Going into the last game of pre-season!

I was going to create this great Bengal post to celebrate our last pre-season game tomorrow...

Then, I realized that had already been done. So, instead of working hard...I'm working smart and I am going to give you the link to get your fill of Bengals info! Click here!

Namaste.

Life...

For awhile now, I have said that I wanted to make changes in my life. I was never quite sure what I wanted to do. . .I would change the hair, lose a few pounds, buy a piece of clothing that actually fit, etc. Those things didn't make my need for change go away...So, I kept searching . . .

Then all of a sudden, I knew what I wanted.
It was so clear and felt so right that I know I made the right decision.

No, I am not changing jobs.
No, I am not moving to the other side of the country.
Yes, I am incredibly happy.
I believe everyone involved is, but you'll have to ask MBB for his take on it. :)

I think I'll just enjoy enjoying life for awhile.

Namaste.

Superpower...

If I could have one Superpower, it would be: Not Needing Sleep.

There is just so much going on in life - so many things that I want to do, to see, to be involved in, that I just don't have much time scheduled for sleep!

I have never been a huge fan of sleep to begin with. Egypt amazes me - she loves to sleep. She looks forward to crawling in bed and staying there. Not I!

Case in point - Last night, the Bengals were playing their 3rd pre-season game versus the Atlanta Falcons. I only saw the first half. I would have much rather watched the entire game, but noooooooo...I was so tired that I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer. So at halftime, I finished folding the laundry, sent off the brochure that I was editing, said goodnight to MBB (have I mentioned that I am a master of multi-tasking?) and headed to bed. NOTE: This blog says 11:59PM because I wasn't able to squeeze an update in before crawling into bed.

So, being able to function with less sleep would be a superpower that I would so greatly enjoy!

Namaste.

Some Thinking...

Been doing some thinking this weekend...

I've really just been enjoying life and not putting much thought into things lately - just having fun. Now, I find I have a need to figure out what I am thinking, what I am feeling, what direction I want my life to go in.

I'm not trying to make any decisions at this point or take any actions...I'm just trying to get my head on straight so that when I need to do those things, I will be ready. The hard part is not over-analysing everything!

Am I done thinking? I don't think so...

Namaste.

Stuff...

I was making cards with Nickey and Lexismoo today and had a slight mishap with some sissors. But, never fear! With the help of one of Dora's Dora Bandaids and some new paper to redo the part of the card that got blood on it...All is good again!

I don't think that Dora was too happy to see me with a Dora bandaid when she didn't have one on, but I distracted her with some of Nickey's birthday cake! I'm feeling pretty hip with my bandaid today! :D
On a different topic altogether: I ran across an interesting things to make you wonder and go hmmm... Enjoy!

>Why does the sun lighten hair, but darken skin?
>Why can't women put on mascara with their mouth closed?
>Why don't you ever see the headline "Psychic Wins Lottery"?
>Why is 'abbreviated' such a long word?
>Why is it that doctors call what they do 'practice'?
>Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?
>Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour?
>Why isn't there mouse-flavored cat food?
>Why didn't Noah swat those two mosquitoes?
>Why do they sterilize the needle for lethal injections?
>The indestructible black box on airplanes - Why don't they make the whole plane out of that stuff??
>Why don't sheep shrink when it rains?
>Why are they called apartments when they are all stuck together?
>If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?
>If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal?


Namaste.

Cute Joke...

It is hard to find a joke today without a dirty word or two in it, but here is one (got it from MBB):

Two tall trees, a birch and a beech, are growing in the woods. A small Tree begins to grow between them, and the beech says to the birch, "Is That a son of a beech or a son of a birch?" The birch says he cannot tell.

Just then a woodpecker lands on the sapling. The birch says, "Woodpecker, you are a tree expert. Can you tell if that is a son of a beech or a son of a birch?"

The woodpecker takes a taste of the small tree. He replies, "It is neither a son of a beech nor a son of a birch. It is, however, the best piece of ash I have ever put my pecker in."

Namaste.

Enjoying Life...

I have realized that my blogs of late have taken on a common theme - Being happy with my life.

It's kinda boring for a blog, but is great in reality!

I am playing the field.
I am enjoying spending time out on the town.
I am meeting new people.
I am making new friends.

I am realizing that life is truly what you make of it and it is up to me to make it wonderful.

Namaste.

Blessings

It may not be Thanksgiving, but I have been counting my blessings recently.

My headline on myspace is currently: "I'm extremely grateful for the people that have entered by life. How did I get so lucky?" I was thinking of one person in particular when I posted it, but I realized that it applies to so many.

MBB - Still new, but so special...
Egypt - I would be willing to miss a home Bengals game for her...
Nickey and Lexismoo - How much better can it get? No sibling rivaling of growing up with other girls in the house, but reaping the benefits of having sisters as an adult.
MADTB - Post-it notes...Enough said!
N2, Fire, Handy - Life just wouldn't be the same without them!

I could go on and on and on and on...
I am amazed at all of my blessings!

Namaste.

Pre-Season at home

Went to the pre-season game last night with Nickey, Sadillac and Sadillac's fiance...
Was great to be back at PBS! It wasn't that great of a game to watch, but we are still in pre-season!

Here are some pics from the game:

First String Offense...

Defense: Including Caleb Miller, Leon Hall and Justin Smith

Second String Offense, I think...

Namaste.

Can't Please Everyone...

Recently, I heard: "When fall comes, the wind is going to blow you away - you are too skinny!" I have also heard: "Lose a few more pounds and I may be interested."

Do I listen to either of these?
Well, the first made me smile and then I kept doing what I need to do.
The second pissed me off and then I kept doing what I need to do.

After all, I can't please everyone...but I can please myself!

Namaste.

MADTB & SassyMarie's Memories of Key West. . .

Warning: These memory tidbits will probably only make sense if you were there. . .
Some I said. Some MADTB said. Some were said to us. Some we overheard.

Double Warning: If you were there, these may cause laughter to the point of wetness on your face or in your pants.

• "Back Again?" (hour 16 of vacation)
• Have you ever taken one for a friend? Weelllll, I have this friend. . .
• You have to be a pretty big asshole to get arrested in Key West!
• Braces are erotic in a weird, perverted way.
• I'm from Miami, SassyMarie is from Tampa.
• OH MY GOD - 6 YEARS??????
• "We forgot to eat lunch!"
  "No, we didn't..."
  "Yes, we did!"
  "Remember? We stopped by Fat Tuesday's..."
• Did I ruin your chances with stalker guy?
• Sweat on a man is disgusting. Sweat on a woman is sexy.
• 'Clothing optional' means healthy/young: clothing and unhealthy/older: optional.
• I'm not the wingman. . .I think you are the wingman!
• Are there really two people getting arrested over there?
• Oh Shit - Fat Tuesday's is closed for the night?
• MADTB - IT'S 4am!
• One of the reasons I couldn't be a lesbian...
• THANK GOD!
• Tell her his name is Bob...
• Get a Sloppy Joe shirt to mark it!
• I don't drink this much without you... I LOVE THIS!
• Your room is dangerous - way too close to Fat Tuesdays!
• I am SO over the roosters!
• What do you mean no mudslides until 2pm?

Namaste.

Pre-Season

My main focus the first preseason game is to to see how our draft picks play in the big leagues and watch some of the guys who are fighting for their jobs. I even made a comment during the game that I really didn't care if we won or lost, because it is just preseason.

The first offensive drive had me screaming "Rudi!!!!". Loved the 20-yard run!

Then I was yelling "Noooooo" as Kenny Irons hobbled off of the field (ok, maybe the yell was in my mind). We had some debate as to whether it was his ankle (according to the announcers) or his knee (according to us) - turns out it is both and Coach is calling the injury "significant" per the Bengal's website. I may cry.

My favorite play was early in the fourth quarter!
I was screaming and laughing and loving life as 310 lb rookie defensive tackle Matt Toeaina (sixth-rounder from Oregon) chugged 81 yards after catching a deflected pass. The big guy who normally protects men trying to protect the ball: "If I didn't get into the end zone I wanted to make sure I didn't fumble it so I was running with two hands on it."
It was so weird watching the smaller guys creating protection for Toeaina: He had a Halloween escort with black and orange all over the place as cornerback T.J. White roared up the sidelines and threw a hellacious block while linebacker Matt Muncy warded off Orlovsky.
I was on the phone with Nickey at the time and she jokingly said (as we saw a replay with Toeaina lying in the end zone) "Get that man some oxygen!" I about fell out of my chair laughing when seconds later they showed Toeaina on the sidelines: GETTING OXYGEN!

After that play, I stopped watching the game as I still hadn't started packing for the trip.
We were up by about 16.

So why did I feel a tinge of disappointment when I found out that we lost by 1? It is just preseason after all and I had stated that I didn't care if we won or lost.
I guess it doesn't matter if it is NFL preseason or a group friends in a park: a "W" always feels much nicer than a "L".

Namaste.

Who Dey!!!

Are you ready for some football? I AM!!!

The Bengal's first pre-season game is tonight at Detroit.
Here is some interesting reading if you need ways to fill the hours between now and kick-off!

Wanna know how Eric is doing in his quest to replace Rich?
Notes for tonight...

Namaste.

I'm Amazed!

I walked into Kroger's this evening and couldn't believe what I heard. . .

WESTLIFE being played over the loud speaker!!!!!

I am in amazement! And was incredibly pleased!

Namaste.

I Found. . .

I was surfing around on the Internet for a bit tonight and found a survey. . .

Your Eyes Should Be Brown

Your eyes reflect: Depth and wisdom What's hidden behind your eyes: A tender heart

I love it! I've always been proud of my brown eyes. . .
One of my favorite songs growing up was "Don't Make My Brown Eyes Blue".
I wasn't a big fan of Crystal Gayle and I didn't care that the blue was talking about sadness - I just loved that line.

Never said that I was a normal kid!

Namaste.

Turn-offs?

I read an article on Yahoo: 10 Turnoffs that Make Great Gals Wave Goodbye.
Was interesting reading. . .What do you think?
Note: The bolded text is directly from the article on Yahoo

1. Bragging
   Maybe he owns a yacht off the coast of France. Maybe he has a timeshare in the Hampton's. Maybe his annual bonus is bigger than most guys' salaries. That's all well and good, but does it really need to be divulged on the first date?
   A little information is good, but coming off as bragging? Not so good.
   This is one that I try not to do myself, but may be guilty on occasion.
   I try to give information, but it may not always come across the way that I meant for it to.
2. Unkept
   A-list celebrities can pull off the unkempt look. First-daters need to pay attention to shaving, clothing and bad breath. If the guy can't even put in the effort for a first impression, it doesn't bode well down the road.
   The only time that this one may be okay is if the date involves or is right after physical exercise (though I don't think that would be a FIRST date at any rate).
3. Rude
   "Where's our drinks, lady?" If a guy treats the service staff with a lack of respect, a great gal will likely assume he'll do the same to her someday. The last thing anyone wants is to be talked down to or disrespected.
   This is a big one for me - especially if directed toward a waiter or waitress.
   I also find it rude when someone doesn't respect my time and is always late. If something happens, at least give me the courtesy of a phone call (and I will do the same).
4. Cheap
   There will always be debate about who should pay on a first date. Some guys are traditionalists and want to foot the bill; others expect a 50-50 monetary split. In most cases, offering to pay is the way to go. Let her pick up the tab on a future date.
   I have a pretty set view on first dates (and second and third, etc...until it becomes an exclusive thing): Whoever asks should pay. If I asked a guy out, then I plan on paying (though I am also deciding where we are going and all of that jazz too). If I get asked out, I'm not planning on taking my wallet (of course, I do - just in case) or making the plans.
5. Taken
   Marriage, separation and divorce are pretty cut-and-dry terms. If a guy says he's separated when he really means he's cheating on his wife, it's going to cause trouble. Be honest from the get-go and let the dating chips fall where they may.
   Married? You are off - limits to me. If you are legally separated or divorced - no problem, but be prepared to prove that you are either of those two...
6. Aggressive
   Guys need to read the signals before assuming hand holding, massaging and other touchy-feely activities have the green light. Jumping too quickly to any form of intimacy can make any guy seem too aggressive.
   Nuff said.
   And on the flip side...not jumping at all after a few dates can be another turn off.
7. Making Assumptions
   "Oh, you're one of those types of women." Jumping to conclusions about a date from the way she answers one or two questions is a definite mistake. Let the date unfold before making assumptions about someone you just met.
   I agree with this one, but don't know that it would be in my Top Ten.
8. Not Being Present
   His cell phone is ringing constantly, he's popping away from the table every 10 minutes, and he keeps interrupting the conversation flow. First dates require focused attention -- that means putting the phone on vibrate, making eye contact and being present.
   Yep.
9. All-Business
   Some guys are great salesmen or outstanding negotiators. But there's a time and place for business and a time and place for leisure. Guys who treat first dates like business transactions will never close the deal.
   Agree.
   I am on the fence about whether this would be in my Top Ten or not.
   I think I'll leave it for now.
10. Nervous
    He can't sit still, he's banging his fork on the table, and he won't make eye contact for more than three seconds. Nervous antics are a real turnoff and make a great gal think a guy has something to hide. Work out the nervous kinks before the date starts.
    This may make me uncomfortable and enough of it may make me think twice, but it is definitely not in my Top Ten.

My substitutions for #7 and #10:

1. Dishonesty
   If he isn't honest about little things during the "get to know you" phase, who knows what will happen with the big things in the future. This may overlap a bit with #5, but I am thinking more about things that I am told before the date (on the phone, etc) that turn out to be false.
2. Negativity
   When I hear someone degrading themselves or always having the attitude of "glass is half empty", I feel like I am hearing fingernails on a chalkboard.

Thoughts on this list? What ones do you have that are different?
Yahoo also has one about Turn-off for Guys. It is very different from the one for gals, which I thought was interesting as well.

Namaste.

Loving Life!

My life is good!
I really enjoyed seeing the Bengals in training camp and spending time with my friends and family!

Here three of the pics that I took in Georgetown (and it was rough to only pick three - I took 379).



During the Offense vs. Defense Scrimmage.


The Offense won 35 - 31, but there were some good plays by both sides.

I think about 20 guys didn't dress do to injury - both major and minor!









Leon Hall, 2007 First Round Draft Pick
Postion: Cornerback
Height: 5-11
Weight: 199
Birthdate: 12/9/1984
College: Michigan
Acquired: 2007 Draft, 1st Round


He signed and signed and signed...Until they made him stop! Yes, I got one of the signatures.










Brad St. Louis
Position: Long Snapper/Tight End
Height: 6-3
Weight: 243
Birthdate: 8/19/1976
College: SW Missouri State
Acquired: 2000 Draft, 7th Round


Smiling as he signed the "place of honor" on my picture! :)







Namaste.

Training Camp Baby!!

I LOVE TRAINING CAMP!!!

I was going to share some pictures from today, but I forgot to bring my external drive to get the pictures on to my laptop. :(

We had a great time! Granted, it was HOT. I got some great pictures and was able to watch the rookies (as well as the veterens).
Did I mention that it was hot?

I also know way more about a 31-year old (will be 32 in February) who was enjoying having a cell phone conversation right behind us. We are now experts about his friend's surgery, his separation, his fight with his sister-in-law, etc, etc, etc. I about said something to him when he started dropping the F-bomb in front of all of the kids. I think I would have had about 5 people back me up because dang he was annoying. Thankfully, the guy controlling the loud-speaker started the crowd noise and cause the half hour conversation to end. I was about to go up and give the guy a huge hug!!

Namaste.

Getting Excited!

My reality is about to be colored in orange and black!
Yep - it's Bengal time!!!

I am heading down to training camp tomorrow with BengalGal, BabyGirl and Lucy. This will be the first year that we are making it into a two day event!!! No, I'm not looking forward to it or anything! I am anxious to see how the rookies are doing and how the veterans have improved over the off-season. And I am all about taking lots of pictures too...

BengalGal got her season tickets in the mail yesterday. I'll be stalking my mail woman until I get my package!!! Having my Section 151 tickets in hand seems to mark the start of all of the madness! I WANT MY TICKETS!!! :)

The only thing left on my "Bengal To Do List": Find a jersey for the fall weather games. I have 32 for warm weather games and 84 for winter games. I really want to get a 90, but Justin is on a one-year contract so that may not be a wise decision. The problem is that there are limited jerseys available in youth sizes. :) What a horrible problem to have!!!

Namaste.