How Do I Look?

A few weeks ago I asked Wendy at A Southern Accent to help give my running blog Catholic Runner a new look hoping that it would spur my blogging creativity. I loved what she did so much that I could not wait for her to give the House of Fowler a new look.

Y'all may know Wendy, but if you don't you'll want to head on over there and check her out. She's fantastic work with! Take a look at some of her work

Cute, right?! Not only are her headers super cute but they are super affordable - $25!! You can't beat that, if you ask me.

Table Topics Tuesday

What do you miss most about being a little girl?

Seeing my parents everyday. I have great parents.

What do you miss?

Because I just want to be happy today...

Today I have the unfortunate experience of being witness to a very stressful experience/process for a small group of co-workers.

For some reason this song has made me happy since childhood. And if I am going to be any good to anybody today, I need to find my happy place.

Lets' Play Ball

I signed Lolly up for fall softball yesterday. She's been playing fall and spring ball since 4th grade. I ask before every season, "do you want to play softball this season" to which she replies, to my dismay sometimes, "yes".

We've run the gamut of experiences from the first season when actual tears where shed because the season ended to wanting to quit mid-way through the season. We've had good coaches, bad coaches, competent coaches, incompetent coaches, over involved parents, cool parents. Each season is different.

I've watched Lolly have good seasons and bad seasons, like teammates, dislike teammates, and at times realize that she was too quick to judge, categories, or write-off a teammate. I've noticed that she plays better when she feels her coach believes in her and the wheels fall off if she feels the coach doesn't think she's a good player.

I may not always look forward to practices and games but I like the life lessons softball is teaching her. Whenever we are talking about an issue, I always relate to the work world for her. She's learned that she'll have good bosses and bad bosses and she needs to learn to work with both. She'll have good co-workers and bad co-workers and she'll need to know how to succeed regardless. She's learned that you can't just quite when you have other's depending on you and you have to believe in yourself even if you feel nobody else does.

I wonder what lesson will be learned this season? I just hope it involves very little drama...

Freak of the Week

Sorry, this one was too easy. The freak is Hailey Glassman. Jon's 22 yr old girlfriend.

Seriously what does this say about Hailey. Somethings not right in the self esteem department.

Why would an attractive, young girl just starting out in life choose a 30 something, father of 8 whose going through an early mid life crisis, and received hair plugs on tv? Because that's super sexy. NOT!


Image credit examiner.com

Finding My Inner Picasso

Last night I had my first Sips n Strokes experience. Seriously what a genius idea. Drink your favorite beverage and paint a picture while they instruct you, of course. If you're like me, you'll need more than a few sips to take the "type A personality" edge off. But once I got over my painter anxiety, it was so much fun. It was interesting to see how different everyone picture turned out. I had several cases of painter's envy throught the evening.

See what I mean about Painter Envy?! This is my friend Valeries'. How good did that turn out!

If you live near one, you gotta go. If not, you need to open one up. We're already trying to decide what we want to paint next!

Table Topics Tuesday

What's your favorite chick flick


oh, I love, love, love chick flicks. Without a doubt mine is






I just love everything about it. The idea of having a cute littel bookstore, cool brownstone, her cute little style, a sweet rich man fall in love with you... Just love it.

What's you favorite?

Point To Ponder

or inappropriate political commentary, you pick. But I saw both today and they made me laugh.

"A Government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul"

~ George Barnard Shaw

Image: skinnyrunner.com

Let the Train Wreck Begin

I just can't help myself! Anybody else?

Sweet Jesus, I hope Jesse doesn't last long and he takes Laura and Kevin with him!

Freak of the Week

United Airlines. Seriously, why is good customer service so hard to come by?

You can get the full story here.

I wish we all had the talent and means to embarass companies into action when we come upon bad and indifferent behavior...

I am at a loss

This Friday is my monthly pokeno game and I need a $10 gift idea. I am at a loss. Nothing, blank. I've even thought of just doing 10 one dollar bills if I could think of a good way to display them. I have a good gift reputation to uphold but I am completely fried from our move...

Any ideas? Any suggestions? Any fall back ideas that you always use?

Table Topic Tuesday

what's your most meaningful family heirloom ?

I thought about jewelry I've been given or other momentos that have been passed down but by far I would have to say my religion. I've always felt that when my dad married my mom when I was about 4 or 5 he gave us the two greatest gifts, his last name and our religion. It is the single most thing that defines me.

what family heirloom do you cherish?

Everything in it's place

ALMOST. Still working on the bits and pieces. For someone who's been working on simplifying for the last 2 years I sure seem to have a lot of stuff left.

The original House of Fowler seems really small right now and it's only Mister and I (Lolly is away for the summer.) I told Mister we need to develop some ground rules, like a tv schedule since we went from a family room and man den to just a family room, and some kind agreement on the blind arrangements. I like them open and Mister keeps them closed. Mark my words, it's the little things that will send me over the edge.

Exhausted from moving. The your eyes hurt kind of tired!

I've been featured

Lolly's Sweet Thirteen Birthday party is today's mini feature on Creative Parties and Showers. If you haven't run across Shannon's website, you need to head over there now. You'll want to spend hours looking at all the parties!

I Was Tagged

I've been tagged by Coco at Coco's Cuckoo World to tell 10 things about myself that you may not know. But before I start my list. I want to talk about Coco. She's fabulous and funny. She has two of the cutest kids ever. If you visit her blog you're bound to become a regular. Her son, Bram is so funny he should have his own tv show.

Ok on with my list...

1. When I was young I wanted 8 kids until I was clued in on the birthing process. Then I wanted zero. I grew up thinking I wouldn't have kids and wasn't really a big fan of kids. Funny since I went on to manage a Gap Kids store, teacher Sunday school to 4yr olds, and have my own daughter. (who I wanted the minute I found out about her)
2. I was raised in a Postal family. I have at least 11 family members who worked for the Post Office.
3. One summer during college, I delivered mail. Old school style, on foot.
4. I love to travel by myself. Prior to Mister I used to travel quite a bit. My favorite place to go was New Orleans and I'd go several times a year. I love theFrench Quarter and it's provided me many, many memorable stories.
5. Mister and I have been to New Orleans once, to celebrate my birthday. The trip is remembered more for Mister's unfortunate incarceration rather than my birthday celebration.
6. I came into the world as a Chavez . I like to think that is why I am always one conversation away from a revolt, demonstration, or boycott of practices, policies, or the school of thought of corporate America. Thank goodness I currently work for great company so my battles are pretty small scale.
7. My family reality was altered about three years ago when I was re-introduced to my biological father and met two half brothers.
8. If I was president the first thing I would change is the ability to tack on unrelated issues on to a bill to get things passed. Totally sketchy. Also I'd increase teacher's salaries so that their compensation was in line with the importance of their jobs. I'd also get rid of the teachers who are just phoning it in.
9. I grew up labeled the smart one, and my sister the pretty one. No harm meant but it messed both us up. I have made it a point to make sure Lolly know she's smart and beautiful inside and out.
10. I graudated with a degree in Apparel Merchandising. My dad still thinks I am joking.
    
    

Freak of the Week

It been such bad news week lately, that I thought I'd put a lighter spin on this week's freak. It was either the majority of Minnesotans or one of my little brothers. I went with my brother because I think it's three kinds of crazy to get into a cage with someone else who's objective is to beat the crap out of you, but hey that's just me.

My brother is in the black trunks, he wins in 3:10. While I am labeling him Freak of the Week, I am immensely proud of him and love him very, very much.

Table Topics Tuesday

" if you got a tatto what kind would you get and where would you put it?"

some of you may remember that I recently blogged about my tatto envy . So I would probably go with the Beatles walking across Abbey Rd. Where placed, unsure still thinking about that.

However, in the interest of full disclosure, I have had to make that decision. I chose a very small scorpion on my tail bone area. (It's my sign, and very true to my personality) Small and so far down that I'd have to be wearing absolutely nothing to be able to see it and if you saw me in real life you'd probably never guess I had one. It was something I did for me, not for show. I got it one night in New Orleans. I walked into a tatoo palor with 2 guys and was the only one man enough to go through with it but, that's a story for another time.

What would you chose and where? Spill it...

Are We There Yet?

This has got to be one of the hottest summers in Georgia in a long time. You sweat just standing still. I've been moving boxes, climbing stairs, and just plain smelling terrible. You see, the last couple weeks, especially weekends, have been dedicated to nothing but moving.

The nice thing about being able to take our time is that I can move and unload things box by box. No living out boxes once the move is complete. The bad thing about being able to take your time, it feels like the move will never be complete.

However, come Wednesday the movers arrive to handle the BIG things and one more dumpster is set to be delivered to purge even more uneccessary stuff.

It took a mile and half move, almost 5 years, and 2 mortgages to realize what was really important. No lesson learned like one learned through stupidity.

Freak of the Week

Seriously, if you are in the public eye do you really think you can disappear for a few days without it getting noticed? At least get your stories straight.


http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06/24/report-south-carolina-governor-traveled-argentina-appalachian-trail/

What was South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford really up to? Dare I say, the real question is who was in Buenos Aires, Argentina with him? (do I sound a tad bit jaded?)

Table Topics Tuesday

Would you rather date a famous athlete, CEO, great chef or esteemed writer?

Since John Cusack wasn't part of that list, I'd pick a famous athlete. Does that make me shallow? I don't know who, but preferably a hockey player.

Who would you chose?

Promise this is the last Jon and Kate post...

This just cracked me up. I am not sure if it's the picture of Kate, or Elizabeth saying get a job. I tend to believe that when you are on tv and make pretty good money and have a football playing husband it's a little easy to forget how the rest of us live. Could you image the cost of day care for 8 kids? I am not sure what Kate will do. I don't really care, but I was happy to hear the show is going to be on hiatus til August. Maybe she'll grow her hair out...

Elisabeth Hasselbeck to Kate Gosselin: 'Get a job!'

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Confession

This is confidential right?
If it wasn't for the hours of 7-4 M-F, I might not ever get any blogging or blog reading done.

I suspect this will change when The House of Fowler downsize is complete and the computer will be in direct view of a tv. (hard to be in places at one time.)

note to self: I really must get a laptop.

Rumor Has It

RADARONLINE.COM WORLD EXCLUSIVE! Jon & Kate To Announce Divorce RadarOnline.com

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Shocker right?! I hope it's a quick one. I am tired of seeing that awful spiky hair cut on the front of magazines. What a train wreck.

Could Jon and Kate have reached the 14:59 minutes fame point? Fingers crossed...

Freak of the Week

I've kicked around the idea of having a Freak of the Week feature for awhile. This may not be the best inaugural post for that feature but Jesus, Mary, and Joseph whatever your opinion, you are going to find a freak in the "poster" or the "commenters".

Penelope Trunk's Brazen Careerist "What's the connection between abortion and careers"

Perhaps Penelope's meaning is lost by the subject matter but I still can't properly verbalize the many feelings this post evokes..reader beware... Is she a freak for being so honest, is she a freak for her decision? It freaks me out that we live in a society where women feel they need to chose because having kids can be seen as a handicap in work world. It freaks me out that people who may be making that decision may one day wake up and realize that a career is something they should of had to allow them a life rather than be their life.