Houston, MO

Today is September 11, but you already know that. It's strange how something so huge can entirely change your life, and then with time it slowly fades into the background until something triggers those memories bringing them all flooding back. It's been long enough that I had almost forgotten what today was. . . . Almost, but not quite.

How can you really ever forget something that changes so much of your life? You can't. Even though I'm a much older and wiser 26, when I think about 9/11 suddenly I'm a terrified 16 year old again trying to wrap my brain around brands of hatred and heroism I can not even begin to understand. And after all this time, I still can't, but that's life.

I spent this morning helping with a rather unique service project, cleaning around headstones at a local cemetery. Using shovels we were to dig the overgrown sod away from the stones, load it in a truck and then sweep the sites clean, back-breaking but necessary. At first I was just wanting to get it over with and get out of there (I'm soooo not a morning person and I have this thing about feeling like I'm standing on someone every time I set foot in a cemetery. Weird, I know.), but as I jumped on the shovel over and over to dig out the grass crowding the headstones. . . something changed. All of a sudden I realized that these were people, or had been, and I should be grateful for the chance to come and honor those who had passed on by performing the simple service of setting to rights their final resting place. Then as I started working around more of the stones I started noticing their names, the dates and the inscriptions engraved on the stones. It's really hard to have a crummy attitude when you realize that you are doing for someone something that they can not do for themselves.

About halfway through the project I noticed a stone off to the side that had been missed. It was farther away from the truck than the rest and all but hidden in the grass, so it had been simply overlooked and forgotten. I eyeballed the distance to the truck and decided like everyone else it was too far for my taste, and someone else could deal with it. But as I turned to walk away I had a thought that made me take up my shovel and go back . . . . . What if it was me? What if I was the one who's stone was forgotten?

As I cleaned the grass from around the stone, I wondered about the man who's name it bore. John Roberts. He died in 1986, so I would have been about 2 when he left for that better place in the wild blue yonder. There were no flowers and the headstone looked like it had not been cleaned in quite a while, causing me to wonder if Mr. Roberts has anyone to remember him. Well, he has at least one now.

I guess the point of this post is this: People should never be forgotten, even if they are no longer walking among us. So very many lives were lost on 9/11, and in the years of war that have followed. Those lives should never be forgotten, and their sacrifices for their loved ones and their country should be recalled with gratitude. I for one will always be more grateful that I can ever say. So a simple "Thank You" is the best I can do, in tandem with keeping the memories of those heros alive.

So on top of everything that has happened lately (the dentist, the hospital, etc.). . . . . my phone died. So by all rights of a tenant of Miserydom I should be wailing up a storm and venting my spleen to the heavens about life's unfairness. But instead, I'm actually really happy about it! Why? Because I now have the most awesome smart phone EVER!

*GASP* Did Phly just say that she likes a SMART PHONE? I know, I know! This appears to be one of those classic "Say What?" moments. The anti-smart phone girl is writing a blog post raving about her new smart phone, and the world appears to carrying on just fine with no sign of impending doom on the horizon. So what seduced this smart phone hating female over to the dark side? You can blame T-mobile and their amazing two for one on Smart Phones deal. . . . Oh, and my hubby. Because he REALLY wanted/needed a new phone. His poor crack-berry was 4+ year old. It really needed to go die peacefully and with dignity, instead of being hauled around and mocked for it's technological age and infirmity.

Let me introduce you to the amazing and totally fabulous Samsung Vibrant, of the Galaxy S class of Samsung Smart Phones. This lovely little Android phone is sleek and classy with just a hint of that rocker vibe thrown in for good measure. . . . and that's just the backplate! ;) The 5 mega pixel camera is just too cool, and it has night mode to boot! And did I mention that the phone comes with the full Avatar movie on it? How cool is that??? And the Apps? Words defy how truly ultra-cool the really are. Seriously! It's just a super cool phone. . . but since I'm not that good at explaining it, I'll let T-Mobile do it. ;)

Phone Features:

Swype	Make messaging on your touch-screen phone faster, easier, and more fun. With this innovative new keyboard, you simply slide your finger over the letters that make up the word you want to spell.
Video Messaging	Use your phone to capture your favorite moments on video, then share them instantly with your friends and family.
High Resolution Screen	Get the most out of your phone and enjoy your favorite photos, games and videos even more with a high-resolution display.
16 GB Built-in Memory	Take advantage of 16 GB of built-in memory and fill it up with fun photos, videos, music and more.
Apps -Android Market-	With direct access to the Android Market you have access to all kinds of fun and useful apps to turn your phone into the ultimate mobile device.
5 Megapixel Camera	With quality worth printing, now you can really enjoy those special moments captured on your phone. You can also share them with family and friends by sending them to any e-mail address, T-Mobile camera phone, or MyAlbum.
Camera Zoom	Use the digital zoom to get a close-up picture without getting too close.
3.5mm Audio Jack	3.5mm audio jack gives you the flexibility to listen to your downloaded tunes just about anywhere—all you need is a standard set of ear buds or headphones.
Music player	Play your favorite music wherever you are.
Easy access to Google applications	One touch access to Google applications including Maps, Gmail, YouTube, Calendar, and Google Talk
Video capture/playback	Capture and play back short video clips.
Alternative battery cover included	Change up your style by swapping the battery cover.
1Ghz Processor	A lightning-fast 1Ghz processor delivers the speed you want, so you can experience powerful entertainment and more right on your phone.
Touch Screen with On-Screen Keyboard	Everything your phone can do is now literally at your fingertips. A high resolution touch screen gives you fast and fun access to your phone's display.
Real Web Browsing with Wi-Fi*	Surf the internet quickly and conveniently over Wi-Fi or the T-Mobile network - check out real web pages and access the information you need now.
Personal and Work E-mail*	Send and receive messages from personal and work e-mail.
Stereo Bluetooth® Connectivity	Make hands-free wireless calls and listen to your music in style, and in stereo. With Bluetooth stereo headphones, you can hear all your favorite music the way it was meant to be heard.
International Capability	With international roaming service activated, you can access the web on compatible data networks throughout the world.
Speaker phone	Put down the phone and keep talking with a convenient speakerphone.
Visual Voicemail	With Visual Voicemail you can listen to your voicemail messages in any order, respond in one click and easily manage your inbox without ever dialing in to the network.
One-click Google Search*	Quick and easy access to search the internet in one click
Memory Card Slot (microSD)	Add more memory for multimedia files, data and more. Easily take the memory card out of your device to transfer files and data to another device.
GPS with Navigation Capability	Get your real-time location on maps, driving directions, and more.
Photo caller ID	See a photo of your caller to quickly decide whether to answer.
Vibrating alert	Phone vibrates to let you know you have a call or message without disturbing anyone.
Address book	The info you need to contact your contacts.
Alarm clock	Handy reminders help you stay on schedule.
Calculator	A handy way to check your figures.
Calendar	Keep track of appointments and even set reminders to make sure you're on time.

How amazing is that? It's AWESOME!!!!! Like totally and completely . . .Ahem. . . . Ok, so now that the entire world knows that I'm totally in love with my phone, not to mention what I've been doing for the last two days, it can continue on as usual.

Oh . . . . And if you don't have a Smart Phone yet. . . GET ONE!!!!! ;)

So after the rather looooooooong weekend that just happened, I thought that a post with a more inspirational tone to it was in order. ;)

One of my good friends from high school had a saying that used to drive everyone crazy. It seemed like when things got tough, inevitably she would look at you and say "Cry me a river, build me a bridge and GET OVER IT!". . . . Did I mention that most people would readily admit to wanting to strangle her on occasion? It was annoying to hear when you were having a hard time (and everyone knows that High School is no picnic!) and wanted nothing more than a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on. She was good at offering them when you really needed them, but if she thought that you were after more sympathy than you were entitled to, watch out!

The thing is, she had a good point. How often do we allow something that has happened in the near, or even distant, past to affect for the worse what we are trying to accomplish today? How many times have we just looked at something and given up before we even really tried, because we failed in the past? And how much longer are we going to let that hold us back? Forever? Because it's a possibility if you let it be.

There is something to be said for trying, anything is a possibility if you let it become one! Just pick your sorry self up off the ground, brush the dust off and hit the road to success running! I'll be the one with the pom-poms screaming like an idiot and cheering you on. ;)

So some of you have probably noticed that I have been totally absent from AR for a couple of days. Do you want to good news or the bad news first?

Well, it's the weekend so I'll start with the good news! ;)

The Good News:

I'm fine, and I will be back to blogging regularly very soon. I'm just taking a little down time for family.

The Bad News:

The reason I have been absent from AR is that this weekend my 4 year old little girl had a seizure. She was hopping over a couch arm slipped and bonked her head on the carpet. Paramedics were called, (You guys were fantastic, thank you!), a visit to the ER was made and a CT scan was done. The CT scan came back completely clean and she is home and doing great, but I don't remember the last time I was that scared or prayed that hard.

So the long and short of it is this: I'm taking a little down time until I'm 250% positive that my little girl is ok, but I'll be back with a vengeance once she is doing fine. ;)

Have you ever noticed how children tend to repeat what they hear and see? My daughter did something that I thought was odd and slightly puzzling the other morning. . . .until I realized that I did the same thing on a daily basis! She walked into our master bathroom, kicked the bath mat out of the way, pulled the scale out from beside the toilet and hopped on. She then rolled her eyes and proceeded to drag it down to the kitchen and set in on the floor. She again hopped on, but this time gasped in mock horror and made the face you see above. . . Just like I do a couple of times a week. ;) What makes it even funnier is that she informed me afterward "I got a 3 and an 8! I did really good Mom! You had better eat something so you do good too!" ;)