back to back

I have a bad habit of overbooking myself.  And, I like to deceive myself into believing that I manage my time well.  But, I can take yesterday as a fine example of how I can exhaust myself because I can't say no.

Work was pretty busy, as we are preparing to close down our part of the College for the Christmas season.  I left work to go to dinner with some friends.  It was interesting...my first trip to the local Indian restaurant.  I left dinner, running late, to head with some other friends to the University of Memphis basketball game.  That game left me a little queasy.  I still can't figure out if that's because of the Indian food or the fact that Memphis held on to a win a game when they should have stomped on their opponent like an 18 wheeler would roll over a Prius.  So, I got back to the apartment around 10...the time that I like to wind down and relax.  But, no, instead I agree to go on a ghost hunt around campus.  The ghosts were sleeping or not in a mood to play.  I got home late and woke up early to get some things done this morning.  And, now, I'm going to rely on some strong coffee to help me make it through the day.

shoes

I've recently fallen into the trap of deciding shoes based on whether I want my feet to be comfortable or whether I want my feet to look nice.

Too bad that many of my shoes (at least for work) are not both fashionable and comfortable at the same time!

humility

Earlier today, I was studying some GRE vocabulary words.  Here's one I need to remember more: Humility.  Let's use it in a sentence...George thought vary highly of himself, but was considered by others to lack humility.

Dictionary.com's definition strikes me..."modest opinion or estimate about one's own importance, rank, etc."  

Oh, I love how lacking humility, at least in my case, often ends up with me getting slapped in face with some moment of reality when I learn how I'm no better than the next person.  That happened today.  I sent an email and used some wrong terminology.  And, in turn, I received a well-intentioned, but painful, email that put me back in my place.  The specifics are not important.  It's the lesson that matters.

Too often, I overestimate my importance, and, many times, at the cost of another.  To make myself more important, I demean someone around me.  Sometimes I use humor to make it seem okay, but it's not.  And, eventually, I end up with that knot in my stomach that reminds me that, not only do I now want to vomit, but we're on the same field.  Oh, this sucks.

Yes, we're all bowl eligible...

Yesterday, I make the long (2 hour) trip up to Raleigh to watch the NC State Wolfpack defeat the Miami Hurricanes.  My cousin, Samuel, works as a manager for the football team.  So, some of our family goes up to the games to support Samuel and enjoy the game and tailgating.  With the Wolfpack and the Clemson Tigers winning yesterday, that makes 10 of the 12 teams in the ACC eligible for bowl games.  And, they said we were a weak conference.

Here are a few of the photos from the game...

To be thankful for...

So, on this Thanksgiving Day, I thought I'd post a few of the things that I'm thankful for...

funny faces...

beautiful babies...

and priceless memories with family!

pictures from my vacation...thus far

Sunset from the back porch.

Zac Brown, my cousin, leading his team back into the game.

Aidan Brown, not paying attention to Zac playing

Maddie and her friend

Hunter...so cute

Hunter, again, posing for me

Winston, in a rare, calm moment

starting to give thanks

I arrived to NC yesterday, to spend Thanksgiving with my family.  Apparently, we like to draw out the celebration to about a week's worth of events.  It begins with Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow with the Simmons side of the family.  That being said, I scanned a lot of old pictures of the Simmons family today.  Below are some of my favorites:

   My mom and Dad getting ready to move to SC (1975-ish)

Dad and Uncle Sandy (1970-ish)

Pa, carrying my dad, with Aunt Paulky and Uncle Sandy (1951)

My dad, Aunt Paulky and Uncle Sandy (1956)

Aunt Susan, my Dad, Uncle Sandy and  Aunt Paulky (1956)