words

thought: choose your words wisely

we've all heard the quotes and sayings talking about how important words are. it seems like i am always hearing "choose your words wisely". and i do, for the most part. i place a high value on words and i take great care in picking them....

...except when, you know, i talk before i think....

i love it though when i get one word texts. text messages in general can be difficult to discern. meanings can get lost and some of those abbreviations are confusing. but every so often, a single word will pop up and the exact meaning of the word is known. no translation needed.

after watching the Academy Awards last night and hearing their speeches, it, again, made me think about the power of words. the winners have a set amount of time to thank everyone who made it possible for them to win the award or who made their performance possible. if they slip up, pause to laugh or receive an applause their precious time gets cut short and they miss out. the music starts and its sorry charlie, your time is up, get off my stage.

these people gotta know who they want to thank and in what order. they need to choose their words.

it isn't an easy task, picking words. in fact it down right sucks sometimes. then there is the inflection of the words. i can say "yes" a million different ways. sometimes it means "yes" other times it means "no" "i don't care" or "seriously, you want me to do what??"

then again, sometimes the words are perfect and the timing isn't. example. have you ever said "i love you" to anyone who isn't family or a close friend and gotten a blank stare back as the response? how often do we see this scenario in tv or the movies? all the time. at some point in our lives, we have been on either side of this statement. (me? i've been on the receiving end. i responded with a blank stare.)

i guess what i'm trying to say is that words make a world of difference so watch what you say....

an ode to dad and mom

thought: There is no such cozy combination as man and wife. - Menander

for the second time this week, i'm thinking about love...and marriage. today is my parent's anniversary and i was trying to think of a creative way to wish them a happy one.

i decided to do the best (and cheapest) thing possible...dedicate my facebook status to them.

thoughtful, right?

i wanted to make it creative though. not just a typical "happy anniversary! thanks for being a wonderful example of a married couple." which, they are. i took to looking for a quote about marriage. there were several wonderfully written ones. several cheesy ones. several profound ones. i wanted to find something that represented my parents well. it was a toss up between something by James Dobson and comedian, Rita Rudner.

rita won.

the status is this: I love being married. It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life. - rita rudner. happy anniversary dad and mom! i love you guys!

if you know my parents you know how funny this is. their relationship is made of many things (and many years!). but one of the biggest things i see in it is humor. my parents know how to take a joke. and how to play joke on each other. oh the stories my siblings and i could tell of the practical jokes played by our parents.

their sense of humor together is great too. the creative genius between them is something rarely seen in couples. i've seen my parents write sketches, gather the props, rehearse, and perform them...all in about a 12hour time span. when it comes to costume parties, dad and mom can't be beat. give them a song and a parody will be written...then choreographed...then recorded, costumed, and taught to us kids for a performance. (all in the same week!)

if you haven't guessed, when my parent's do something, they do it big.

explains a lot about me, doesn't it?

seriously though, my parents met when they were 15 and 16 years old. they've been together longer than they've been apart. every year i see them love each other more and more...and it never ceases to amaze me. i really enjoy watching them...and seeing how they handle things. i'm taking notes. i'm not so sure how i'm going to react when my kids call me at 11pm saying they've been rear-ended, the guy got away, and now the car won't start...oh, and that tuition is due in a week. but i know how my parents reacted. thankfully, it was with grace.

i've seen them bend over backwards for their kids, family, and friends. my parents know how to give...and serve. i don't know of anyone who would say a bad word about them. they are beyond cool.

then again, i'm biased.

i've always been a daddy's girl. i love it when we're able to catch each other and talk. doesn't happen much now that i'm older and our schedules are totally different. but i sure do love talking to and hanging out with my daddy.

mom and i have always talked too. the older i've gotten, the better the conversation has become. i'm blessed to see her everyday at work...

...and that i can shop in her closet when i want something different to wear!

i wouldn't trade my parents for the world. they are two of the most amazing people i have ever met. watching them with each other is a treat. i'm excited to see what their future holds. between a wedding and all four of their kids being in their 20s, this year alone will be epic.

happy anniversary dad and mom. i love you guys and would be lost without you. thanks for all the advice, always listening to me, and still telling me to make my bed and take out the trash. it all means the world to me.

that's amore

thought: love is in the air...

or so, hallmark is trying to make people think it is. yes, it's that time of year ladies and gents... February 14th is seven days away.

but don't worry, this isn't a hate blog about valentine's day...nor is it a hint for anyone who reads my posts...just simply some observations.

personally, i think valentine's day is a sweet gesture. i mean, i know plenty of guys who forget about birthdays or anniversaries or other important dates. this one if hard to miss, however. stores are decked out in pink, red, and white hearts. the flower, candy, and card commercials are abundant as are the jewelry ones. the only way to miss it is if you're living under a rock.

let's face it, i'm a bit of a sap so i get into the whole flower, candy jewelry thing. there was a time when i thought ill of the whole thing, found it silly even. but the older i get, the more i really think it's sweet...even if it is a hallmark holiday. people want to know that they are loved, thought well of, and cared for. is that too much to ask? i think not.

have i ever had a valentine? nope. mom gets us a card every year and it lists all of the things she loves about us...i don't count that (love ya mom, but aren't you obligated to tell me how great i am??). i think, maybe, i'm holding out.

you know what's funny is that i'm listening to love songs while typing this. there is a cheesy smile on my face and i'm thinking back, remembering, seeing friends fall in love and find their forever

valentine. it was a very cool thing to witness.

love is one of my favorite topics to write about. the stories are abundant. they end sweetly...or not. they can be happy or sad. uplifting or outraging. predictiable or unpredictable. you never know really...and everyone has one. it's a universal thing that everyone, to some extent, can relate to. i think that's why i'm a fan of February 14th. it's a free, totally acceptable day to love people without question.

valentine's day can be celebrated with anyone you care for...not just that special, romantic relationship. i've spent several with friends, out at dinner, laughing up a storm...and those were the best. i was with people i really loved being with. eventually, i will have the rest of my life to be with my forever valentine. and, i'm sure, so will many of you who may happen to read this.

so, with all of this love in the air, make the most of it. if you have a special someone, let them know how much you care. if you don't, well, call your friends, strike up the band and have a ball. but for the skeptics, you may have a point, you know. this whole thing could be overrated...kind of like a kiss at the stroke of midnight for the new year.

or not. i'm a sap, remember.

whatever your situation, share the love. buy chocolates for yourself...buy flowers and give them to random people. it's a day of love. share it.