Happy birthday, Ginger (+1 month)

So I decided that I might never again vow to remember everyone's birthday and use a picture...mostly because I don't have pictures of all of you guys in a form that I can put on my computer. I really wanted to scan in a particular favorite picture of Ginger, but I didn't. This meant that I missed her birthday one month ago today. I feel like poop. I did email her in the morning, but without a picture, I felt bad about posting a birthday message.

Weird? Why, yes.

Anyway, without further ado, I give you Ginger.

You can tell it's Ginger because she is cute and has hair and eyes. Also, it is labeled Ginger. See, I still can't scan the pictures in color - so this is all I could do. Knowing that the 9th was this weekend, I drew it and scanned it in at work so I could show you the beautiful rendition of her.

Ginger and I went to high school together - but she and our other friends actually were a year ahead of me. However, since getting on myspace and blogspot, we've been able to reconnect in an honest way...and I've gotten to know her all over again. She is such a thoughtful person - and she posts about things that I absolutely love, like "Night" by Eli Wiesel and ideas and complaints about the way our world is. She is a high school english teacher and what I can say is that if she would've been my teacher, I would've found English MUCH more exciting. Wait. That sounds like I'm hitting on her. What I mean to say is that I believe that she would TEACH and also be there - even for the social misfits like me.

She just had a baby, Jack, this summer and before that I went to her baby shower and got to meet her husband, Rich. I remember drinking at the shower and also making inappropriate comments about nipples. Definitely one of my finer moments.

Ginger is a fantastic person - warm, inviting, thoughtful, and beautiful - inside and out. She is someone I'm looking forward to getting to know better...even if when she's talking about literary geniuses and all I can quote is Dr. Suess. Seriously though, Ginger is one of those people that when you meet, you feel welcomed and accepted.

Basically, I want to be Ginger when I grow up.

P.S. Today happens to be Rich's birthday. Don't worry - I'll wish him happy birthday in a month...

Happy belated birthday, JEN! :)

Today I realized that I forgot someone's birthday this week.

August 14th is my friend Jennifer's birthday. She and I have been friends since I joined my high school band in 1992. We were both on in the saxophone section and her friendliness made high school tolerable. She is one of the sweetest people I know and is always willing and able to help if she can. You know...angelic. The kind of person my mom always wanted me to be.

The only digital picture I have of Jen is one that she posted in February. It was of us going to prom together. And no....I don't mean "together-together" - please we were good Christian kids...then. I actually had a date with (gasp!) a senior, Steve Navarro. He was so nice and was in the orchestra. At the last minute (maybe a week before prom) I canceled on him...too scared to go through with it. What? I had never been kissed before and was terrified. I know. It was lame. And he should've kicked my booty (or at least written nasty comments in my yearbook) but instead was the gentleman that he professed to be. He was kind, gracious, and forgiving...just like the kind of guy my mom wanted me to have as my first boyfriend. Oh well.

Anyway, here is the picture (please keep in mind that that was back in 1993 - where I'm pretty sure satin puffy dresses were quite the rage). AND just in case you wanted to know, that was Jen's house. And yes, I do believe that is a gun behind us. Just like what every prom photo should have in it. Actually, Jen was dating a guy named Dan at the time...I'm not sure why he didn't escort her to the dance. Perhaps he was scared of the gun... or maybe her dad. I'm not saying her dad is just like James Bond from any 007 movie...but let's just say he's closer to that than you'd think. :)
She's agreed to see me when I'm in town over Christmas - something I hope she doesn't regret. :)

Jen, I'm sorry for missing your birthday. :( It was not a sign of my un-love...bur rather forgetfulness.

PLEASE stop the band posts

Okay.

So I googled to try to find the 1992's performance.

I haven't found it...yet.

BUT I did find that my high school is in Wikepedia. First, know that the Sudler Flag is for concert bands and the Sudler Shield is for the marching band. It's very rare for ANY high school band to get either award.

And now...I quote the internet from here (which means it must be true)

"There are only ten high schools worldwide that have received both the Sudler Flag of Honor for concert band and the Sudler Shield for marching band:"

• 9 bands you don't care about
• MY HIGH SCHOOL BAND!!! :)
  

See, internet??!?!? Do you see why I am proud? And yes - my band really did make it - I just didn't want to write all the other bands.

We worked hard. And like I was telling a co-worker today, I learned a lot of life lessons by being in that band.

First, be alert. Which is different than being a lert. Why our director felt it was important to say this about 50,000 times is beyond me. Seriously, we got it the first time. There is no such thing as a lert. So therefore, you have to be alert. Me not laughing or nodding isn't that I don't get it and you need to explain it more. It's that it ISN'T FUNNY OR PROFOUND!

Secondly, yardsticks hurt when a Emily blahblahblah (I can't remember her last name) hits you with one because you didn't make your mark. Yes, people, I was beaten up IN band...not just for being in the band. Okay...I wasn't really beaten up in band...she actually just smacked me on the back of my calf. But it was a hard smack. Why? Because she was uptight and probably wanted to get laid or she didn't know her own superhuman strength. Whatever, I'm over it - I don't even remember her last name. At least she was better than Connie (I do remember her last name - it rhymed with Schmankratz) who would YELL "Kaizen!" at us repeatedly. I get it. It's a Japanese term for always doing better. But if you keep yelling that at me, I can't be held accountable for my actions. Unlike Emily, she NEEDED to get laid. For those that know her and are gasping right now I have this to say to you: WHATEVER. It is true. I'm sure people could have said the same thing about me in high school. And know what? They would've been right.

Thirdly, Lambrecht liked his coffee in the morning. So if he was going to yell at you - afternoon practice was so much better than the morning...because at least you didn't have to smell that breath. Likewise, he has deadly aim in the morning. He would chuck pebbles and rocks off the band room roof at us if we didn't make our mark. I'm not sure what that taught me other than to not mess up in the morning. And, as my co-workers can tell you, I apparently didn't learn that lesson. :)

Come to think of it, why DID I like band?

How quickly they forget

OMG.

I almost don't want to post this because I'm such a jackass.

First, I am special. You knew that.

I posted the 1994 NMSU Tournament of Bands video in my earlier post...not the 1993.

Sheesh.

I forgot which year we changed our uniforms...and besides, since I graduated in 1995, 1994 was my junior year...which is when Jen, Lisa, and Ginger graduated...so you can see how that would be confusing. It's not like math is a strong subject for me. Wait...

Anyway, my senior year one (1994) was my least favorite to be sure. You can see the 1994 performance here.

But now, do yourself a favor, see the REAL 1993 performance (in the posting below). You'll like it. It had better music than the one that you might've seen earlier today. 1993's music wasn't so random and in my opinion, it had some of the better marching.

There's only one more left - and be warned - if I find it I WILL POST IT.

As an added bonus, if you look at the video in the post below and watch it through, you'll be able to watch Delores from "Que Pasa with Delores" and you'll be able to see what hot women in El Paso looked like. Seriously - that IS a woman! :) They actually go on to critique our performances...er...kill time with recaps until the next band takes the field. Whatever, she's still hilarious.

15 years ago...

So 15 years ago I was in a marching band. I read on The Girls' Blog that someone had uploaded our 1st PLACE AWARD WINNING 1993 New Mexico State University Tournament of Bands performance on YouTube. We won. First place.

While Scheherezade (the score that we played) wasn't my favorite year of marching band material, I am still happy that a piece of my youth is preserved. And yes - the video isn't fantastic...but that's what you get when you're dealing with a PBS station in the southwest dealing with equipment from circa 1846.

If you look, you can see clear shots of Lisa and Timp. But if you look REEEEEEAAAAALLLLLY closely you can see Ginger, Jen, and I. :) I don't even know which dot I am anymore.

Jon Hey, one of my friends from college, actually sat down one night and watched these with me. I think it was after I had broken up with Jason (my first real boyfriend ever) and was walking around like the crying zombie wishing that I hadn't been so hasty in the whole break-up thing.

Anywhoodles, you can't hear the hosts - which is a shame. Because one of them was Delores. She looked like a hobbit and had the ever so popular show "Que Pasa...with Delores." I'm told it was up for an Emmy.

Anyway... I give you....us!

Happy birthday, Lisa!!! :)

Today is Lisa D's birthday.

I love you, Lisa.

Thanks for all of your support and advice. It has meant the world to me. I love that crazy kid that I knew in high school, but I also love the wonderful woman you are now.

And for the record, you can send Jalyn to me anytime you need a break. We'll have red-headed fun. Just remember to poke holes in the box.

Love,
me :)

P.S. Ha ha...your initials are Lucifer Devil Satan Wonderouskingofthedarkside. If you could marry a guy who's last name starts with a B it'd be perfect...then you'd be Lucifer Devil Satan Beelzebub. Because I'd assume you'd drop the W. I mean, let's be practical here.

Good times, good times...

I'm pretty excited about the possibility of staying in touch with people better...I've been oh-so bad in the past.  

Long story short, when I was in high school, I became friends with a cool group of people...unfortunately, they were all a year older than me, so when they graduated I had to make some different friends.  Anyway, when I was a senior, my parents decided to seperate after 25 years of marriage.  That was a great decision, really, but it was tough on the family.  All the drama surrounding those and other decisions was a HUGE deciding factor to move far, far away.   Unfortunately, with my need and want to distance myself from the craziness that was happening, I lost touch with people that I really did care about.  Hey, it's life and it happens.

Through the wonders of the internet, I've found some of these people...and I really, really, really would like to contact more of them.

My friend, Jennifer, is one of those people - we've kept in contact a little bit since high school but I'm excited to get to know her- you know, Jen, the woman.  Apparently she feels the same.  I'm just learning about how to link to crap, but you gotta' see this.  She posted a REALLY old picture...back from '92.  Yikes, look at the sleeves on that thing!

Anyway, thanks to you freaks who loved me before you knew what a crazy person I am/would be.  And thanks for all the lovely pictures yet to come...:) Because I've seen Lisa's posts when it's someone's birthday and I'm so not looking forward to that shizzle. 

What's in a name?

Well, there used to be a skit on SNL (in the days of Mike Myers and David Spade) where they had a commercial for Happy Fun Ball.... essentially it was a toy that had tons of warnings in the commercials (such as "Happy Fun Ball contains a liquid core, which, if exposed due to rupture, should not be touched, inhaled, or looked at"). One of the warnings was "Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball." I found this vastly amusing. (The actual commercial language is here). Don't be shocked if you don't think it's hilarious - most people fall into this category. :)

Okay, so fast forward (using Wayne's World sounds and hand motions if you'd like - doo doo doo) to 1995... I was on a trip to California with my friend Jill to visit our friend Marissa's graduation and I spotted a pair of plaid flannel pants (they had pockets and were sold in the pants section, so I don't think they were pajamas). I'll admit - they were as ugly as homemade soap, but the attractive factor was that they were very comfortable. Yes, this was pre-Friends days when people wore them often....

At any rate, they looked comfy and me being the person I am, I bought them. My two friends thought that these were hilarious, so I decided to call them my Happy Fun Pants - and instructed them to not taunt them. :)

Anyway, I went to college and had so many pairs and wore them very often that people started calling me Happy Fun Pants, or Fun Pants for short. I still have several pairs of fun pants, but do not wear them too much in public any more. :) What I think is funnier is that many of my friends have picked up on the terminology and call their lounge pants "fun pants" and have instructed their friends that their pajama pants are indeed fun. :)

The end. :)