(Full Disclosure: I started writing this a couple months ago and thanks to basketball season, a musical, baseball season and numerous other things I will update the blogosphere on later I just never got it finished. But I didn't want to abandon it completely so here it is - better a little behind than never!)
I am a brunette. When I was in high school (maybe even before) I started wanting to dye my hair. My mom never let me. (Just a sidenote: In hindsight I'm really glad she didn't let me especially when I look back at pictures from my Sophomore year of college, when I decided I didn't need my mom's permission to dye my hair, and I see hair that is a very strange shade of orange so thanks for postponing that for as long as you could Mom!)So you're 14 years old, your mom won't let you dye your hair, what do you do? Enter Sun-In. The best way to dye your hair without really dyeing your hair! Unfortunately for 14 year old Kaitlyn, Sun-In doesn't really work on hair that is as dark as mine. It just kinda makes it smell funny. So I remained a brunette for the rest of my high school existence. To some of you this might not seem like a big deal. You would be wrong. Everybody was blonde or bought their blonde out of a bottle or wanted to buy blonde in a bottle. From girls at school, singers, movie stars - I felt like everybody was blonde! Blondes had more fun. If you were blonde, people liked you more. And believe me, not that I remember specifics, but I'm sure these points were brought up to my mom repeatedly. When I finally realized that my mom was not going to change her mind I gave up trying to be a blonde and started trying to just be ok with being a brunette. I looked for brunettes that I could try to look/dress/be like. Enter Belle (from Beauty and the Beast), Audrey Hepburn, Julia Roberts, Amy Grant, and others famous and not famous that were some of my favorite people growing up. It was ridiculous and silly but it was a big deal to me at the time; I wanted to know about women who were beautiful, sucessful, and NOT blonde! And even now, as an "adult" with the ability to dye my hair all I want the only thing I have done (excluding my college experiment) is enhance the color I already have. But it took quite a bit of reprogramming (and other brunettes to look up to) for me to convince myself that blondes didn't actually have more fun, that pretty did not equal lighter hair and that brunette is beautiful!
For Christmas, my wonderful mother-in-law gave me an awesome Princess and the Frog bag. It is beautiful lavender and green bag with a picture of Princess Tiana on the front. AND it is the perfect bag to take a change of clothes to school when I know it's going to be a long day of rehearsals and basketball games and workouts with the girls. A couple of weeks ago I was standing in the gym after one of Josh's basketball games talking to some girls that I have in class. I had all my bags with me including my Princess and the Frog bag. As I was standing there talking I began to feel extra weight on the Princess and the Frog bag that I was holding in my hand. I looked down to see Jayda, the niece of one of Josh's basketball players patting the face of Princess Tiana. She is adorable, probably 3 or 4 years old and African-American. When I looked down at her she kept patting the bag and said "I love her. I love her. I love her." It was precious! Her mom came over and apologized but I told her it was just fine and I let her take the bag and drag it around the gym for awhile until the guys came out of the locker room. She was so fun to watch!
Before I start trying to put all the thoughts in my head into an at least semi-understandable, cohesive jumble I want something to be completely clear - I realize that my issues with hair color don't even begin to scratch the surface in comparison to issues of race. There is NO comparison really. I am not a person of color and I know that because of that there are many things that I will never be able to understand. The story I told at the beginning was a little tidbit about my life and it was fun to share but I don't want to make it seem like because I went through that I understand what it feels like to grow up surrounded by Princesses that you are supposed to connect with (thank you marketing.) that are a different race than you. Do you start to feel like you were not meant to be a Princess? Like you can't? Do you feel like princess = pretty and none of the princesses look like you? This is why I didn't just want to do a normal review of the movie. Yes, it's classic Disney, the songs are fun, the story is incredible and I loved it! But it's so much more than that. I was reading reviews of the preview nights and the stories were incredible. So many girls showed up already wearing a Princess Tiana dress and holding a doll that looked like them. A doll that people will tell her is beautiful, a representation of a princess who people will say looks just like her! More than I loved the movie and the songs and the characters I love that Jayda has a hero, a princess to call her own that looks like her. It is and will always be a historic movie. Historic in ways that I will never be able to fully understand. But I am glad that I was a very small part of it and The Princess and the Frog, like most other Disney movies, will always have a very special place in my heart!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Snow Falling on Madison
So we got another snow day! This one seems to have a brought a little more snow than the last one. Josh estimates that we have about 4 inches of snow in our front yard. Pretty awesome.
This is the view standing right outside our front door! (yes we live right across the street from a church!)
So me and cold things don't get along well enough for me to really enjoy making snowmen or snowangels but I did have a great time writing in the snow!
School has been pretty crazy so the day off today was very much appreciated. We got to sleep in and I stayed in to make breakfast (orange rolls - my favorite!) while Josh made an trip to the grocery store because this snow stuff is supposed to stick around and get worse so he wanted to make sure we had enough food in the house. I know, how responsible and thoughtful of him! We relaxed and watched some movies (I finally watched Whip It and loved it - expect a review soon!) and then went out to play in the snow.
To conclude these snow day thoughts, I may have been skeptical of Nashville and Tennessee in general when we first moved here but I have to say that it is a beautiful place and I really enjoy that it snows here more than it does in Texas but not enough to keep us from getting a day off school for 3 to 4 inches!
This is the view standing right outside our front door! (yes we live right across the street from a church!)
So me and cold things don't get along well enough for me to really enjoy making snowmen or snowangels but I did have a great time writing in the snow!
School has been pretty crazy so the day off today was very much appreciated. We got to sleep in and I stayed in to make breakfast (orange rolls - my favorite!) while Josh made an trip to the grocery store because this snow stuff is supposed to stick around and get worse so he wanted to make sure we had enough food in the house. I know, how responsible and thoughtful of him! We relaxed and watched some movies (I finally watched Whip It and loved it - expect a review soon!) and then went out to play in the snow.
To conclude these snow day thoughts, I may have been skeptical of Nashville and Tennessee in general when we first moved here but I have to say that it is a beautiful place and I really enjoy that it snows here more than it does in Texas but not enough to keep us from getting a day off school for 3 to 4 inches!
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Hope For Haiti, Scott Brown, Team Conan, Middle School Basketball
A disclaimer before you read this post. I dont ever express these opinions in public because I am afraid they would offend you. I hardly ever say things like this because they could sound arrogant and I selfishly want you all to like me. But Kaitlyn said that I have been bottling some emotions lately and this would be healthy. I just do what she says. I'm really not this guy very often.
Scott Brown: Democrats screwed that one up. How did a naked Scott Brown suddenly become the saving grace for a party that only represented 39% of the government? Because somebody screwed up, got lazy and forgot that in a democracy, no seat is ever inherited. It must be won. I don't agree with very much of what Scott has said or will say, but I do agree with this gem that came of the campaign:
"With all due respect, its not Ted Kennedy's seat. It's the people's seat."
Exactly right.
Also, many of my dearest friends are conservative and they are terrific people who are smart and funny and would never hold my views against me. However, there are others in my life who might if they knew my political opinions. We need to allow ourselves to strongly disagree with each other without assuming a personal moral failure in the other.
Conan vs. Leno: It's stunning to me how out of touch the NBC executives seem to be. Investing in Jay Leno seems like such an easily seen poor bet. I really dont know anyone who would rather watch Leno over Conan. I'm sure they are out there somewhere, but they are probably over 55 and don't have a good sense of humor. (To Grandma Spray - you and Grandad are the obvious exception)
Middle School Basketball: I coach 8th grade basketball. It requires patience and perseverance beyond my maturity level. My team has huge amounts of talent for their age but hasn't become the team they are capable of being. This creates a large of amount of frustration in my mind a little bit of insecurity in my heart that its my fault this is occurring. This makes for loss of sleep which doesn't help either problem.
Haiti: I am at a loss on what to do for the people of Haiti. I have donated money and prayed to my God for healing. I feel like this is inadequate as I go throughout my days with no suffering at all. If you have yet to donate or are looking for a legitimate foundation use World Vision. They are equipped and experienced relief workers.
These thoughts have been swirling through my head lately.
Scott Brown: Democrats screwed that one up. How did a naked Scott Brown suddenly become the saving grace for a party that only represented 39% of the government? Because somebody screwed up, got lazy and forgot that in a democracy, no seat is ever inherited. It must be won. I don't agree with very much of what Scott has said or will say, but I do agree with this gem that came of the campaign:
"With all due respect, its not Ted Kennedy's seat. It's the people's seat."
Exactly right.
Also, many of my dearest friends are conservative and they are terrific people who are smart and funny and would never hold my views against me. However, there are others in my life who might if they knew my political opinions. We need to allow ourselves to strongly disagree with each other without assuming a personal moral failure in the other.
Conan vs. Leno: It's stunning to me how out of touch the NBC executives seem to be. Investing in Jay Leno seems like such an easily seen poor bet. I really dont know anyone who would rather watch Leno over Conan. I'm sure they are out there somewhere, but they are probably over 55 and don't have a good sense of humor. (To Grandma Spray - you and Grandad are the obvious exception)
Middle School Basketball: I coach 8th grade basketball. It requires patience and perseverance beyond my maturity level. My team has huge amounts of talent for their age but hasn't become the team they are capable of being. This creates a large of amount of frustration in my mind a little bit of insecurity in my heart that its my fault this is occurring. This makes for loss of sleep which doesn't help either problem.
Haiti: I am at a loss on what to do for the people of Haiti. I have donated money and prayed to my God for healing. I feel like this is inadequate as I go throughout my days with no suffering at all. If you have yet to donate or are looking for a legitimate foundation use World Vision. They are equipped and experienced relief workers.
These thoughts have been swirling through my head lately.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Snow Days
Our break ended up lasting a little longer than planned thanks to the wonderful white stuff that falls from the sky. Yay SNOW!!!
That's right we had 2 snow days! Not that I'm trying to rub it in or anything but they were fabulous! We went back to school on Tuesday for an inservice where they sold us (or should I say they sold Josh, the worrier) on ID Fraud protection and then we spent the rest of the day getting all of our grades in. Wednesday was the student's first day back and there was a snow day buzz all around school. I was trying not to get my hopes up but I definitely wanted one! By 10 on Wednesday night we had gotten the call that school would be closed on Thursday! The funniest part was waking up Thursday to absolutely no snow whatsoever. But around 10am it really started coming down (or at least it looked like it was really coming down and this Texas girl was glad she didn't have to be out in it!) and then by 4pm on Thursday they had called and let us know that we would be off on Friday as well! Jackpot! Friday actually cleared up a little bit so by lunchtime me and some girlfriends of mine decided to brave the snow for a girls lunch and shopping trip. And when I say we decided to brave the snow I mean that I called Dana to have her come pick me up so that I wouldn't have to drive in it. :)
So we have been able to ease back into the whole 2nd semester thing and we are very grateful! Hopefully some of the upcoming posts will be about how well Charlie Brown is coming along! And on that note Josh's basketball team is 7 and 3 with a big game tomorrow night at CPA. Go Cougars!
That's right we had 2 snow days! Not that I'm trying to rub it in or anything but they were fabulous! We went back to school on Tuesday for an inservice where they sold us (or should I say they sold Josh, the worrier) on ID Fraud protection and then we spent the rest of the day getting all of our grades in. Wednesday was the student's first day back and there was a snow day buzz all around school. I was trying not to get my hopes up but I definitely wanted one! By 10 on Wednesday night we had gotten the call that school would be closed on Thursday! The funniest part was waking up Thursday to absolutely no snow whatsoever. But around 10am it really started coming down (or at least it looked like it was really coming down and this Texas girl was glad she didn't have to be out in it!) and then by 4pm on Thursday they had called and let us know that we would be off on Friday as well! Jackpot! Friday actually cleared up a little bit so by lunchtime me and some girlfriends of mine decided to brave the snow for a girls lunch and shopping trip. And when I say we decided to brave the snow I mean that I called Dana to have her come pick me up so that I wouldn't have to drive in it. :)
So we have been able to ease back into the whole 2nd semester thing and we are very grateful! Hopefully some of the upcoming posts will be about how well Charlie Brown is coming along! And on that note Josh's basketball team is 7 and 3 with a big game tomorrow night at CPA. Go Cougars!
Saturday, January 9, 2010
A long time ago we used to be friends ...
Kaitlyn: The title of this post is the first line of the song that plays during the opening sequence of our new favorite TV show ... Veronica Mars!
Josh: Our cousins, Chris and Lauren Dowdy,\ had highly recommended this show to us awhile ago... but I was hesitant. Especially hesitant when I learned it originally aired on "The CW" the channel that have brought you such gems as The Tyra Banks Show, One Tree Hill and 90210 (the updated version). However, the Dowdys were adamant and we found it on sale at target for $8.99 so we went for it. What we found was a piece of television gold.
K: I wasn't really worried about "the CW" issue. I'm not as much of a snob as Josh is. But the cover just never really spoke to me. However, an entire season for $8.99 did speak to me and I was hooked after the first episode! We now own all 3 seasons and I feel like Veronica and I are BFF's for sure.
J: Yeah, they need a new art editor for the DVD boxes. But the first episode was enough to make you want more. The setting for the series is Neptune, CA, a small beach-side town that many of the rich and famous "Hollywood types" call home. Veronica, played by Kristen Bell, is a junior at Neptune High. She is also the daughter of the former Neptune Sheriff, Keith Mars, who has now opened his own private investigation business. The reason for his departure from the Sheriff dept. presents the shows underlying storyline throughout the first season. And what at first seems like another silly high school drama turns out to be a very well written and well thought out show. Wit, humor, suspense, heartache, deception and well done detective work make the show fun to watch but its the writing and impressive acting of the main characters that sets Veronica Mars apart from your average teen-dramedy tv show.
K: Like I said, I am not as picky as Josh is when it comes to my entertainment. I appreciate the Gilmore Girls and Mamma Mia just as much as I appreciate The West Wing and The Queen. My tastes are broad and varied and I make no apologies. So while I do agree with Josh that this show is written very well and the acting is none too shabby that is not the most endearing part of the show to me. I love Veronica Mars as a character. I love the fact that Veronica is not your typical high school heroine. She is not what some might think of as your "traditional teenage girl as seen on prime time television". She can and will take control. She has a quick wit and is not afraid to use it. She is smart, top of her fake high school class smart. She can kick butt and will take names. She may like you but she doesn't need you. But if she does like you she will go to bat for you any day. And if she doesn't like you ... good luck! In short, she is an empowered female and there just aren't enough of those out there right now. Look for an upcoming post on my thoughts about the Twilight series for an expanded version of that thought.
J: Yeah, so as you can see we really like this show. We watched all three seasons and enjoyed them all but season one sets itself apart. Its alot of fun. We suggest you check it out. And just to whet your appetite, here's a clip to get you started.
Josh: Our cousins, Chris and Lauren Dowdy,\ had highly recommended this show to us awhile ago... but I was hesitant. Especially hesitant when I learned it originally aired on "The CW" the channel that have brought you such gems as The Tyra Banks Show, One Tree Hill and 90210 (the updated version). However, the Dowdys were adamant and we found it on sale at target for $8.99 so we went for it. What we found was a piece of television gold.
K: I wasn't really worried about "the CW" issue. I'm not as much of a snob as Josh is. But the cover just never really spoke to me. However, an entire season for $8.99 did speak to me and I was hooked after the first episode! We now own all 3 seasons and I feel like Veronica and I are BFF's for sure.
J: Yeah, they need a new art editor for the DVD boxes. But the first episode was enough to make you want more. The setting for the series is Neptune, CA, a small beach-side town that many of the rich and famous "Hollywood types" call home. Veronica, played by Kristen Bell, is a junior at Neptune High. She is also the daughter of the former Neptune Sheriff, Keith Mars, who has now opened his own private investigation business. The reason for his departure from the Sheriff dept. presents the shows underlying storyline throughout the first season. And what at first seems like another silly high school drama turns out to be a very well written and well thought out show. Wit, humor, suspense, heartache, deception and well done detective work make the show fun to watch but its the writing and impressive acting of the main characters that sets Veronica Mars apart from your average teen-dramedy tv show.
K: Like I said, I am not as picky as Josh is when it comes to my entertainment. I appreciate the Gilmore Girls and Mamma Mia just as much as I appreciate The West Wing and The Queen. My tastes are broad and varied and I make no apologies. So while I do agree with Josh that this show is written very well and the acting is none too shabby that is not the most endearing part of the show to me. I love Veronica Mars as a character. I love the fact that Veronica is not your typical high school heroine. She is not what some might think of as your "traditional teenage girl as seen on prime time television". She can and will take control. She has a quick wit and is not afraid to use it. She is smart, top of her fake high school class smart. She can kick butt and will take names. She may like you but she doesn't need you. But if she does like you she will go to bat for you any day. And if she doesn't like you ... good luck! In short, she is an empowered female and there just aren't enough of those out there right now. Look for an upcoming post on my thoughts about the Twilight series for an expanded version of that thought.
J: Yeah, so as you can see we really like this show. We watched all three seasons and enjoyed them all but season one sets itself apart. Its alot of fun. We suggest you check it out. And just to whet your appetite, here's a clip to get you started.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Back to Reality
So ... it's been awhile ... my bad!
But here we are, back at home trying to get back into the swing of things before school starts on Tuesday. With the start of school comes the second half of basketball season (Josh's team is 7-2 by the way!), rehearsals for the spring musical (You're A Good Man Charlie Brown) and for the first time baseball season with Josh as the new assistant varsity baseball coach! We're very excited but also taking the time to enjoy these last few days before the craziness strikes!
So while we have a minute, here's a recap of the holidays - We kicked off our holiday season with the wedding of two very good friends, Daniel and Jessica Knox! They both teach with us at Goodpasture and their wedding was gorgeous! They actually asked me to help as a wedding planner for the event so I have no pictures of the actual wedding but here is a shot of all of us teachers at the rehearsal dinner ...
Aren't we cute?!?
After that we still had exams. I actually gave exams this year! No, I did not make my elective Theater classes take exams. (We had party day on review day!) But since Daniel and Jessica got married and wanted a honeymoon, imagine that, I gave Daniel's calculus exams. That's right, Jay Spray, I gave Calculus exams! Of course every class got this speech - "No, I do not know what is on this exam and I cannot tell you what the exam is like because if I look at the test too long all my math anxiety from high school comes back and I want to sit down and cry. That's why Mr. Knox gave you a really good review before he left for Cozymel. Good luck." Pretty inspiring speech if you ask me!
Once school got out we were able to spend a few days relaxing and enjoying the Christmas season in our new house that we are still loving! Here's a picture of our first Christmas tree in the new house!
I think it's pretty awesome! And I'm not gonna lie - it's still in that same place in our house right now! I think that will be tomorrow's task!
We are on a rotating holiday season schedule so this is our year to spend Christmas in Atlanta. My brother had a wedding to attend in St. Louis of some college friends and my parents have both been working alot (Dad has been working extra alot!) so we were just planning on mailing Christmas to Dallas this year. But my super-hero husband had other ideas! As a complete surprise Christmas present to me he flew my mom into Nashville to spend the weekend before Christmas with me! I was beyond excited! She flew in on Friday and we went to see The Princess and the Frog and then Saturday was spent finishing up Christmas shopping and just havinng a ton of fun! Then she had to fly back on Sunday but it was still definitely the best Christmas present ever!
On Christmas Eve we left Nashville for Atlanta for the first ever Thames/Dowdy/Shepherd soup dinner Christmas Eve! Usually the tradition is a steak dinner on Christmas Eve that Josh's dad grills but the weather in Atlanta was cold, windy beyond belief and rainy. So we went to the Christmas Eve service at Campus Church and then came back for soup and the traditional talent show! On Christmas day at the Thames house we opened presents galore and then went to the also traditional Waffle House Christmas breakfast! After that the whole family met up and went to see Sherlock Holmes! It was fabulous, I loved it, go see it! (If you haven't seen The Princess and the Frog yet, go see that first!) The rest of our time in Atlanta was filled with shopping, wonderful dinners, fun game nights and just lots of fun with awesome people!
To wrap it all up we drove home yesterday and after Josh ran all evidence of the holidays off of his little 8th grade basketball team we got to hang out with some good friends of ours from ACU. Brandon and Sara and Cherry and Elliott got to come over and hang out at our house! Brandon and Sara are living in Dallas so it was their first time to come over and Cherry and Elliott had a precious baby named Lofton in November so it was their first time to come over as well! But they live here in Nashville so I'm sure they will be over alot! :)
So, the holidays were a blast! We were blessed by friends and family and fun the whole moth of December and are now getting back to the reality that is January. Bring it on 2010! We are so ready!
But here we are, back at home trying to get back into the swing of things before school starts on Tuesday. With the start of school comes the second half of basketball season (Josh's team is 7-2 by the way!), rehearsals for the spring musical (You're A Good Man Charlie Brown) and for the first time baseball season with Josh as the new assistant varsity baseball coach! We're very excited but also taking the time to enjoy these last few days before the craziness strikes!
So while we have a minute, here's a recap of the holidays - We kicked off our holiday season with the wedding of two very good friends, Daniel and Jessica Knox! They both teach with us at Goodpasture and their wedding was gorgeous! They actually asked me to help as a wedding planner for the event so I have no pictures of the actual wedding but here is a shot of all of us teachers at the rehearsal dinner ...
Aren't we cute?!?
After that we still had exams. I actually gave exams this year! No, I did not make my elective Theater classes take exams. (We had party day on review day!) But since Daniel and Jessica got married and wanted a honeymoon, imagine that, I gave Daniel's calculus exams. That's right, Jay Spray, I gave Calculus exams! Of course every class got this speech - "No, I do not know what is on this exam and I cannot tell you what the exam is like because if I look at the test too long all my math anxiety from high school comes back and I want to sit down and cry. That's why Mr. Knox gave you a really good review before he left for Cozymel. Good luck." Pretty inspiring speech if you ask me!
Once school got out we were able to spend a few days relaxing and enjoying the Christmas season in our new house that we are still loving! Here's a picture of our first Christmas tree in the new house!
I think it's pretty awesome! And I'm not gonna lie - it's still in that same place in our house right now! I think that will be tomorrow's task!
We are on a rotating holiday season schedule so this is our year to spend Christmas in Atlanta. My brother had a wedding to attend in St. Louis of some college friends and my parents have both been working alot (Dad has been working extra alot!) so we were just planning on mailing Christmas to Dallas this year. But my super-hero husband had other ideas! As a complete surprise Christmas present to me he flew my mom into Nashville to spend the weekend before Christmas with me! I was beyond excited! She flew in on Friday and we went to see The Princess and the Frog and then Saturday was spent finishing up Christmas shopping and just havinng a ton of fun! Then she had to fly back on Sunday but it was still definitely the best Christmas present ever!
On Christmas Eve we left Nashville for Atlanta for the first ever Thames/Dowdy/Shepherd soup dinner Christmas Eve! Usually the tradition is a steak dinner on Christmas Eve that Josh's dad grills but the weather in Atlanta was cold, windy beyond belief and rainy. So we went to the Christmas Eve service at Campus Church and then came back for soup and the traditional talent show! On Christmas day at the Thames house we opened presents galore and then went to the also traditional Waffle House Christmas breakfast! After that the whole family met up and went to see Sherlock Holmes! It was fabulous, I loved it, go see it! (If you haven't seen The Princess and the Frog yet, go see that first!) The rest of our time in Atlanta was filled with shopping, wonderful dinners, fun game nights and just lots of fun with awesome people!
To wrap it all up we drove home yesterday and after Josh ran all evidence of the holidays off of his little 8th grade basketball team we got to hang out with some good friends of ours from ACU. Brandon and Sara and Cherry and Elliott got to come over and hang out at our house! Brandon and Sara are living in Dallas so it was their first time to come over and Cherry and Elliott had a precious baby named Lofton in November so it was their first time to come over as well! But they live here in Nashville so I'm sure they will be over alot! :)
So, the holidays were a blast! We were blessed by friends and family and fun the whole moth of December and are now getting back to the reality that is January. Bring it on 2010! We are so ready!
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