favorite holiday [I'm sure I'll be discussing my love for Christmas in a forthcoming blog...stay tuned].  

Each year, stores put out Christmas stuff earlier and earlier.  This year, at least in Atlanta, Target had Christmas items out BEFORE Halloween had passed...It's getting ridiculous!  Soon, Christmas stuff will be out in July, or maybe even year round...

ANYWAY, now I have a new basis for what constitutes the beginning of the holiday season [which is much more appropriate than 'when the stores start selling Christmas stuff'] and that is 'when coffee shops bring out the holiday beverages'.

It made my day last week when I got to order a peppermint white mocha...mmm...

Christmas will be here before we know it, but in the mean time, drink on, coffee drinkers.  A delicious egg nog latte is waiting for you.

miss sue

The world lost one of its best people today...Sue Lesyinski.

She was a phenomenal woman that I have looked up to, respected, and loved since the age of ten.  We used to sit on her porch and chat about life...even when I was in fourth grade!  She was a gentle, yet fiercely strong, loving woman, and I consider myself blessed to have known her at all.  I can only hope that maybe someday I can be one tenth of the woman that she was.

While I am utterly heartbroken that she has left us, I am so thankful that after this ten year war with cancer, Sue is no longer in pain, and that she left this world peacefully. 

I know that she has left traces of herself in all who knew her, especially Terry, Tyler, and Colin, and thank God for that.  There will be a deep void in this world without her.

My heart is in Aurora right now with the Lesyinski family...I pray that peace and comfort may find them in this time.  She will be deeply missed.  

you might be a redneck if... YOU GO TO NASCAR!!

Last Sunday, myself and a few work friends (Mike, Scott, Anthony, and Ruth) went to our very first Nascar race (except for Mike...he had been once before and came prepared with headphones / ear plugs). Scott had received free tickets from a subcontractor, so naturally, we had to live it up, redneck style. As you can imagine, it was quite an experience [but I can't wait to go again!].


It took place at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, which actually is about 45 minutes outside Atlanta, but nonetheless...the place is massive and 100,000+ people attend. It has its own landing field so that everyone with private jets can avoid the traffic getting into the place ;o) and more RVs than you've ever seen in one place. These people are SERIOUS about NASCAR.

The cars were so loud that my hearing was not only jacked up that day, but also until 11am the next day. It was interesting... Now I know why all of the regulars have their own headsets...

"Gentlemen: Start your engines!" - NASCAR announcer
[Engines start running but the cars are not yet moving]...
"Dang, that's freaking LOUD!" - Danika
"Yeah, wait until they fly past you at 180 miles per hour..." - Mike
"Uh oh." - Danika

taking the plunge

A few weeks ago, Sara and I had some trouble with our garberator, so naturally, I called my handy-man father. Dad gave me a few suggestions of things to try to make it drain properly, but nothing was successful. SO, he suggested that I use a plunger (gently, of course) to see if I could un-clog the garberator. It didn't work, but man, I make this look GOOOD....

[Notice the phone...that would be James providing instructions...]

In the end, we had to get a new disposal...