WWYD? *updated*

I just received a call on my cell phone from a number I don't know. As is my practice, I sent it to voicemail, but first googled it to make sure I didn't know who it was but there were no results which makes me believe it's a cell phone.

So. I get a message: "Hi Sara, this is _______ and your number is in my husband's cell phone and I'm just trying to clear some stuff up with him. Please call me back at...."

Now. I know I don't know this woman, nor do I know her husband. The area code is not from an area I visit often, especially since moving from Dallas. My number is only a couple of months old (for me) and not a lot of people have it, so I'm positive I didn't give my number to someone I don't remember. And let's face it, I don't meet anyone to give my number to. (Plus I'm happily un-single.)

So, internet. Tell me- What in the world would you do? Call her back and further the shit storm this guy has found himself in? Call her back and lie to cover his ass (yeah right!)? Or, like I'm leaning toward-- do nothing.

Discuss.

*Update* Sunday morning, I checked my phone and sure enough, I had a "private call", a call from the original number and a text message that said, "Hey". That makes about 10 private calls that I had either missed or sent to voicemail because I was at work. C grabbed my phone and said, "I'm calling back. This has got to stop!" So, the calls the original number- not the number "Jessica" had left on my voicemail. The guy answers and says, "Hold on" and immediately gives the phone to her. She says, "I think there's been a misunderstanding..." C says, "Yeah, I think so. This is my girlfriend's number and she's only had it for about two months." She says she's sorry and they hang up.

I cannot begin to imagine the levels of hell she put him through over the weekend, but somehow he'd managed to convince her that he really didn't know me. *whew* I'm glad THAT is over.

I should be working on month-end close

But instead, I'm reading the crime log from my old alma mater's newspaper. When I was in college, that was always my favorite section and... it looks like it still is. I don't know what's more entertaining- what was done or the way it was written. Behold:

• Missing Person. Officers took a missing person report from a complainant in Crockett who said their brother went to The Anex in Nacogdoches last night but never returned home to Crockett. Crockett PD then located him this afternoon driving drunk in town and arrested him.
• At 1:33 a.m. an officer observed a vehicle that was parked with the engine running in Lot 58. As the officer approached the vehicle he observed that the driver was slumped over behind the steering wheel. The officer made contact with the driver and could detect a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath. The officer then placed this subject under arrest for public intoxication and transported him to the Nacogdoches County Law Enforcement Center.
• An officer was dispatched to the University Center in reference to theft. The officer contacted the complainant, who stated that sometime between 12/20/2007 and 02/12/2008 a Kodak camera was noticed to be missing or misplaced from the office of the Multicultural Center in the student center and the complainant further advised that she needed to file a report. There are no suspects.
• An officer was dispatched to the University Center in reference to criminal mischief that occurred by four juvenile males. The officer arrived and contacted the complainant, who stated that a black marks-a-lot was used by one of the juveniles to write on the walls. It was found that the juvenile that had written on the walls had been previously banned from campus. He was taken into custody and transported to the Juvenile Detention facility in Longview. There are four suspects.
• An officer was dispatched to Steen Hall in reference to a person with a handgun. The officer made contact with the complainant, who stated that she observed a male exhibit a handgun from the waistband of his pants. The suspect was gone upon the officer's arrival and the officer received further information that the handgun was possibly a toy. There are no suspects.
• Assault. Officers were dispatched to this residence regarding a disturbance. Officers arrived and contacted suspects who are husband and wife. Officers determined that the two had a lengthy argument during which they pushed and shoved each other. They were intoxicated and not cooperative, and both were arrested.
• Driving while intoxicated/possession of a control substance/possession of marijuana. An officer observed a vehicle attempt a U-turn in the 1900 block of North Street. The vehicle struck both curbs, crossed the sidewalk and went around a light pole. Officer affected a traffic stop on the vehicle and it pulled over the curb and onto the sidewalk. Officer contacted and identified the driver as Phillip Harvey. He displayed indicators of intoxication. Officer instructed Harvey through field sobriety tests and did poorly. He was arrested. A search of the vehicle incident to arrest revealed Hydrocodone, Alprazolam, Carisprodol and marijuana. He was arrested.
• Criminal Trespass. An officer was dispatched to Rudy's regarding a subject refusing to leave. Officers told him to leave and he stated he would not leave. Officers informed him he would be arrested if he did not leave. He told officers to arrest him. He was arrested.

Wednesday Confession:

I bought the damn song off iTunes and listened to it three times on my way to work.

Tweet Tweet

Perhaps you've noticed the new toy I added over on the sidebar. It's from Twitter and I invite you all to give it a whirl. Since I can't text to my blog, I can now *tweet* from my cell phone! You can "follow me" and get my tweets via mobile phone, im or email (I think). I'm sure I will tire of it soon, but I'm currently following Snoop Dogg and Dooce- which is where I heard of it in the first place. So, I'm a big ol copy cat. There, internet- ARE YOU HAPPY NOW?!!

Tuesday Confession:

I woke up this morning with that damn Miley Cyrus song stuck in my head. If you don't know what (or who) I'm talking about, consider yourself lucky. As soon as I got in my car, I turned the station to XM's 20 on 20 which does a top 20 countdown three or four times a day and plays nothing but top 40 the rest of the time. I just knew I'd hear it-- and sure enough, it was the second song on, though I caught only half in my flipping.

Seriously. What (practically) 28 year old, self respecting woman listens to MILEY CYRUS aka HANNAH EFFING MONTANA?!!!

Here's the chorus which made me laugh out loud when I read it. THIS is what I sang in the shower this morning?!!!

The last time I freaked out
I just kept looking down
I st-st-stuttered when you asked me what I’m thinkin’ ’bout
Felt like I couldn’t breathe
You asked what’s wrong with me
My best friend Leslie said
Oh she’s just being Miley
The next time we hang out
I will redeem myself
My heart it can’t rest till then
Oo oh Oo Oh I, I can’t wait to see you again

I'm going to the gym now and am secretly hoping I hear it on my drive there so I can stop singing, "I'm just being Mil-ey" over and over and over again in my head. Ugh.

Voz.Kiz

I was just poking around the internet and came across an old friend's website and blog. She and I started kindergarten together and would've graduated high school together if she wasn't too smart for her own good and graduated early. I used to love spending time at her house as a kid and pre-dating teen. Her mom was the art teacher at the school and there was creativity oozing from the mortar there. After her mom re-married, her step dad encouraged her older brother to start a band--- which maybe I can blame for my love of musicians! Needless to say, there were lots of late nights, laughs and good times, all the way into college. She got married and had a beautiful boy who I can only assume, started or encouraged her photography. It seems it's blossomed into quite a "side job" and even our hometown is keeping her busy with their "next generation".

I tell you all of that to tell you this. Plain and simply, I'm jealous. I'm jealous of her beautiful photographs and I'm jealous of the work she's put into her talent. I know it's silly, but I kick myself when I see them because I could and should be working towards achieving the same thing. I have the equipment and I have the eye, I just haven't gotten around to adding to the knowledge base and oh, what's that word--- PRACTICING. I kick myself for being lazy and not taking advantage of time. Don't get me wrong, I am very proud of the work she's doing. The quality is exceptional which is exactly what I would expect from her. And perhaps, my lackadaisical attitude is exactly what I should expect from myself.

It sure as hell doesn't mean I have to like it, though.

Pollenator

Ugh, it's only 9:00am and boy is it already a Monday. It's my least favorite day of the week because it's the morning I have to roll out of bed early and leave a very handsome warm boy. Since I'm at it, that same handsome, warm boy is also a very sick boy! He missed a Zyrtec on Friday and by that evening, he was S-I-C-K. His allergies are so bad that he tried the shots for a while and now (he should be) taking a "cocktail" of Zyrtec and Singulair. Saturday we had crawfish for his dad's birthday and he had to go inside several times to "rest" his poor nose. He sounds like Barry White (not in a good way) and has been running fever off and on. So, yesterday I went to church with my mom and had lunch there before running to Walmart for some soft Puffs Plus (he'd been using t.p.). He didn't leave his recliner all day, poor thing. I did my best to take care of him, though. Even if that just meant doing all the laundry.

Even though I got half a day off on Friday, the weekend seemed too short- I guess because we were busy. Hopefully this weekend will fly and next weekend will be "longer". Ha!

Why am I not surprised?

Easter is always cold... I can't remember a warm one. My dress is always short-sleeved and I'm always cold in church. Ugh. I guess I have no one to blame but myself, but you'd think I'd learn after 28 Easters.


Now, I'm debating driving back to my apartment to snag a sweatshirt. And a jacket for church.

Maundy, Maundy

Today is Maundy Thursday, 2008. In case you're wondering what the heck I'm talking about:

In the Christian liturgical calendar, Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday is the feast or holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter that commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles. It is the fifth day of Holy Week, and is preceded by Holy Wednesday and followed by Good Friday.

On this day four events are commemorated: the washing of the Disciples' feet by Jesus Christ, the institution of the Mystery of the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper, the agony of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, the betrayal of Christ by Judas Iscariot.

I don't have any special plans, but it's interesting just the same. Maybe I'll get a pedicure.

Today is also the first day of spring, 2008! Fitting that the weather will be PERFECT. I'm looking so forward to the weekend- as usual. We're only working half a day tomorrow, so for that I'm glad. I love having my "moonroof" open when the weather is nice. Pretty soon it'll be too hot, though. When did they stop calling it a "sunroof" anyway?

This is the most stressful week I've had yet. My boss is out of town, so I don't have her to deflect me from the intimidating supervisors questioning why our inventory is so horrendous. I've got answers though and I'm pretty confident I can hush them... at least until she gets back. I don't know why I feel like that number is my responsibility-- I have absolutely nothing to do with production-- but I do. My stomach was in knots all day yesterday... I'm such a people pleaser. So far I've only had one visitor, but the day is young.

I'm selling our opening day tickets. Well, I'm going to attempt to sell them, anyway. Since C is going hunting in Colorado this fall (E, there's an extra couple of spots), he needs all the vacation time he has. And since opening day falls on a Tuesday AND we have plans to go to a game the following Sunday, it just made since to ditch the expensive bitches and enjoy a weekend instead of driving up and back on the same day, mid-week. If anyone is interested in the tickets, let me know. Be warned that they're hellaciously expensive, even if you pay what I paid. Yesterday, I checked the site where I bought them and tickets three rows from mine are listed for $100 more than what I paid in January, so Mama's hoping for a profit! I'm listing them tonight and if no one buys them, then we'll just have to go. Sounds like a plan to me.

My car is still kicking ass. My current tank of gas is averaging 28mpg. Rock on.

Saturday, we're celebrating C's dad's birthday with crawfish. I don't eat the boogers, but I'll enjoy the sunshine and the corn (and beer). I'm planning on church on Sunday and lunch at my mama's. I bought a new dress for Easter and let me tell you, a) I'm glad it was on sale and b) I'm glad I'm going to the gym. Ick.

Y'all take care.

Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose...

Last Friday night, my friend and musician Brandon Rhyder was scheduled to play in his hometown for the very first time. It promised to be a huge night, both for the crowd and the band. However, a dirty act caused the liquor license of the bar to be pulled at the last minute. From the horse's mouth it appeared to be a direct attack on Brandon by the district attorney who simply did not want him to play. HERE is the article in the local paper about the incident and below is Brandon's letter to the editor. I cannot begin to tell you how much this upsets me. Not only because it was Brandon, but because this is exactly how this town works. In this dry town and county, there are three other establishments with a license who have zero problems maintaining it. But this bar has had trouble from the very beginning- both from the townspeople and city council and from the police and highway patrol who stake out the exits handing out DWIs. The best part is that all the people who are so against it are the same people who drive two counties over to buy their alcohol. It's a cryin' shame.

Hi, my name is Brandon Rhyder. Last Friday night I was scheduled to play at the local Carthage venue, Alamo Bar. Upon arriving we discovered that the liquor license had been pulled from the venue and the show was at risk of being cancelled. Instead, the show went on as planned as a BYOB event.
It's not front page news that the community is divided when it comes to the subject of a bar being in this dry county. Old money, politics and religion are the center of attention with this issue and that fight is not my personal fight. I play in bars. That's how I feed my family and eight other families to boot. All the artists in the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame (in Carthage) played in bars. The artists you pay good money to see in coliseums most likely started out playing bars. I call it my second college education.

Some people have insinuated that District Attorney Danny Buck Davidson may have a vendetta against me. Danny Buck has been a family friend and has represented my family as a lawyer on occasion. I think Danny Buck was playing cards dealt by his constituents and he wants to be re-elected. I feel the timing was calculated and the intention specific. The timing affected my income.

I have never been asked to play at any other event in my hometown by the Chamber of Commerce and/or the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame. This does not insult me. I feel confident that opportunities would have presented themselves down the road as my career continues to grow.

People will tell me that this turn of events had nothing to do with me. It could have been any body else, but it wasn't. I came home to play where I was invited to play, and if asked again I will do the same.

Prohibition has long been silenced. I believe in freedom of speech and that the laws in place allowed the owners of the Alamo Bar to place residency on the loop.

It's ironic to me that in less than a year I was presented the key to the city for my accomplishments in music, invited home to play, only to find the locks had been changed.

Brandon Rhyder

I love commas.

Ok, so maybe this time change thing is working out ok. Since I've been home from work, I've been to the dealership to pick up my license plates and to the library. I feel like such a contributing member of society now that I have a library card AND books. Even the librarian said I got some good ones... I should give Woodrow most of the credit though, two of my four were his suggestions. You want to know?

• The Road by Cormac McCarthy
• Prayer for Owen Meany, by John Irving
• and two James Patterson novels, which are my guilty pleasure.

I just realized in looking up the links that The Road was an Oprah Book Club selection.. and you know I love me some Oprah.

Library's are such a spiritual place- all those words in one place is kind of intoxicating. All the hopes, dreams and adventures created by those authors- and the dreams that first book must have created for the authers themselves. I admire that level of passion and dedication. I have a couple of friends who could write a book... I'd buy it, even if they were just blowing sunshine.

On the way back from the library, I succesfully navigated a different way home than how I'd gotten there. In my travel, I passed a bar called the "Electric Cowboy". I immediately noticed the massive amount of cars there at only 7:30pm. The next thing I saw was the Girls Gone Wild bus. Class has officially arrived in East Texas, boys. *shudder*

Time for a salad and then Lost. Sheesh... next thing you know I'll be donating my time to the local convent or something.

Edit: I just opened A Prayer for John Meany to find a title for this blog and read the first sentence. You know when you just know you've found a good one? Well this is one.

I am doomed to remember a boy with a wrecked voice- not because of his voice, of because he was the smallest person I ever knew, or even because he was the instrument of my mother's death, but because he is the reason I believe in God; I am a Christian because of Owen Meany.

Things I miss about Dallas

in no particular order (except maybe the first one)

• Cori.
• Adair's
• Campisi's
• Chipotle
• the Gap @ Mockingbird Station
• Snuffer's
• the patio @ Love and War in Plano - Shiner Sunday's anyone?
• Fort Worth
• Sunday movies at Tinseltown
• I-35, simply because Oklahoma or Austin is only a stone's throw away
• Concerts @ the Granada
• Blue Goose
• happy hour
• Dawn & Deidre
• My hairdresser, Sandra
• Thursday nights at the Glass Cactus or Firewater
• the famed St. Paddy's Day parade

*sigh* I need to make a run, soon.

General disgust.

Disgust numero uno:
I've blogged twice this morning, posted them and then immediately took them down because they were dumb. I don't know where this self-imposed critique is coming from, but I'm damn tired of it. I read other people's blogs and think, "That's cool.. why can't I write like that?" But my stuff comes out all stupid-like and dumb. Plus, I don't have anything good to write about. I feel like I need an adventure or a divorce (Woodrow) so I can have stories to choose from. And let's not even discuss how bad of a storyteller I am.

Disgust numero dos:
Bah. I'm hungry. I'm going to go warm up my Olive Garden leftovers (the other half of my entree that I didn't eat last night- go me!) and get ready to go to the gym. Yes, that's right. Today's the day I get my butt moving again... Lord knows it needs it.


But what I'd really like to do is go pig out on some mexican food and beer. How's that for irony?

Meet Leroy

This is what happens when my boyfriend gets home early. And there's snow. Three inches of it.

Let it snow?

For those of you who wanted to see a picture of my car, here it is covered in snow. In freakin' March. In Texas.




























Talk about a surprise after opening the door this morning!

Camry for me

So yeah, I got the car last Thursday. Friday it rained. I washed it on Saturday. It rained on Monday. I'm so over the rain-- literally. As soon as it's clean again, I'll take a picture. It's pretty, complete with chrome dual exhaust. Clint has me paranoid that I need sporty-er wheels, so that may be on my horizon. It pretty much looks just like the one in the picture below except the wheels have eight spokes (i think) and it doesn't have a spoiler. I'm good with that because it's so tiny it's pointless. I filled up on Sunday, drove 30 minutes (highway) back to C's and my gas mileage was 31.5. Schweet! It's down to 27.6 now, but I'm not complaining. The Jeep got 19 most days, 20 on a really good drive.

Enough of the car talk. Sadly, that's all I've got. But it does smell really, really good.