Thanksgiving Weekend

What a weekend....it all started when i scored awesome seats to the heat game on Wednesday. Yannick, Rey, and Myself sat in the second row behind the visitor's bench. I could feel the sweat pouring off of Wade and Shaq's bodies. We had an awesome time until we got our phones stolen. Rey and I the geniuses that we are, left our phones in his car during the game (what were we thinking) only to return to no phones. I have spent countless hours trying to figure out how those thieves got a hold of our phones without any sign of entry. I'm tempted to contact the CSI team to investigate this crime of passion. I forgot what it was like to be without a phone for a few days. At first I was bothered by not having any contact with anyone, however the tables turned unexpectedly. Turns out I actually enjoyed it there for awhile, it was refreshing not to worry about my phone, be annoyed by a beeping sound, and stress out about people contacting me. I then realized it was time to get back in touch with the world.

I had a lot to be thankful for this year the Lord has truly blessed me. My family, friends, oddly my work, my love Rey and his wonderful family, and many more countless blessings. Thanksgiving day was spent playing flag football, cooking dinner, and eating at both families houses. By the end of the day I was absolutely exhausted and was looking forward to black friday...ha what a joke that was.

Beth & Casper's wedding took place on saturday afternoon. It was wonderful beach wedding which captured them perfectly. It was nice to run into old family friends, and laugh with current ones.

Overall, this weekend was one filled with surprises, laughter, and much need bonding time with loved ones. I am grateful for all that the Lord has provided for me, He really is an Awesome God!

p.s. please send me your contact information via email

Classic Laughter

Today was an absolutely awesome day for once.(Okay I lied, not for once but in a long time)There was great weather, which I'm excited about, it was Friday, payday, and it's a long weekend. You stack those up how could you go wrong. While outside with my co-workers some how we engaged in the antics of "that's what she said" I don't think I've laughed so hard in my life. Its official there's a new rule: After a "that's what she said" comment there is a guaranteed followed up "that's what she said." I never realized how many phrases can have double meanings. For example:

Coworker 1: Lauren you know how to work that well, your good at what you do

Me: (laugh) that's what she said!

Coworker 2: Are you kidding me...(on the chair laughing hysterically)

Me: It comes easy

Coworker 1: (quick to respond) That's what she said

All: ( laughing loudly)

The best thing about it was, we were referring to a soccer goal I was assembling, and that was only a small portion of our conversation. You see how easy its to give double meanings to things.

Mini Me

Yesterday I had the opportunity to spend time with my Merari. After church we decided to have Thai for lunch. So we pull up to Bangkok Bangkok only to find out its closed. But thanks to our quick decision making and sense of smell we were able to find this incredible place to eat. “Off The Grill” was this little Spanish restaurant off of 125th ave and Kendall. We were amazed to find awesome food and portion sizes for such cheap prices. As we devoured our food, we enjoyed the Mana concert on DVD, and then the sweet sounds of Sade. Of course we engaged in the typical girl talk. It was then that I realized how much Merari was like a mini version of me without the loud voice but made up for with her incredible spunk. It was funny; I could picture in my head a filmstrip of future events we would par-take in. Laughing sinisterly at people when they fall or get hurt (I know its mean but you would laugh at first too), or dancing under the stars during a jazz concert (she knows how to sweep me off my feet) this is just a small glimpse into my filmstrip. All in all yesterday was time well spent.

A Needed Laugh

This week has been particularly crazy for me. I know some of you are wondering how much crazier could things possibly get? Outside of my hectic schedule of working with clueless individuals and dealing with hormonal children all day, I managed to tack on a soccer tournament with high school girls which involved getting up at the crack of dawn.(actually earlier than that) Things got so bad that there were times I forgot to eat and add in sleep, which hellooo! are two of my favorite things to do. Don't worry I'm not trying some weird new diet, although it seems that way since my shorts are falling to my knees. It got to the point that I was writing on my hand food which may seem ridiculous, but even that method failed me. Thankfully though I made it through it, how exactly I cannot explain. One thing that brought my spirits up was this video sent to me from a co-worker of mine. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.



Thanks Kristel for the monthly reminder...I'll try harder this month please no wrath...I beg of you.

Simplicities

It just dawned on me how little things in life can bring me such happiness. Honestly, it doesn’t take much to get inside a women’s heart or at least not mine. Simple things are typically better off than some overly exaggerated thought out gift especially if it goes over my head. Which by the way doesn’t take much…one second I’m right there and the next I’m gone. Poof just like that… seriously it’s like my mind has no control over my selective hearing and concentration.

Last night I had the opportunity to just swing back and relax. Now I know you’re wondering there goes Lauren’s selectiveness and how easy it is to get off track. You see my two closest friends Valerie and Berto bought me a swing set for my 25th birthday. They understand how such a child like gift brings great joy to my life. I light up like a child on Christmas every time I see a swing…I just can’t resist, some odd gravitational force comes over me.

So as I laid on my swing set last night swinging away in pure bliss, I realized how small things can change my mood. When I’m having a bad day or just an average time items like: dark chocolate, light touches (coqitas), naps, sweet gestures, and simple “thinking of you” messages make my day. As I was pondering through the list I noticed my lips started to curl up and form this funny smile. It was as though a puppeteer was pulling on the strings attached to the corners of my lips in order to get me to perform. Ahh…the simplicities of life enough said!

A moment of Fame

Today a star was born. Actually not even close, I had a small moment in the spotlight on television. Now mind you it wasn’t the top network or the hit TV show, but inside my head the paparazzi was out snapping my photo and the crowds where shouting my name. The funny part is I was a mere extra in piece to a puzzle. My school was being recognized for our accomplishments from last year. For which I’m truly thankful for seeing how much weight I lost during the countless hours of running around getting things done, and the sweat poured out trying to make impossible deadlines happen. So to my astonishment we were asked downtown to the school board meeting. It was there where the magic began and my moment of fame took rise. Lights, Camera, Action, and there I was in the background of my students on channel who knows what smiling and shaking hands with school board members. Snap! Just like that I became a star. Interestingly enough like most moments of fame it ends without a minutes warning. It was at the end of the day and I was crossing the street with my fellow colleagues laughing and waving to all the fans while stopping to pose for pictures that I almost got struck by a car. And there it would have been front page news of the Herald “Glory and Tragedy all in one Day.”

Time Well Spent

Wow…I finally took some time to unwind today and man, was it needed. It’s the first time in a really long while, if you haven’t noticed by my absence in the blog world. Things have been insanely busy between work and a hundred other activities. As if I don’t have enough on my plate I always seem to add something new. Apparently I’m like a kid in a candy store who thinks everything is appealing and can’t say no.

Thanks to the many talks by Rey and Anne Marie, I have finally been convinced of my madness and how I’m going to burn myself out. Of course in my stubborn mind, I’m thinking I can do anything and I’ll show them how wrong they are (or in Rey’s words: stick it to the man).

I was beginning to look like hells fury had taken over me. So I decided to cancel practice with just one rain cloud lingering overhead and to top if off I left early from work. That rain cloud however, disappeared within an hour. Oh well, it was nice catching up with Anne Marie over a late lunch. I was remembering how much I missed our witty banter. Laughter is absolutely contagious and I can’t get enough of it. You see I’m making a case without even realizing it (and…there’s the point). After an amusing time, we went back to my house to relax and work. Yes! That’s right work. It seems to follows me everywhere, even after I tried to denounce my workaholic tendencies a moment ago. Thankfully we found time to fool around (…that’s what she said) and get things accomplished at the same time. The sad part about today is: that it will be another 6 weeks before I even think about clearing my schedule on a moment’s whim. In the meantime, I will try to update everyone on my many thousands of activities.