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Random Thoughts Thursday

My Next Reality Show Obsession. Well, this season of Dancing With The Stars has ended (yay, Shawn Johnson). Lucky for me, the end of one good thing brings the beginning of another. Can you guess what reality show I'll be watching faithfully this summer? Hint: It's the same kind of reality show as DWTS. Give up? So You Think You Can Dance. I guess you can tell I love dance reality shows (which explains why the main character of my current work in progress, Who's Got Tha Moves, is competing in one). I mentioned in an earlier blog post that, when I was younger, I just knew I'd be a dancer. While I didn't fulfill that dream, I still love dancing, hence my obsession with dance reality shows. I'm going to have SO much fun when I get to writing the actual competition part. And I'm going to have SO much fun researching (watching my dance reality shows).

New Writing Challenge. This summer, Karen Strong, a fellow writer is holding a summer challenge that I plan to join (http://www.karen-strong.com/2009/05/28/do-you-have-to-write-every-day/). From June 1, 2009 to August 31, 2009, we'll be attempting to write 500 words every day (3500 words/week). It sounds easy, but add the stresses of everyday life, and it can be difficult to find writing time. I think I can do it, though. So, starting Monday, I'll be posting my progress once a week. Wish me luck! Or join if you like.

WTF! So, I read the story about the 29 year-old Tennessee man who has 21 kids. 21 kids! WTF? That's not all though. He has at least 11 baby mamas. AT LEAST! Which means there's a possibility of more. And, in the interview (he was on the local news in Knoxville, Tennessee), he mentioned that the mothers knew about the other kids. I mean, really? http://www.volunteertv.com/home/headlines/45871127.html

Summer Writing Plans. Between finishing my 2nd work in progress and re-strategizing my 1st, I'm thinking maybe, probably, possibly...I MIGHT add a Writing Wednesday to my blog. I'm not quite sure yet. It's still in the plans. I guess I'd have to make up my mind soon, 'cause summer's starting soon, right? More information later...

Technological Needs. Hi, my name is Raenice, and I have an serious addiction. It's called BlackBerry Curve. I LOVE my BlackBerry. I got it in February and haven't looked back since. It's something serious, y'all. Like, I put important days in there so I can remember. I can check my email/Facebook/Myspace from the phone (which cuts down on my computer time). The screen is bigger than my other phone, so looking at pictures and watching videos is awesome. And those times when I have a burst of writing brilliance (when I'm sleep), all I have to do is reach for my BlackBerry and type what's on my mind. I save it, go back to sleep and don't think about it, 'til the next day. If I need to look up something quick, instead of having to wait until the computer is on, I can search the internet on my phone. And I'm still learning about the greatness that is BlackBerry. Did I say I love my BlackBerry? Am I the only addicted to this phone? This is an example of what my phone looks like...except I'm a bit clumsy, so mine has a few nicks on it from my dropping it (I know) and I have a pic of my handsome nephews on the screen.
Til next time...

 

Tickle-Me Tuesday

Bud Light's 'Real Men of Genius' commercials are hilarious. Here's one:

 

Random Thoughts Thursday

NBA Finals. Well, my Rockets didn't win game 7 on Sunday against the Lakers. My poor, poor broken heart. Oh, well. I'm still proud of them. They went farther than so many people thought they'd go. So, Lakers (and Lakers fans), while you're cheering and moving on to the Western Conference Finals, ask yourself, 'How in the world did we let a team, whose big name players (McGrady, Ming, and Mtumbo) sat on the bench during most of the series, force us to game 7?'

Now that my beloved Rockets won't be in the finals, who do I want to see play for the coveted title of 2009 NBA World Champs (along with the rings and trophy)? While I'm not a Kobe fan, and I would love to see a fellow Houstonian (Orlando's Rashard Lewis) get a ring, I'd really like to see Los Angeles Lakers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers. That would be the game to watch...like the 'old' days of Jordan vs. Magic Johnson or Jordan vs. Bird...two talented teams - Lakers (as much as I'm not crazy about the Lakers, you've got to admit they're good) and Cavaliers; two dominating players - Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. I'm not on the 'I Love Kobe' bandwagon, but I'd be out of mind to say he's not awesome on the court. And LeBron? Wow! Michael Jordan will always be the best to me, though. I still love watching old clips of 'Air Jordan'. Anyway, I want to see the Lakers vs. the Cavs, Bryant vs. James, in the finals with, of course, James and the Cavs taking the trophy home.

Dancing With The Stars. YAY! SHAWN JOHNSON WON. WOOHOO. This almost makes up for the Rockets' loss. I still think Lil Kim should've been in the finals, but whatever. The underdog has prevailed!

Summer. My oh my, where has the time gone? May is almost over already! Summer vacation is right around the corner. So, how will I spend my summer? It won't be like last summer, where I spent a glorious 5 weeks in Cuernavaca, Mexico (gorgeous place, btw). I'll be working (gotta pay bills), writing (gotta finish my books), and working out (gotta get ready for Puerto Rico in December). I'm sacrificing my summer travel so I can have money for my December trip. I'm sure it'll all be worth it when I'm chilling on a beautiful beach in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 7 months. This summer, I've also got to work on my Spanish. Watching Spanish novelas (Telemundo's, El Rostro de Analia, is my addiction) is really helping me. Surprisingly, I'm understanding most of what they're saying. I have to have my bilingual sister talking to me in completely in Spanish so I can practice speaking it. The only problem? She's like a drill sergeant when it comes to teaching me Spanish...scary. ::shudder:: The reason I am excited about December:
People En Espanol. Speaking of learning Spanish...Reading Spanish magazines helps also. I love buying People En Espanol and, the latest issue has Los 50 Mas Bellos, or the 50 Most Beautiful. Here are just a few:

Selena Gomez(Wizards of Waverly Place)

Karla Monroig (El Rostro de Analia)
Jencarlos Canela (Mas Sabe El Diablo)
Anthony Romeo Santos (singer from Aventura) Manolo Cardona (Beverly Hills Chihuahua, El Cartel)

 

Tickle-Me Tuesday


 

Inspirational Sunday

Today's inspiration is short and sweet. Have a blessed week!
"
All eyes look to You, and You give them their food in due time. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing."
Psalm 145: 15-16

Rae's Thought: I literally have all I need in God. Really. He has the resources to provide for me - I mean come on, He owns it all. So, why is it hard for me to trust that He'll provide? He's never failed me and, truthfully, I don't see Him failing me anytime in the future. It just won't happen. God is the only one who'll keep His promises.

The Bible tells me that He gives food (nourishment) to all whose eyes look to Him. I MUST LOOK TO HIM. If I'm concentrating on Him, there's no reason or room for me to worry about anything. And when it seems like He's taking long, I must remember the words 'in due time'. It'll happen on God's time, not mine. God will satisfy every single one of my (and your) needs.

 

Random Thoughts/Fitness Friday

Dancing With The Stars. Finally! Ty's fans couldn't save him this time. I'm very happy with the final three. Who do I think will take it? Gilles or Melissa. Who do I want to take it? Shawn. I'm a sucker for underdog stories, and, between the final 3, Shawn is the underdog. Go Shawn!

NBA Finals. Speaking of underdogs...WHAT ABOUT THOSE ROCKETS! YEAH, I KNOW I'M YELLING, BUT IT'S HAPPY YELLING! The Rockets were awesome last night. I mean, really. They were awesome, forcing the series to a game 7. So many people didn't think they'd make it against the Lakers (some still think they won't make it), but, here they are, going to game 7. The game is in LA, but I still think they can win. They've done it before (um, hello, game 1). Sunday, at 5:00, Houston time, I'll be in front of my dad's big screen TV, cheering the Rockets on. GO ROCKETS!!!!

Fitness Friday. 6 inches. That's how much I've lost this past month. No poundage, though. That's ok. I'm still working it.

Prom. So, I'll be leaving in a few minutes to go to prom. No, I'm not a Senior in high school. I'm a 32 year old (33 in 4 months) and I haven't been to prom in 15 years (I can't believe it's been 15 years since I graduated from high school! Ugh!). My sister, who's a high school Spanish teacher, volunteered me to go along and help during this time. Thanks, little sis. I'll definitely be blogging about tonight's experience.

 

Tickle-Me Tuesday

Funny Bumper Sticker Quote (from http://www.bored.com/bumperquotes/)

"Watch out for the idiot behind me!"
Moooooove, I'm trying to speed!
If you're rich, I’m single!
A clean car is a sign if sick mind.
Adults are just kids with money.
Keep honking, I am reloading!
Pain is inevitable misery is optional.
To All You Virgins: Thanks For Nothing.
Tennis players have fuzzy balls.
Stupidity is not a crime so you’re free to go
"I'm already visualizing the duct tape over your mouth!"
You're not the boss of me!
Your village called, their idiot is missing.
You're just jealous because the voices only talk to ME.
You know your getting older when Happy Hour is a nap.
You have been a naughty boy, go to my room!
You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted, then used against you.
Why do psychics have to ask you for your name?
Why do they call it a bumper if your not going to use it?
Why do we believe everything we see in newspapers but question what the Bible says?
The light at the end of the tunnel is the headlight of the oncoming train.
T.G.I.F Thank God I'm Female.
People who think they know what they're doing are especially annoying to those of us who do.
Please Tell Your Pants It's Not Polite To Point.
My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-b**ch.
My opinions may have changed, but not the fact that I am right.

 

Inspirational Sunday

Inspirational Sunday will return next Sunday.

 

Random Thoughts Thursday

Dancing With The Stars. What were y'all thinking? Vote Lil Kim off? That wasn't a very smart decision, I must say. I mean, Ty is very likable, I admit. He has a certain...aura or air about him that kinda makes it hard not to like him. And he has improved since he first started. But, unfortunately, DWTS is not about who's the most likable or who's improved the most. It's about who's the best dancer and Ty isn't one of the top. Lil Kim was. In the top 4, I saw Melissa, Gilles, Shawn, and Lil Kim, not Melissa, Gilles, Shawn, and Ty. Again I ask, what were y'all thinking? I was so...I don't know, surprised? Pissed? Shocked? All of the above? LIL KIM SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE SEMI FINALS...NO, SHE SHOULD'VE BEEN IN THE FINALS. I am so not a happy camper. So, I said earlier that I wanted either Lil Kim or Shawn to win it. Obviously Lil Kim can't, so I'm voting for Shawn (although I'm thinking Melissa or Gilles will probably take the trophy home). And what was up with Bruno's comment Monday night, "You try to be a lady, but you're more comfortable being a tramp..." I mean, really Bruno? Lost some serious cool points for that one. I'm thinking (hoping) he meant she's more comfortable doing the fast, booty shaking dances than the slow ones. But still. He must not've heard about the 'Think before you speak' phenomena...

NBA Playoffs. It's one of my favorite times of the year. NBA playoffs. And the Rockets are in the West Semi-finals for the first time since 1997! I'm so proud of them. So they lost last night. The thing is, they're not giving up, despite the fact that they're playing the Lakers and people seem to think they'll fall flat on their face (cause, come on, it's the Lakers). I, for one, believe they can take the Lakers, but that's just me. I am NOT a fan of Kobe, so I really want the Rockets to beat LA, whether it takes them 7 games to do it (which, I think it will) or not. And, besides, I love it when the Rockets are the underdogs. I seem to remember a time when the Rockets were the underdogs of the NBA playoffs and they ended up becoming the champs...twice (remember Clutch City, 1994 & 1995). I don't see any reason why we can't do it again. What about the Kobe-Artest/Fisher situations...must we result to this (Lakers)? Do you think Kobe will be reprimanded (if it shows that he did indeed elbow Artest above the shoulders)? No special treatment! If he did it, he should be suspended (but it's Kobe...excuse me for sounding doubtful). Fisher was wrong, too. Anyway, the next game is here in Houston. LET'S GO ROCKETS!!

 

Just Wanted to Say...

HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO

AND

HAPPY NATIONAL TEACHER'S DAY

 

Tickle-Me Tuesday


 

Inspirational Sunday

"God is a verb, not a noun proper or improper."R. Buckminster Fuller

Rae's Thought: I'm sure most of you know the difference between a noun and a verb. A noun is a person, place, or thing; a verb is a word that expresses an act, occurrence, or mode of being. Now, what does that have to do with God? Many people think of God in terms of a noun (a person or thing), but is He really?

In the Bible, just before Moses set out to Egypt (Exodus 3:13-14), he asked God who should he say sent him. God answered, "I am that I am." The word 'am' which is a verb, comes from the Hebrew words, hayah: to exist, and hava: to be. This means that God is not a person, place, or thing, He just...is.

We're going to try something. Think of everything you stand in need of. Now, remember God's answer to Moses' question. If you say, "I need peace," God says, "I am that." You say, "I need joy," God says, "I am that." If you say, "I need a better financial situation," God says, "I am that." Need healing? God says, "I am that." Whatever you need, you'll find it in God and God alone. When you have Him, everything else falls into place. Saying God is a person or thing only sets limits on what He is and what He can do. People and things can only go so far before they have to stop. There is no stopping with God. He's limitless. There's nothing He can't do and nowhere He can't go. We can't even wrap our little human minds around the total vastness of God.

Now that you're armed with this knowledge, you can relax and revel in the 'I am-ness' of God.

 

Random Thoughts

Swine Flu. I'm taking this seriously. Really, I am. I absolutely abhor being sick, so, yeah, I'm taking it seriously, but I'm not panicking, though. I'm not letting this thing take over my mind, causing me to worry. Nope. And, anyway, wasn't there another scary outbreak years ago? The bird flu? This kind of reminds me of that movie, Outbreak, only not as drastic.

The thing is, the precautions we're told to take are ones we should already be doing:

  • Cover your mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing - I mean, come on, people. It's just rude not to cover. Do I want your germy saliva all over me? Uh...no! I don't care if you're sick or not, it's still gross.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water - How many people have you seen walk out the public restrooms without washing their hands? Ew. That's just nasty.
  • Stay at home if you get sick - Duh. Wouldn't want to spread your sickness around, right? And parents, if you have a sick child, please, please, please don't send them to school. Think of all the teachers, students, administrators, cafeteria workers, etc.


Annoying Noises. Okay, so last night, I was lucky enough (sarcastically speaking) to be awakened, several times, by a symphony of annoying noises.


  • Smoke detector. Clearly we need to replace the battery in one of our detectors. All it does now is beep. Every 30 seconds. Yes, I counted. What else was I gonna do?
  • Gurgling commode. So, every month, we're to pour bleach done a pipe located in our attic because it helps with the drainage in the neighborhood. Wanna know how we know it's time to do it? Our commodes gurgle. Seriously. Both mine and my sister's toilets make some weird 'blub blub' noises. Disgusting, I know.
  • Arguing cats. When we first moved in, it was dogs that howled. All. Night. Long. Now, it's cats who argue. They sound exactly like wailing babies. Honest. It's creepy. Last night, they woke me up, then managed to keep me up for an hour. Going back and forth, wailing and whining. Just when I wanted to cut my ears off (not really, but you get the point), it got even weirder. They started hissing at each other. Wail. Wail. Hiss. Hiss. Bang. Bang. They sounded possessed. Really. I'm not sure exactly what they were doing - I refused to get up out of bed to see 2 (or more) possessed cats for fear they'd somehow come get me - but it sounded like they were fighting (hence, the bang bang noise). Then, after all that noise...complete silence. Kinda creepy. I kept praying that we wouldn't find a dead cat or two in our backyard (prayers answered).


Fitness. Nothing much to report. I'm losing more inches off my bottom/hips than I am in the waist/stomach area (which is where I'd like to lose). I'm okay with my bottom/hips, besides firming. Oh well, I guess more crunches are in order.