To Fold or Not to Fold??? That is the Question

I wore a pair of socks like this over the weekend.

I asked my friend a simple question; at least I thought-----

My initial question when asked was "is this not cool?"--- and I asked it because I was wearing them with Tennis shoes-- the response I got was "no that is not cool to wear them rolled down-- you have to slouch them or something".

I wasn't asking the question about folding-- because I just put them on the way I got them-- see above-- this is an unopened pair-- see they are folded down-- I just took the tag off and put them on.

So the debate ended when we asked the waitress at Troy's Diner-- and she agreed that no socks should be folded down-- "unless they have lace at the top"--

Wow and I thought I was hip----

The Coolest Gift.....

I said my birthday was over this year-- but that was not completely true-as I found out last week.. See what happened was this-- someone from my team at work-- asked what they (as a team) could do for me this year for Christmas and my Birthday-- they always come together and do such nice things for me--and I appreciate it very much-- but this year I told them-- I SERIOUSLY wanted nothing-- I feel so content with everything I have and that I wanted them to keep there money and not spend it on me. Then I said "if anyone is bellyaching over this (because I know several of them would be) then tell them to give there money to someone that needs it and give me a note to tell me about it"-- I knew I would love that---- and here is the result

(This is an email from one of my employees to the rest of the team)

Subject: Coats for Kids
As a team we are donating 16 coats to help keep area children warm this winter. For anyone still wishing to donate, coats are being accepted at Ashley Furniture stores until Monday, January 14th. I am taking the coats tonight and donating them for our team.
Thank you to everyone who donated money and coats. Also, thank you Jan and Melissa for shopping.

Angela Sinard
Proclaim Appeals Quality Reviewer
Proclaim Pre-Pay Corrective Analyst
Manager: Ashley Stone Brown

Now that is a cool gift!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a great team I have to come together and do this they bought over 12 of these brand new.

(BTW no offense to the skid proof bowling socks I got; HE HE HE HE HE)

We tried....

The North Carolinian version of a Winter storm.....

Best part--- Kids' loved it--

The Bummer-- Only a 2 hour delay for work and schools-- oh well maybe next time

I N S T R U C T I O N S F O R L I F E

My mom sent this to me and I liked what it said, and I wanted to share-- thanks mom for sharing the advice with me they all make really good sense. and I like when things make good sense....--(of course I couldn't do it without some of my own commentary)

Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
When you lose, don’t lose the lesson. (Call me Pollyana but this is my favorite)
Follow the three R’s:
v Respect for self,
v Respect for others and
v Responsibility for all your actions.
Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck. (to quote the famous words of Garth Brooks-- "some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers")
Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly. (ummm not sure about this one mom-- but okay--will do :) )
Don’t let a little dispute injure a great relationship. (this one hits home, right now--wonder if this is why mom sent it -- mom always knows best)
When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it
Spend some time alone every day. (yeah this is a struggle for me-- I like lots of people around always--and that cell phone makes it really easy even if it is virtual)
Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values. (very good one, I learned a lot about this during my 4 years at Appalachian)
Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer. (ummm-- okay maybe this is why mom sent-- I really struggle with this-- can you tell by my blogs??)
Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time. (I will teach this to my kids-- very wise)
A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.
In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past. (yikes)
Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality. (if this is true--I will never die-- right Mindy? :)--)
Be gentle with the earth.
Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.
Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other (this is awesome-- I like this-- maybe that will help with my alone time issue :))
Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon. (definitely there on the cooking--- even use canned ham if needed)

Hmmmmmm?

Everyday I spend about an hour and a half commuting to work on interstate 485, a 22 mile ride to work that normally turns into about 45 mins each way due to traffic. Almost every other day I am behind a minivan that has a license plate just like the one above. Today I was behind it again.

I have often wondered-- what compelled this person to put this on their license plate. I can say I don't enjoy 485 and the traffic sucks, but I mean is it worth paying 20 extra dollars for a personalized tag to tell the world. And then I wonder-- why do you take 485 everyday if you hate it so much-- I mean there are a lot of other options, I wonder if the person hates Providence road more but it was just to big to fit on their tag.

Finally I wonder-- should I be happy for this person that all they loathe is 485-- because that is a pretty nice life, or should I be sad for them that they don't have anything better than a road to be passionate about......

Or maybe I have put too much thought into this--

Let's Go G.N.O!!!!

Awwwww---Girls Night Out always good for your health-- I know--- I ate way more than I should have tonight considering I have a diet bet going, but I think I laughed enough to counteract most of it-- well up to the cake--oops. But to quote Amos---"I am glad I am surrounded by girls who like to eat-- because I wouldn't want to be with those skinny people that ask for the spinach salad......... hey give me some more cake :)".

Thanks Girls for a fun time-- I guess this is the end of my Birthday week-- my last little Birthday celebration this year---Next year I am shooting for a whole month long deal.

2 Blogs in a day.....

By the look on Joe's face you would think I made them do this-- but it was Joe's idea really

Another Cute Conversation

Hope these aren't getting boring to anyone because they are fun for me....

Scene:
Yesterday riding down the road.......

Carter: "AWESOME!!"

Me: "Did you just say awesome?"

Carter: "Uh huh"

Me: "What's awesome?"

Carter: "Uhhhhh, Brown horsey"

Me: "Very Smart Carter that was a brown horsey"

Carter: "That udder one not brown"

Me: "That is right Carter the other one was White"


Scene:
Yesterday at home

Me (singing): "Old McDonald had a Farm...."

Carter: "Hush it"

Me (singing): "And on that Farm.."

Carter: "Hush it"

(not funny when he says it to sissy when she is talking; but couldn't stop laughing everytime he said it to my singing--probably confusing him with that message huh??)


Scene:
Yesterday sitting at the computer-- I had a credit card in my mouth

Carter: "Not put that in your mouth!!"

Me: (I took it out and put it on my lap)

Carter (taking it from me): "I wipe dat off"

Oh how fun--

Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me....

Oh did I sing that out loud? He he he-- Really I am not singing Happy Birthday to myself so that everyone knows it is my birthday today-- really, I just wanted to take a minute to tell everyone about a completely Blog worthy moment. It wasn't today, it was Saturday, so I guess it was my Pre-Birthday.

Joe told me that he had planned a date for us and the kids, but little did I know he had a little more up his sleeve. So he made me sit around the house until 5:00 on Saturday. And pretty much every hour on the hour, I was asking him-- what are we doing tonight and he would respond with-- what does it matter, don't you want to go on a date with me and the kids-- man was I getting irritated--

So when we pulled into Carrabbas--boy was I happy ---because I love Carrabbas-- but the best was yet to come. Because the Brown party of 4 was really more like the Brown party of 20. Joe invited our family to a little party in my honor-- and even did a last minute invite to the Horners ( I think because I was feeling guilty for cancelling a family fun night). Unfortunately because my birthday is around the holiday most everyone else is traveling --thanks mom-- HE HE HE

Seriously--It was such a cool surprise and made me feel extra special-- THANK YOU JOE FOR MAKING MY 32nd BIRTHDAY THE BEST EVER!!!! (even better than the Chucky Cheese parties I had as a kid, and those were pretty darn cool) I REALLY APPRECIATE THE EFFORT YOU PUT INTO TO MAKING THIS BIRTHDAY SPECIAL FOR ME--- I LOVE YOU BUNCHES!!!!! YOU'RE THE BEST.

Also, thank you to everyone for coming, especially Mom and David who had to make the 2 hour trip I love you all

(Oh and BTW before I end this I would like to make one little comment-- Like Mother like Daughter-- look at the date on Mom's pics-- guess you can see I get it honest :) )

Christmas A Week Late

I snatched these pics from my mom's camera-- I forgot to take mine down to Sanford when I went for Christmas-- I guess better late than never on sharing Christmas pics. But bad news is I didn't get any from the Browns--- We did have a really good time with both families-- thanks "Cousin" Ashley and Aunt Alyce for having us--

Thanks mom for the pics--

Note to self-- another New years resolution-- Bring that Camera along--

Famous last words...... "Watch this form"

Yep those were the famous last words, little warning that Nintendo didn't put on their Wii product----When you are Bowling on the Wii, on slippery hard wood floors, don't wear socks, and try to show off by doing your nice bowling form-- Darn Nintendo-- let's just say when it was all over I didn't land on my feet, and my elbow is sore today--

Oh and sorry we didn't get pictures of me lying down flat on the floor---everyone was too busy laughing to get the camera-- I am sure this will not come up over dinner 10 years from now-

By the way all-- HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!! I hope it is not true what you did last night will be what you do the rest of the year, showing off and falling down doesn't sound fun for the rest of the year :)