National Kick A Ginger Day- Nov. 20

Being a Ginger myself, when I heard on the news about National Kick A Ginger Day I was quite amused at first. Although I don't really watch TV, I did happen to catch the South Park episode referring to Gingers. In case you didn't know, according to the episode, Gingers are "people with red hair, freckles, and pale skin - are disgusting, inhuman, inherently dumb, have no souls, and are unable to survive in sunlight." I can appreciate that type of humor and I thought nothing of it, knowing that it is just a silly TV show. That is until I heard about all those who took it upon themselves to act violently towards "Gingers" by beating up redheaded children at school on National Kick a Ginger Day, which began from that South Park episode.



The following article is only one of the many regarding this past Nov. 20, Kick A Ginger Day:

Kids Attack Redheads on 'Kick a Ginger' Day
By Katherine Thompson| Posted Nov 23, 08 4:31 PM CST

Inspired by a Facebook page, kids in Vancouver spent a day kicking and punching redheads for fun, the Vancouver Sun reports. Trouble is, being hit hurts. "I was amazed by the amount of people that kicked me," said 13-year-old Aaron Mishkin, who figures he was assaulted about 80 times. An online group promoting "Kick a Ginger" day started it all.

The group's 14-year-old creator, who based the page on a South Park episode, apologized and said it was intended as a joke. But after students went home with injuries and 20 kids were suspended at one middle school, the RCMP is investigating the group, saying it may have spurred a hate crime. "It's really unprecedented," one cyber-bullying expert said.



This type of behavior really struck home because when I was younger I was made fun of a lot for having red hair and freckles. Being from Ohio and attending private schools, I was pretty much the only person in the entire school that was a redhead and I always got teased and made fun of. I got called carrot top, red hot, fire crotch, big red... you name it. Boy are kids cruel!

Now I look back at the names I was called and I laugh because people now compliment me more than ever for my red hair. I don't think I have ever gone into a hair salon without people commenting on how gorgeous and healthy my hair is. They always tell me that they can tell I don't dye it because of how shiny it is. I have even had several friends try to dye their hair my color, which we have learned is impossible to match (just ask my friend Meghan... poor thing!).

So for all you Gingers out there, keep your heads up and don't let anyone tell you that you are anything but beautiful.

As my idol Lucille Ball put it, "Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead."

Eve of the Eve

For those of you that don't know, I am going to Chicago for New Years to spend it with my best friend, Ashley (from NY). We try to spend every New Years together and this year we are visiting her brothers who live in Chicago. A couple of my other friends from NY are meeting us there as well. On Dec. 30th, we are going to a large black-tie event called Eve of the Eve. I have heard great things about it and can't wait. If you know me at all, you know that I love to dress up! Sooo excited! :)

Here are the details:



UNION STATION

The EVE of the EVE takes place the night before New Year's Eve and all proceeds benefit HighSight's scholarship program. This black-tie optional event offers more than 2,000 young, hip, urban professionals the opportunity to mix and mingle, while jump-starting their New Year's celebrations. The party takes over the entire Great Hall of Union Station, where guests enjoy cocktails, heavy hors d'oeuvres, a live band and dancing. This much-anticipated event is truly one of Chicagoland's hippest extravaganzas and the premiere holiday choice for partygoers year after year!

My Bucket List

I know I am young but figured I may as well write a list of things that I want to do before I die. Tomorrow is never promised! :) P.S. They are in no particular order.

1. Swim with a dolphin.
2. Learn to speak a foreign language.
3. Learn how to play an instrument, preferably the guitar.
4. Learn how to surf.
5. Visit Australia, Costa Rica, Paris, London and Thailand.
6. Move out of the country.
7. Learn to ballroom dance.
8. Fall deeply in love--helplessly and unconditionally-- and get married.
9. Have children.
10. Drive across America from sea to shining sea and see all 50 states.
11. Visit the Mall of America and shop my heart out.
12. Run with the bulls in Pamplona.
13. Drive the Autobahn and speed as much as I want.
14. Run a marathon.
15. Go on a hot air balloon ride.
16. Go snorkeling and scuba diving.
17. Visit the Holy Land.
18. Write a book. You know I have stories! :)
19. Ride in a helicopter.
20. Be on TV and on the radio.
21. Host a radio show.
22. Learn to cook well.
23. Dye my hair.
24. Learn to sew.
25. See the 7 Wonders of the World.
26. Adopt an orphan.
27. Send letters to a prisoner.
28. Set foot on each of the 7 continents.
29. Volunteer at a homeless shelter.
30. Go on a cruise.
31. Learn to become more artistic.
32. Go on a mission trip.
33. Teach a class.
34. Own my own house.
35. Stay in the ice hotel.
36. Complete a triathlon.
37. Go sailing.
38. Get my pilot's license.
39. Read the Bible from cover to cover.
40. Go on a safari.
41. Get a picture published.
42. Try fencing.
43. Swim with sharks.
44. Go to Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
45. Go couchsurfing.
46. Become a Wine Connoisseur.
47. Watch Turtles hatch and run for the ocean.
48. Participate in La Tomatina: Food Fight!
49. Collect something.
50. Buy something for someone that I can not even afford for myself.
51. Swim with stingrays.
52. Catch fresh Tuna and eat fresh sushi on a boat.
53. Go horseback riding on the beach.
54. Go para sailing.
55. Go base jumping.
56. Climb a pyramid.
57. Buy a round of drinks for everyone at the bar.
58. Tip a server an extra $100 for no reason.
59. Learn to drive a 5 speed.
60. See the Northern Lights.
61. Go rock climbing.
62. Save someone's life.
63. Go caroling.
64. Go to a film premiere.
65. Invent something.
66. Have a job that I love.
67. Free an animal.
68. Shower in a waterfall.
69. Be arrested for doing something I believe in.
70. Visit a desert.
71. Discover something that has never been discovered.
72. Become financially stable so I don't have to work again.
73. Walk for Breast Cancer.
74. Live on the water.
75. Take a vacation on a private yacht.
76. Stomp on Grapes.
77. Solve the Rubik's Cube.
78. Get my own motorcycle.
79. Take a spontaneous trip for no reason.
80. Become a Grandma.
81. Help someone in need.
82. Go dogsledding.
83. Become a cowgirl for a weekend.
84. Fish for blue marlin.
85. Visit a rainforest.
86. Go back to school to get my Masters or PhD.
87. Change someone's life for the better.
88. Go to a nude beach.
89. Kiss at the top of the Eiffel Tower.
90. Learn to belly dance.
91. Buy a big hat and go to the Kentucky Derby.
92. Go on a pub crawl.
93. Take lots of pictures and actually print them out and use them.
94. Blow a month's wages on shoes.
95. Spend a night at the Opera.
96. Try to trapeze.
97. Take pole dancing lessons.
98. Build something.
99. Send flowers to someone for no reason.
100. Live every day as if it's my last.

Strong Legs 10k at Turner Field

This past Saturday, I ran the Strong Legs 10k at Turner Field. It is one of my favorite races. This is the third time I have run this race in the past couple of years. My all-time favorite race to run is the Peachtree Roadrace, which is on the 4th of July. This year would have been my 10th year running it, but I was in Ohio for my family reunion. Someday I hope to run a marathon, if my feet will allow me. Hopefully this upcoming spring I will run a half marathon. For those that don't know, I have plantar fasciitis in both of my feet. It has been a challenge (and quite painful) running with such bad feet.

In case you don't know, Plantar fasciitis (PLAN-tur fas-e-I-tis) is one of the most common causes of heel pain. It involves pain and inflammation of a thick band of tissue, called the plantar fascia, which runs across the bottom of your foot — connecting your heel bone to your toes. Plantar fasciitis causes stabbing pain that usually occurs with your very first steps in the morning. Once your foot limbers up, the pain of plantar fasciitis normally decreases, but it may return after long periods of standing or after getting up from a seated position. Plantar fasciitis is particularly common in runners. People who are overweight, women who are pregnant and those who wear shoes with inadequate support are at a higher risk of plantar fasciitis.

"I always loved running...it was something you could do by yourself, and under your own power. You could go in any direction, fast or slow as you wanted, fighting the wind if you felt like it, seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs." - Jesse Owens

Live everyday like it's your last....

Today we have higher buildings and wider highways, but shorter temperments and narrower points of view.

We spend more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses, but smaller families. We have more compromises, but less time. We have more knowledge, but less judgement. We have more medicines, but less health.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk much, we love only a little, and we hate too much.

We reached the moon and came back, but we find it troublesome to cross our own street and meet our neighbors. We have conquered the outer space, but not our inner space.

We have higher income, but less morals… These are times with more liberty, but less joy… With much more food, but less nutrition…

These are days in which two salaries come home, but divorces increase. These are times of finer houses, but more broken homes.

That’s why I propose that as of today -- You do not keep anything for a special occasion, because every day that you live is a special occasion. Search for knowledge, read more, sit on your front porch and admire the view without paying attention to the needs. Pass more time with your family, eat your favorite food, visit the place you love. Life is a chain of moments of enjoyment; it isn’t only survival.

Use your crystal goblets. Do not save your best perfume… use it every time you feel you want it. Take out from your vocabulary phrases like, “one of these days” and “someday”. Let’s write that letter we thought of writing “one of these days…”

Let’s tell our families and friends how much we love them. Never pass up a chance at adding laughter and joy to your life. Every day, hour, and minute are special… Because you never know if it will be your last…

Makes Me Think

I am obsessed with stumbleupon.com. As I was "stumbling" this morning, I ran across a cool website that is the opposite of FML, called Makes Me Think (MMT). Just thought I would share it. You guys should check it out if you have time. The site is makesmethink.com. Enjoy!

Freckles

As I was washing my face this morning, I looked into the mirror and noticed my freckles more than usual. Since I have been tanning recently, they have come out more because the formation of freckles is triggered by exposure to sunlight. Most of you know that I hate my freckles, as it characterizes me as being a ginger- pale skin, freckles and bright red hair. As I looked into the mirror I noticed the faded white line on my nose that did not contain freckles and was reminded of a story of my childhood.

Back in the Summer of '92, my family and I lived on Marco Island in Florida for the summer. My Dad was taking a sabbatical from preaching and we lived in a sweet little condo right on the beach. Although I remember it being tough having six of us live in the small condo, it was one of the best summers of my life. My brothers and I ran around catching lizards, fishing with my Dad, and shopping at Piggly Wiggly with my Mom. Now, being from Ohio, I thought that that was the craziest name ever for a grocery store but I loved it. That summer we spent nearly every day at the beach and I was the most tan little red head you ever did see. Although my body would tan, sometimes my face would burn. One day, I remember getting burned on my face and then having a blister form on my nose. I began to pick at my blister and realized that a couple of my freckles were coming off. Not realizing the full effect of my actions, I began peeling the blisters to remove my freckles. My Mom caught me doing so and made me stop, but my full intention was to peel the freckles off of my entire face. That's how much I hated them. Later that summer, for some reason my Mom had a bad feeling and thought that we needed to leave Marco Island a couple days early. Just three short days later, Hurricane Andrew struck without warning and demolished the island. God was definitely looking out for us because our whole condo was washed away.

It is amazing to me how one glance in the mirror can bring back so many vivid memories.

Ohhh Bella Mia...

Preface: A couple nights ago I was outside with Jack and Bella letting them run around in the backyard. It was the first time Bella had been outside to play since she has finally gotten all of her shots and she was running around like crazy. My neighbors were outside and told me to be careful because several hawks like to hang out in the trees behind my house. I looked up and there were two hawks in the trees looking at my little pups. I decided to bring them in the house and we continued to play. Since then, I decided to only let Jack outside when he had to use the restroom since I didn't want them swooped up by the hawks.

Well, yesterday when I got home I followed my usual routine of letting Bella out of the bathroom (where she stays when I am not home) and then I let Jack outside to go potty. I have a door in my room that leads outside, since I live in the basement, and I always leave the door cracked so he can go out real quick and come right back in. As Jack was outside, I began to change out of my work clothes. I had just stripped down to my tank top and panties when I noticed that Bella was being awfully quiet. I looked around and did not see her and then I looked over to the cracked door. Sheer panic fell over me and I looked outside and Jack and Bella were outside playing in the yard. I looked up and saw the hawks. At that very moment, I had a decision to make. Go back inside and put clothes and shoes on and then get the puppies or run outside and get them and save them from the hawks. Being the near-perfect Mommy that I am, I chose the latter of the two and ran outside barefoot, in my thong and all. Now this was surely a sight because not only does Bella run away from you when you call her name (because she knows she is going to be put up) but there were also dog poopies everywhere from all the neighborhood dogs. So there I am, prancing around barefoot in my thong and tank top, trying to run around the piles of doodoo (as if they were landmines) all while trying to save my puppies from the evil hawks. I finally got the dogs back in the house and I pray that none of my neighbors saw me! Now if this isn't love, then I don't know what is.

This is how smart some people are...

I just thought I would share a couple of stories from work today that I thought would humor you all. For those of you that don't already know, I am a claims examiner and my account is The Home Depot. These are the type of people I deal with on a daily basis...

First, I spoke with a man who we will call Dick because that's precisely what he was. He filed a claim at a store on behalf of his friend who injured his left pinky finger on some tile in the store. He filed the claim two days after the incident occurred for his friend. I called the number that was provided for the customer who was injured at the store and lo and behold, Dick answered the phone. I asked to speak with the injured party, as he is the one who the claim is regarding. Dick then explained that he is the customer's advocate and would be speaking on his behalf. I kindly explained that I would need to speak with the injured party or his lawyer, if he had one. Dick then got upset and stated that he was sorry he didn't have a law degree and couldn't speak with me. I told him that I didn't know who he was and could not talk to him regarding this matter and that I am uncertain as to why I was speaking with him in the first place. He then starting talking about the weather and said that he thinks I was talking to him because he thinks I like him. At this point, I was irritated that he was wasting my time and I began to get sassy. I told him that I didn't care who he was unless he was the injured party or the injured party's lawyer and that I don't speak with advocates. He then stated that he was an advocate of justice and just wanted to help out The Home Depot. He stated that he has some very valuable information regarding a fraudulent claim pertaining to The Home Depot from 5 to 7 years ago that he thinks would be helpful, since he is an advocate for justice and all. I started laughing and told him to have the injured party to call me and then I hung up. Thank you Dick for wasting 20 minutes of my life that I will never get back. And no, I don't like you.

The second claimant I spoke to was a man that we will call Mr. Fix It. This good ol' country boy has a claim that dates back several months. I requested estimates from him way back and told him to fax me one estimate if it was less than $500 and two if it was more, regarding damage to his vehicle at the store. The customer agreed. The customer never sent in estimates and the file was closed. Today, I received an "estimate" from the customer that was written in Microsoft Word that had the customer's business letterhead (a boat repair shop) on top and then in the middle of the page it stated "Estimate = $500". I called the customer back and explained that he could not come up with an estimate on his own for any old dollar amount and that it would need to be from a repair shop with parts and services with their prices listed. He stated that he loves to fix things and figured he could do it with $500. I told him that that would not work and that I would need a legitimate estimate. The customer still did not seem to understand this concept but finally agreed and hung up.

These stories are nothing compared to the toilet claim, vicious frog claim, or the long distance dater claim but they will do for now.

Just a little insight into the life of a claims examiner... :)

Halloween :)

I must say that this past Halloween weekend was one of the most fun weekends I've had in a very long time. It all started on Friday night, when Wes texted me to meet him and Matt for dinner at the Tilted Kilt. At first I declined the invitation because I was already dressed up in my cat costume for the night. I later decided that I didn't care what people would think and I went anyway, costume and all. Matt knows the owner, Bo, and we had several drinks and shots before we went to Jaime's Halloween party. We even took a bottle of Goose with us on the way out. We then went to Jaime's apartment for her pre-Halloween party was held. I was so excited to see a bunch of my sorority sisters and friends from West Georgia. I had a lot of fun dancing and playing beer pong with everyone. I think I partied a little too hard the night before Halloween. I did not get up the next day until 4pm!

On Halloween, I went over to Ashley and Brandon's for their Monster Mash. All of my best friends were there and we had a wonderful time. We even have the pictures to prove it! ;) My brother and his girlfriend Daphne even made it, which made me so happy. We played several games of beer pong and danced our little hearts out. I swear I always say that it was the best party ever, but it really was.

I am so thankful to have such wonderful friends and family in my life. Being all dressed up makes it even better!