I am NOT an animal lover...

OMG...I am so not an animal lover. I know you what you are thinking "Are you even human?", "What an awful thing to say!" or "Shame on you for not loving God's creatures!" I have heard it all... Well I have a story to tell today.

I am house sitting for a family that I know. They have 2 dogs and a cat (who up until a few days ago I thought was a girl). Well, I have learned they are all boys. I knew the dogs were, their names are Ben & Jerry. But the cat, all I had to go on was reading it's water bowl which I thought said "Julia" but apparently says "Julio."

Julio vs. Julia- what makes this funny is that on Sunday the cat ran outside, which there were strict instructions to make sure it didn't get outside. So, after trying to coax it in I began to tell this story "This is how cat's get pregnant! You don't want to have to explain you getting knocked up when your family gets home, do you?" Do other people have these kind of dumb conversations with animals? :)

Well, I had a weeks assignment of house sitting while they were away (I am being nice to help out my sister who could completely have her own side business of this). And it is not all that bad. You have to let the two dogs out to do their "business" a few times a day and make sure there is food and water. Now, the over and above is being affectionate which (probably to the utter horror of this family) I do not do much of. I just simply don't like animals. They stink (for the most part) and I am just not 100% comfortable around them.

So my week started out pretty well, except for the fact that the dogs did A LOT of barking the first two nights I was here. I could NOT figure out why. I got up the 2nd night 5 times to let them out, make sure they had food and water and I was just beside myself. So, I mentioned this to Mom on Tuesday morning at work who said "Remember, you have to bring them upstairs because the one has a hurt back." Ding, ding, ding (imagine ringing of a bell)...it was all becoming a little clear now. I think Katie (sister) did say something about this fact. And the thought is that the one dog was barking because it didn't want to leave the other by itself.

Well, against my will, I brought them both upstairs on Tuesday and they slept like freakin princesses. I had to wake them up...WAKE THEM UP...on Wed morning when it was time to get up. I think they may have slept better than me...:(

All this to bring you to this morning, normal routine occurred. I let them out and made a bowl of cereal. To my horror, I looked up and saw the pool had a number of ripples in it (not normal because NO ONE had been in it) and then a wet dog was running to the door. I could not believe it has fallen into the pool. This then required me to find a towel to dry the dumb dog off before I could put it in the cage because I was leaving for a football game. I take care of that and leave. Well, after a HOT football game I had to head home to let them out again. After a bit, I was getting ready to leave again and the dumb dog jumped the pool AGAIN. Are you FREAKING kidding me? I happened to be outside and it did not look like the dog was doing so well. So against my better judgement, I jumped in fully clothed to get the silly thing out of the pool. UGH! Not the way I wanted to spend my afternoon...spontaneously jumping into a pool fully clothed to get a dog out. Funny now...NOT so funny then!

Well, after doing a few things today, I just got home a bit ago. It has been raining for about 5 hours STRAIGHT so there is water everywhere. I was taking out the trash, when I walking back inside I slipped & fell right into a split in the garage. Let's just say...my body is in pain and my side hurts from laughing so hard. You really just can't write this stuff up...so I thought I would share it.

It's my life...:)

Slow day...

Holy cow...I feel like I could stop breathing at any moment because my day is going SO slow. UGH! I have sat here thinking of a million things I could be doing if I wasn't just watching the clock. Then hating that I am sitting here instead of doing the million things that come to mind. HOWEVER, now that my day is coming to an end...I want to just go home and not accomplish anything on that list. How productive...oh well.

I am sure I'll get home and wish I had accomplished a few of the items...but oh well. Not today...PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST!

I've done it again...no, really!

So...although it has been FOREVER since I have posted, I feel like this is as good a time as any to start again because...there's been another episode. :)

I am getting ready for work and wanted something good for breakfast. It is month end after all...so I brought stuff to make tacos (at work). I know what you are thinking "Tacos?"...yes, please! I love them and was just hungry for them this morning.

Well, as I was preparing them (I brought each item in separate containers), I had plenty of dishes to wash. So, I began washing them once my yummy tacos were made. WELL...as I was washing and talking w/Sara (co-worker) I felt water on my foot. Which immediately I thought "That's weird, I was being so careful to not get water all over me (which is typical) while washing." I looked down and to my utter shock and amazement, there was water pouring out of the cabinet below. I opened the cabinet and water was pouring out from the garbage disposal drain. I immediately said "OMG, there is no way this is happening again!" (while watching water just pour and fill up an entire section of the kitchen floor). I quickly told Sara about the soda (an old post) and then ran to the front desk to inform them of my problem. Jillian (receptionist) called Niki (facilities) to report the issue. I then went back and began mopping up (as best as I could) with a roll of paper towels all while thinking "Only me...only me!" Of course as this was early in the morning, everyone began arriving to clock in, put their lunch away and grab coffee/tea. And all they saw was my big behind on the floor moping up water and of course they would ask "What happened?" I tried to be polite in my responses until Kori (my back-up & know-er of all of my happenings) and said "Oh no, Becky happened!" Ha Ha Ha...Kishande (co-worker) said "Reason #3 we need a dish washer...Becky!" It's a good thing I can laugh at myself...and with others! :)

Well, we got most of it mopped up and of course when I got back to my desk there was the "Kitchen sink is down" email. And the laughter in my department has begun...

Hope your Friday is eventful...Peace out!

What's new in my world?

So it has been a LONG time since I've posted anything here and I thought I'd stop by and give a you a heads up on a few things in life...
- Abby & Zac (niece & nephew) are larger than life. I am so blessed to have the best buddies in the world.
- My cousin Sean just completed his 2nd Triath-a-lon this past weekend. I am so proud of him and am actually thinking of doing one myself...seriously!
- I am currently researching joining the Peace Corps- at least this is where my heart is leading me. Who knows what will come of this adventure.
- I am going heading to Honduras again this summer...but this time I am leading the charge. That brings it's own excitement and healthy levels of fear rolled all in one.
- Walking out life with Jesus...one day at a time.

Well, gotta get back to work...PEACE

Where in the world did 2009 go?

I just can't believe that we are looking at the last few days of 2009. I hardly know where to start, when reminiscing about this past year. There is so much to say about all that has occurred this year. Here are a few things to note:
a number of my friends had healthy babies this year- Williams, Akins, Deffenbaughs, Williams & Moffitts!
My nephew learned to say my name- definitely worth mentioning! :)
Learned that my office was closing down, so I found another job...at AchieveGlobal. So I returned after 4 years.
Working with Mona in an office setting for the 1st time in my life.
Moved out of my mom's house for the 2nd time in my life!
Ventured back to Cusuna for the 1st time since I left back in 2008. Loved reconnecting with my friends.
A cell tower was built in Punta Piedra, which means cell phones are all over Cusuna now-a-days.
Ran my 1st 5K...what an adventure. I have never been so happy and tired at the same time.
Ran/walked my 2nd 5K at Animal Kingdom- it poured rain the entire time. Not my favorite moment.
Abby learned to sing "Rudolph the nose red reindeer!" It is so funny.
Attended my first USF football game (went to 3 in all w/my friend Corrine)
Have my first pair of Burkenstocks
Learned so many details about Auburn football all season long- Thanks Keith!
Went to Tybee Island with a group of gal pals and ate at Paula Dean's restaurant. YUMMY!
Spent tons of time with my Mom, Kristen, Katie, Andy, Abby & Zac filled with fun & laughter.

These are just a few things that happened in 2009. I am looking forward to what 2010 holds in store for me.

Be Blessed...Happy New Year!

My mind is a thinking...

It's Thanksgiving once again...I'm not exactly sure where this year has gone. I feel like it has been so long and full, yet I also feel like it is flown by.

Well, yesterday I watched a special called Heroes on CNN. They were honoring "Heroes" who have made a difference in this world. It began a long trail of thinking that is still going on in my head currently. What am I called to do in this lifetime? I know that I want to make a difference in this world and feel like the location has been solidified for me...CUSUNA, HONDURAS. Now it's just a matter of what to do? There is so much that needs to be done and I need to start brainstorming on how to raise money for this mission.

Through studying the culture of the Garifuna peole, I have learned that their heritage is extremely important to them. That is no different than each of us...where we come from is always going to be a part of who we are. I think about a friend of mine from Alabama who sometimes wants to forget about his past. Well, where he came from makes him who he is today; something that I try and remind him. Recently, who wrote a paper describing the change in his life that was needed by getting out of the place where he grew up. I challenged him to describe some of his background to paint a true picture of the place he was trying to leave behind. Not so that he could receive sympathy, but the paint a realistic picture of this past.

Well, as I think about the needs of the Garifuna people in Cusuna, there are many resources that they do not have (i.e clean water). What if I use my connections and resources to bring some needed help to the village? Not just talk about it or even just dream about it...but actually do something about it. Every little bit helps and the dream becomes a reality with the first step.

So, I've got a lot of thinking, brainstorming and planning to do. But I am extremely for the opportunity to do something for my friends that live there and look forward to seeing what the future holds for us. I hope to update you soon on this project.

Hope you and yours had a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving!

Be Blessed,

BB

Kitchen Sink Is Down...

Now you know when it comes to me, there is ALWAYS a story. Well, here's the lastest in the crazy adventures or me...

On Friday, our office received the following email: This e-mail is to let you know that the kitchen sink is down for repairs. Please do not use the sink for anything. We have a repairman on the way. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

Now one may think, that's no big deal. Well, here's the story BEHIND the story...

I had an 18 pack of Diet Pepsi left over from an event a few months ago that has been sitting in the church office. Seeing as we recycle cans here, I brought in the 18 pack, poured the soda out and recycled the cans. While pouring the cans out, Jillian (our receptionist) walked in and were just chatting. WELL, she stepped in a puddle and said, “I wonder where this came from?” To my horror, I looked down and saw a puddle of soda on the floor. It kept coming out from underneath the cabinets. I could only imagine that there was a huge leak inside the wall. NOPE, we soon determined that the overflow drain (who knew we had one) was plugged up and now the soda was coming right back out…all 18 cans of it! We went through 3 rolls of paper towels. Once we cleaned up most of it, Jillian went to get Clorox wipes so we could clean up the stickiness from the soda. On her way out, she noticed a large wet spot in the hallway. The soda has leaked all the way through the wall and out to the hallway. We now don’t have access to the kitchen sink and they are wet vacuuming the hallway.

Seriously, a person can't make this crap up!

Oh well...I only get one life to live...so I'm livin it...spilled soda and all!

Happy Turkey Week...I'm sure there will be a new adventure soon!

BB