Huh?

Ummmm... poor girl.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JASON!!

This is my brother, Jason, and today he turns 30. So, I wanted to take this time to wish him a very happy birthday! He is a great brother and a great friend... always has been. I've always felt so proud to call him my brother.

My favorite qualities in him:
- He's super funny
- He's a great example of a man with strong character and integrity
- He's real
- He's a great friend to his friends
- He has an incredibly gentle heart
- His depth

My favorite memories with him:
- Taking pictures of each other when we were very young pretending like we were in the middle of something. The best pictures were of him pretending like he was a quarterback. I can't find it to post... sorry.
- Playing catch in the backyard
- Playing football with the neighbors in the front yard
- When we went to a Rangers game on a whim one summer when I was still in high school and he was in college. We bought tickets that were 12 rows behind the dugout and the Rangers were shut out by the Yankees, 22-0. We stayed for the entire game and ended up directly behind the dugout. No fair weather fans here!
- Listening and singing along to 80's love songs. It cracks us up everytime. I call him whenever I hear "Tonight I Celebrate My Love." That one makes us laugh that hardest.
- Our LATE night, deep conversations... we still have them every once in awhile.
- When he moved here about a year ago. I was more that thrilled!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JASON! I can't wait to share more memories with you in the many years to come!
I love you!!!

My Office

Things I love about my office:
1. I have my own and it's a large, spacious room.
2. The colors are very warm and I get to decorate it the way I want.
3. My office is in the back so it's usually the last place people go.
4. I have 2 windows: Out of 1 I can see trees and cars that pass or people that walk by, the other I can see a big field and trees.
5. I have a really big door.
6. It's in a clubhouse, so I'm surrounded by beautiful landscape and 2 pools.
7. I can park right outside; I don't have to shuttle in. (I had to do that at my last job... I know)
8. We get to control the temperature now.

Things I strongly dislike about my office:
1. It shares a wall with a men's public restroom and I can hear everything.

On the Brink

Do you ever get the feeling that you are on the brink of something big? It may not be big in the "big" sense, but it feels big to you. In fact, it feels so big that once you are able to wrap your mind and heart around it, it seems that it could be revolutionary for you.

Well, I'm in that place.

It's something that I recognized a few years ago, but in just the past few weeks I have become intensely aware of this thing in me... and I finally started to get it. It's absolutely terrifying (hence, the vagueness), but I'm beginning to see the other side of this so-called "brink."

And there I find hope.

And We Wonder What's Happening to Younger Generations

I was in a kid's clothing department at a store yesterday and overheard this conversation: (Note: Sierra is maybe 7 years old.)

Mom: Sierra, Oh my gosh! Look at these True Religion jeans. Oh, how cute!
Sierra: Oh wow!
Mom: You've GOT to try them on! They're only $120. Oh look! Look at all those cute Juicy outfits on the back wall. Look Sierra! Oh how cute!
Sierra: Oh ya! Look at the pink one! That's so cute, Mom.
Mom (in a screeching high pitch): Oh, Sierra, you are going to be the coolest one at school! I'm so excited!

Umm... sad.

Apparantly I was Tagged

The Rules:
1. I have to post these rules before I give you the facts.
2. Each player starts with 8 random facts/habits about themselves.
3. People who are tagged need to write their own blog (about their 8 things) and post these rules.
4. At the end of your blog, you need to choose people to get tagged and list their names.
5. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.


So here are the 8 random facts about Andrea:

1. I have 3 separate journals... each for different things. And I keep them fairly hidden because I caught someone reading it once.

2. One of my guilty pleasures is: The Simple Life. I think it's really funny. I actually don't feel guilty about it, so I'll just call it a pleasure.

3. I think I have the cutest nephew alive.


See... Told ya!

4. I have a thing for pens... I love a good pen.

5. My two favorite qualities in my favorite person: authenticity and accepting

6.I've never seen The Princess Bride. It seems that to some people, that's a really big deal.

7. Sometimes I make myself laugh out loud when I sing really loud in the car. Doesn't stop me from doing it though.

8. I'm told I roll my eyes all the time... not in a snobby way, but in an expressive way.


Okay... that's it! I'm going to tag Alissa, Shawna and Cathi.

I'm Just Thinkin'

Just wanted to share some random things going on in my head and/or heart:

• I really want it to rain. I know all my friends in TX are tired of it, but I'll trade you for a week!
• I have some really great friends... friends that let me just be who I am no matter what that may look like... they don't try to change me... they let me just be. I think this is a very sweet gift in life that I never want to take for granted.
• I think it's strange how some people think that being at work means that they work. Seriously... I'm sometimes amazed at the thought of how much could actually get done in a day if everyone actually worked.
• I want to be better at Spanish so I can talk to my friends, Walter and Jose, at work. They are so sweet, they're some of the hardest workers I know and they try so hard to speak to me in English (they do really well!)... but I feel terrible when they apologize because they said something wrong or can't remember a word. I've asked Walter to teach me a new word or phrase everyday.
• I know a lot of people say this... I actually mean it too... I really want to travel more.
• I guess I can do or can imitate funny voices because the 6th person in less than 5 months just told me that I should do voice-overs for animations. Maybe I'll make a voice-over reel and send it to all the big wigs in animation movie land. Then I could make lots of money and travel with all of my wonderful friends to Spanish speaking countries where it rains and siestas are okay. Aw... you get it?
• I've been thinking a lot about a certain fear that exists within me. I feel the need to come up with something clever and poetic to share with you about it so that I can remain in my head and think I'm dealing with it. But, instead I think I'm just going to let myself accept that this is a part of me today. This is hard for me - to live in the present. I'd rather talk about it than actually feel it... but it's only by letting myself accept it and embrace it (for now) that I will ever be able to release it. And I'd rather this... no matter how difficult it is... than to remain numb and nurture this fear within.

Thanks for listening.