3.27.2013

spanx

It was a sad day for Larry and I.... We said goodbye to our favorite bartender today.  "Byrd" has worked Wednesday nights at Carino's for at least 6 years.... (We got to know him back in the day when Wednesday nights were "Rachel Night.") He was our favorite bartender and didn't even have to ask what we wanted. He always found a way to extend happy hour on the computer and charge me for an "add-on" wedge salad instead of the $6.99 version. He got a promotion and will be a manager in a different store. Tonight was his last night, so we went to say goodbye. We gave him a small gift card to a liquor store and he was actually really touched. I can totally understand... You spend 6 years slinging drinks for people, it has to be nice to be thanked. 

Anyway.

On the way home, I started reminiscing about when I used to wait tables. Really I was more of a cocktail waitress, but I loved it. There is a new sports bar about to open across the highway from us, so I told Larry that I should ask if they would let me just work Sunday afternoons. (If you've ever waited tables and loved it, you know what I mean. It really was a fun job.)

I said, " I really would go ask, except now I'm all old and fat and they wouldn't want me to cocktail." 

Larry said, "you could always wear spanx."

I burst out laughing and said, " you were supposed to say that I am neither old nor fat."

Ha!

3.21.2013

bulletins

As I mentioned, last week was SXSW. I didn't buy a wristband, but toyed with going to a few free shows. One of these shows was Justin Timberlake. I don't even care what you say... He would be great to see live. In order to RSVP for this show, you had to get on MySpace.

I could not remember my log-in. After 4 attempts, I finally logged in..... And it told me that my "classic" MySpace account was not good enough. I had to creat a NEW myspace account. (Lowercase "s".) In all honesty, the new myspace does look pretty cool and is probably a very good way to follow artists. But I was straight up confused. I felt 100 years old. (Or maybe I just felt like a 35 year old PC user on a Mac, but that is basically the same thing, right?)

I got kind of angry, because I couldn't find my blog entries. Before I had an actual blog, I used the MySpace blog. And, well.... That was when I was young and fun and single and there are a lot of memories documented there! (I mean, I went on a date with a guy I met online who was a doctor and a pilot and he flew me to an airport cafe where I saw Lance Armstrong. That is a fun memory!) I kept clicking around and finally found them. (But I was on the iPad and it looked weird.... And all my comments were gone. I need to look at it from a regular computer.) One of the things I loved about MySpace was the bulletins. Do you remember those? They were like surveys or quizzes or awesomeness? Well, I found one from 2006 and I'm going to update it. So if you hated bulletins, now would be a good time to close this blog entry.  It's a long one.


favorite 5 letter word?


  • Poster: Miss Bee

  • Mood: sleepy
  • Category: None
I think I might have already done this one, but oh well.
Basics
:x: name: Rachel
:x: height: 5'6"
:x: shoe size: 9 1/2

:x: hair color: chemically enhanced blonde
:x: siblings: 3 brothers and 1 sister
:x: eyes: brown
:x: college: Texas Tech [UPDATE:  and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee]
:x: jr.high: Shallowater
:x: elementary: St. John Neumann
:x: hometown: Lubbock/Shallowater
:x: favorite place:  next to people I love
:x: favorite soda: diet cherry coke [UPDATE:  regular diet coke]

:x: game system: Ms.PacMan is the only game I like to play
:x: favorite food: chinese, tex-mex
:x: favorite pen: free blue one from a convention [UPDATE:  purple ink]
:x: favorite car: one with someone else driving it
:x: favorite animal: dogs or baby white seals
:x: brand of water:  I guess Ozarka [UPDATE: Cascade Ice, coconut flavor]
:x: favorite burger place: Fuddruckers [UPDATE: I seriously said Fuddruckers?  I must have not eaten burgers very often.  Now I would say hopdoddy's or Your Mom's]
:x: favorite hobby: reading
:x: bar or club: Bar... where I can hear my friends talk
:x: favorite show: Grey's Anatomy [UPDATE: awwwww..... I miss the days when I loved Grey's.  Favorite show now is Person of Interest or Good Wife.]
:x: favorite news: none [UPDATE:  Judy Maggio and Ron Olivera... whatever channel they're on.]
:x: gold or silver: silver
:x: favorite dog: my dachshund, Blossom
:x: cell phone co.: cingular [UPDATE:  AT&T... I guess they purchased cingular]
:x: favorite shirt: comfy fitted gray tee [UPDATE:  still a comfy gray tee, but it is the one I got at the Railroad Revival festival with Mumford and Sons and Edward Sharpe]
:x: favorite sport: ncaa football
:x: favorite alcohol: bacardi and diet [UPDATE:  funny. Lots of memories involving rum and diet coke.  Now it is red wine.]
:x: favorite computer: i guess mine
:x: favorite fruit:  grapes [UPDATE:  fresh pineapple]
:x: favorite song right now: too many... [UPDATE:  I really wish I would have been more specific in 2006.  I'm curious what they were.  So for now I'll say "Flowers in Your Hair" (The Lumineers), "Put the Gun Down" (ZZ Ward) and "That Wasn't Me" (Brandi Carlisle.)  I have to admit I also love every single new song that Pink has come out with.]
:x: ketchup or salsa: BBQ sauce
:x: favorite milkshake: chocolate [UPDATE:  the one that brings all the boys to the yard]
:x: steak or lobster: Steak
:x: favorite color: pink or turquoise to look at, black to wear
:x: favorite state: Texas
:x: favorite color flower: BRIGHT!

you
:x: wish you could live somewhere else: i'm content for now
:x: think about suicide:  never, thank god
:x: believe in online dating: been there, done that
:x: think others find you attractive: that's what they say [UPDATE:  ah, to be 28 again....]
:x: want more piercings: no
:x: like cleaning: only when i'm in the mood (which is rarely)
:x: like roller coasters: yes
:x: write in cursive or print: print, but it is kind of a combination
:x: last talked to: Amy - we discussed Nascar. [UPDATE:  Larry. We both picked Missouri in our March Madness bracket and they're losing.]
:x: last thought of: how nice it was to spend the whole day with the boy [UPDATE:  should I pour another glass of wine? Tomorrow is Friday....]
:x: last showered: last night before going over to the boys house [UPDATE:  this morning.  And dear lord, was I really that obnoxious?]
:x: last cut your nails: the lady at the nail shop cut them last weekend [UPDATE:  toes were done last week, nails don't really get cut - just filed.]
:x: last did laundry: couple days ago [UPDATE:  Larry does most of the laundry.]
:x: last hugged a tree: um...never? [UPDATE:  yesterday.  We are forced to hug trees now that plastic bags are outlawed in Austin.]

:x: last watched anime: never [UPDATE:  still never.]


for or against
:x: long distant relationships: Impartial - been there, done that, they are a huge investment and commitment and rarely pan out [UPDATE:  I'm going to stick with "against." What a waste of time.]
:x: teenage smoking: against - dummies
:x: driving drunk: against, of course.  wish cabs were cheaper
:x: gay/lesbian relationships:  whatever
:x: soap operas: against [UPDATE:  Unless you count "Downton Abbey" as a soap opera.]

have you
:x: ever cried over a boy: probably more than you have
:x: ever been in a fist fight: No.
:x: ever been arrested: No
:x: ever had a friend die: No
:x ever dated a cousin: No.  What kind of question is that?
:x: ever used a gun: Yes - at a Hunter Safety Education Course
:x: ever finished a puzzle: yes
:x: ever got surgery: yes - tonsils out [UPDATE:  and a bunion surgery!]
:x: ever got beat up: No
:x: ever hated someone: Strongly disliked.
:x: ever made a huge mistake: Haven't we all?  Can't dwell on them though.
:x: ever jogged a mile: Yes
:x: ever played w/ someones feelings: Not intentionally.  "oops i did it again, i played with your heart, got lost in the game..."
:x: ever had feelings for someone young: No
:x: shoes do you wear: whatever matches and looks cute
:x: are you scared of: life is too short to be scared, but i really hate possums [UPDATE:  losing people I love, cancer, debt. not living up to my potential and/or purpose.  Kind of makes me wish for the days I hated possums!]
:x: do you sleep in: pajama pants/shorts and a tshirt/ tank top
:x: did you eat for lunch: chinese food [UPDATE:  leftover pasta salad:  pasta, chicken, spinach and feta with olive oil. Try it.]
:x: What is love: Check out I Corinthians [UPDATE:  Obviously you can still read I Corinthians, but you can also read my blog posts.  Love is knowing that your person will be there for you no matter what.]

number
:x: of times I have had my heart broken?: twice [UPDATE:  fortunately, heartbreak number 2 worked out okay... we got back together 7 months after this was originally posted]
:x: of hearts I have broken?: who knows.  around 3?
:x: of girls I have kissed?:  including my mom, sister and neices?
:x: of boys I have kissed?:  who knows.  lots.
:x: of guys you've rejected?: i don't like to think of it as rejecting them.  I just say we weren't a good match
:x: of accidents you been in: 1 when I was young
:x: of people you lead on?: ouch.  currently there might be one. [UPDATE:  Who?!?!  Why didn't I provide more details? Now I can't even remember.  Oh wait.  I bet it was Tom.  (I think that was his name.)  Currently am leading zero people on.]

do you think you are
:x: pretty: I have my moments.  I am closer to "cute" [UPDATE:  My self-esteem used to be way better.]
:x: funny: I like to think so
:x: hot: I am confident, which I hear comes across as sexy
:x: friendly: Yes.  I try to make everyone comfortable
:x: ugly: ugh...everyone has those days
:x: loveable:  very
:x: caring: sometimes too much
:x: dorky: most of the time
:x: cocky: after a few drinks
:x: girly: Yes - very
:x: boyish: not at all
:x: smart: I'm smarter than I sound.
:x: pimp: not really
:x: angel: nope
:x: gangster: hell ya, you better recognize
:x: god: UH - no.

favorite
:x: five letter word: truth
:x: comedian: I don't know
:x: candy: Kit-Kat or Almond Joy [UPDATE:  dark chocolate with sea salt]
:x: cartoon: Disney? [UPDATE:  Finding Nemo is pretty stinking cute.]
:x: cereal: Life [UPDATE:  cinnamon Life]
:x: chewing gum: sugar-free vanilla mint [UPDATE:  whatever is in my purse]
:x: day of week: saturday
:x: least fave day: monday
:x: jello flavor: jello shots [UPDATE:  those orange slice jello shots were pretty awesome.]
:x: summer/winter: summer
:x: trampolines or swimming pools: pool
:x: flower: gerber daisy
:x: perfume: angel [UPDATE:  I've strayed from Angel but it is still my favorite.  I think I'll go back.]
:x: restaurant:  Taco Villa :) [UPDATE:  I think I'll go with Roaring Fork.  But I'll never turn down a burrito from Taco Villa.]

last person that...
:x: slept in your bed: Me

:x: saw you cry: Jessica and Sarah  [UPDATE:  probably Larry.]
:x: made you cry: Jessica [UPDATE:  probably Larry]
:x: went to the movies with you: went by myself for the first time yesterday [UPDATE:  Sarah? I think the last movie I saw was Les Miserables and I went with her.]
:x: yelled at you: I have no idea.  Unless a friend yelling at me from across the bar counts
:x: sent you an email: SPAM [UPDATE:  an intern, asking when he could take his teacher certification exam again.]

have you ever
:x: said "i love you" and meant it?: yes
:x: gone out in public in your pajamas?: maybe once or twice.
:x: kept a secret from everyone?: yes
:x: cried during a movie?: ALWAYS
:x: ever at anytime owned new kids on the block?: um, of course!
:x: planned your week based on the TV Guide?: no.  okay, maybe.
:x: been on stage?: yes
:x: apples or bananas?: apples [UPDATE:  bananas.  They go better in smoothies.]
:x: blue or red?: red
:x: walmart or target?: Target
:x: spring or fall?: Spring, because Summer comes after that
:x: what are you gonna do after you finish this?: watch TV [UPDATE:  go to bed!]
:x: what was the last meal you ate?: beef and broccoli [UPDATE:  fajitas]
:x: are you bored?: Only boring people get bored.
:x: last noise you heard?: tv
:x: last smell you sniffed?:  the boy I hugged [UPDATE: oh my gosh, yes.  I was really that obnoxious.]


friendship/love
:x: do you believe in love at first sight?: maybe
:x: do you want children one day & if so, how many?: don't know [UPDATE:  starting to think yes, now that I don't know if I'll have a chance!]
:x: most important thing to you in a friendship is?:  feeling at home when I'm with them, never having to worry about if I'm doing or saying the right thing


random stuff
:x: criminal record?: nope
:x: do you speak any other languages? tiny bit of spanish.
:x: name some of your favorite things in your bedroom?  pictures and the metal thing hanging above my bed [UPDATE: the decorative plates from my mom, my scentsy, my sound machine.]
:x: piercings and where?:  ears
:x: who do you love: Family, friends, the creator of lipgloss
:x: nickname(s): Rach, Teach
:x: initials: rhb
:x: how old do you look?: I still get carded, but at least 25 [UPDATE:  ha!  I certainly do not look 25 anymore.]

:x: how old do you act?: Depends on who I'm with
:x: glasses/contacts?: glasses for driving, need new ones [UPDATE:  just my OrthoK contact at night!]
:x: braces: yup.  on my teeth AND for my back!
:x: what upsets you?: being lied to, idiot drivers, lowlife parents, apathetic kids


Congrats if you made it this far.  You were obviously a person with a similar love for the bulletins.

3.15.2013

ellimenohpee

I'm going to get through the alphabet even if it kills me.  I'm only on letter "L" so I'm going to cheat a bit and combine L,M,N,O and P like you used to do when you were a kid.  (You know, when you sing the alphabet song and these 5 letters become some sort of undecipherable new sound?)

L - I've got nothing.  (which is why I've been stuck on this letter for so long.)  Obviously I could go with Love or Larry or Littles, but those all get their own blog posts.  So how about L is for lugnuts.  I'm sure those are an important piece of your car.

M - is for Monopoly.  At one point, they were going to get rid of one of the original pieces and replace it with a more modern symbol.  Does anyone know what happened with that?  I always liked the iron and I have a feeling that is the one that got axed.  That is what all the early surveys were showing...........I'm going to look it up.

Yup.  The iron is gone forever.  It was replaced with a cat.

I take it back.  L is for lame.  I don't agree with that pick at all.  Then again, I didn't vote on it, so I guess I can't complain. 

N - is for nachos.  I am not eating fried foods during Lent and this includes chips.  I'm not really a huge nacho fan, but they've sounded really good to me lately.  Instead of an Easter basket, maybe I'll just tell Larry to get me a bag of chips and some shredded cheese.

O - is for "Oh yeah."  I've been saying it a lot lately, which is weird.  Right?  I said it in front of Sarah and she said I sounded like the guy on the video.  I didn't know what she was talking about until I saw this posted on my brother's facebook page.  If the video below doesn't work, watch it here.


Love it.  Now I'm going to continue to say "Oh yeah."

P - is for pedicure.  Is there anything better?  Sarah and I went to get our piggies done for Spring Break.  It was long overdue.  I'm happy with the color I chose.... it is very spring-y.  Here it is:

3.13.2013

vagueblogging

There are days when my self-esteem is lacking. I'm 99.99% sure this happens to all women, right? I'm speaking to you on a purely superficial level right now. We all know beauty is skin deep yada yada yada. But there are some days when I just look and feel like crap. I haven't been taking very good care of myself and some days I just look in the mirror and don't like what I see.


Recently, on a day that seemed particularly trying, I found myself googling.

I googled the name of a person from my past, whose path crossed mine for a brief moment in my youth. The circumstances surrounding him allowed me to feel beautiful. The search results reminded me that you don't need a man to tell you you're beautiful, but that it sure is nice when they do.... especially when it is a man that is surrounded by beauty. That being confident and capable is liberating and that being classy is always the correct decision. And, let's be honest.... It also reminded me that being young was so much fun!

I would provide details to document this story, but they don't really matter.* I'm sure you can all fill in the blank with a time or situation or person that makes you feel this way. So instead of the actual story, you get a vague blog post, almost a decade after the fact, that should cause you to do some recollecting. Your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is to pinpoint a time when you felt beautiful. And next time you have a day that makes you feel less than beautiful, allow yourself the freedom to relive that moment. 

(I guess it is probably important to note that I'm not pining away for the past or minimizing the love I have for the MWG.... sometimes it is just healing to remember being young, and wild, and free!)

*For the record, I can be swayed to spill secrets for a glass of wine and appropriate snacks.



3.09.2013

shows

Another thing I've done is go crazy on concert tickets.

My sister and her family will be going with me to see the Avett Brothers on May 31, as will one of my brothers and his family. It will be a good time. We just got lawn seats because we are bringing the kids. My niece, Annie, has wanted to see them for years.

I bought Lumineers tickets because I missed them the last time they were in town and am still mad about it. (Because they were still a teeny band playing a teeny venue.) I don't know if I'll go or if I'll sell. I'm afraid it will be a bunch of hipsters and teeny-boppers. We'll see.

And then I won Train tickets by being "texter 93" in a radio contest. I could listen to "Drops of Jupiter" like 10 times in a row. Don't even pretend like you didn't love this part:


Tell me, did you fall for a shooting star 
One without a permanent scar 

And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there 

(The fried chicken line goes without saying.)

A year ago I was headed to SXSW...I don't know of if I ever even blogged about it? Fiona Apple and Delta Spirit and Milo Greene and Citizen Cope and so many others? (as well as standing in ridiculous lines for Jack White, fun. and Alabama Shakes....not worth it. Not standing in a 3 hour line to get squished by hoards of people.) I didn't buy a wristband this year but may try to catch a couple of the free events. Who knows... Maybe I'll get up extra early next Saturday and go to Rachael Ray's
shindig.

In other news, we are randomly watching a car show on CNBC and it turns out the guy is based in Lubbock. What are the odds? Flat 12 gallery. West Texas REPRESENT! 


3.05.2013

what i've been doing

In the absence of wasting time on facebook in the evenings, I've found myself being a little more productive.  Not as productive as I SHOULD be, but I'm a work in progress.

Some of my most recent adventures:

Herb-roasted chicken with potatoes and peas


(REVIEW:  Larry liked this more than I did.  I liked the potatoes because they got crispy.  I would make it again but add a little salt to my piece of chicken.)

Spicy fish taco bowls


(REVIEW:  Loved this.  It was spicy but the rice helped calm it a bit.

Sesame-soy broccoli (with teriyaki chicken)


Bone-in chicken breasts were on sale for $1/lb, so I stocked up.  Hence the plethora of chicken related projects. (REVIEW: Meh.  I forgot fresh broccoli so I steamed frozen.  Flavor was good but I want to try again with fresh.)

Non-cooking related tasks include:

1.  Rainbow fruit plate with a pot of gold

I felt like bringing something to an all day training event we were having at work, so I made this.  We are on Spring Break next week and I won't be able to bring anything cute for St. Patrick's Day, so I did this instead.  (Get it?  Pot of gold at the end of the rainbow???)

2.  Cleaning my closet....round 1.  I have challenged myself to do at least 3 rounds.  The first round was the obvious stuff... the shirts I am too old to wear, the shirts and pants that are just not ever going to fit me anymore, and a few things that have just been in my closet for way too long.  I found a site called poshmark and took some clothes to a consignment store  to see if I can sell anything .  If not, I'll give to appropriate charities. 

3.  I'm on track and have sent birthday cards for every family birthday so far.

4.  Unfortunately, extra time without logging into facebook has also caused me to do a little online shoppingEverything has been on crazy sale (6 rolls of paper towel for $3!) but it still adds up.  I finally found a chambray shirt after looking at every. single. one. on the internet. 

















I wanted actual chambray instead of jean.  It hasn't arrived yet, so we'll see if I really like it.  That was my final purchase and now I am done.....