Behind the times.

I've always been ok with being a bit behind the rest of the culture curve.

I modeled my wardrobe after a cousin who was four years older than me. Only problem with that - I generally wore clothing that was in style 4-5 years prior.

I happen to be wearing a hand me down shirt from that cousin today. Not a big deal, right? I'm pretty sure I pulled it out of a bag of clothes in 1995 and I've been wearing it proudly ever since. I've also been informed that she was not the first owner of this shirt. Oh yeah.

I'm catching up after 2 years of no fiction reading and a year of no T.V. outside of LOST. Here's what I've discovered...

1. FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS = AWESOME. We've watched six episodes of season one in the past week. We casually ask each other if maybe we could just do one more... who needs sleep?

2. "The Outsiders" by NEEDTOBREATH = Toe-tapping goodness. Loving this album. I've been listening to it nonstop while I write.

3. MATT COSTA = Good listening. My good friend Whitney brought me roughly 20 cds when she came out for the wedding. She informed me that it was all music I SHOULD know... but didn't. She was right.

4. "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" by Stieg Larsson= good beach read. This was the only book I read on the honeymoon. It was intense and made my head swim with information about Swedish business journalism. Not a "must read" in my opinion, but definitely intriguing. I will be reading the rest of the books in the trilogy.

5. Training for a 1/2 Marathon = ask me in three weeks. D and I are training for a January 1/2 marathon. I've never run more than a 10k in my whole life. D has run 2 previous 1/2 marathons. We are on a training program that adds one mile a week. This weekend we hit four miles. It was fine. In three weeks we will hit 7 miles. Ask me how much I hate it then.

6. Cooking pork chops = intimidating. I'm trying this out tonight. I've only cooked NEW recipes since coming back from vacation. So far almost everything has been a success. Tonight: pork chops with cider glaze. I can do this.

7. Recognizing that I'm really emotional = annoying. Imagine the conversation in which I admit to my husband that I am much more of a girl than I thought possible. I think I still pictured myself as the tomboy that I tried to present in 6th grade.

8. Taking a giant leap of faith = exhilarating and terrifying. I'm taking steps towards making my lifelong dreams a reality. Confession: it's harder than I thought it was going to be. I am easily frustrated. I don't like having an ambiguous due date. Basically I'm not a fan of only having to be accountable to myself for this. I would like a manager asking me what I've accomplished and guiding me along the way. Instead, I have me. Why am I not a good personal manager? I doubt that I can do this. I doubt my abilities. I doubt my drive. I question my motives.

But I'm going to keep at it. Time to play catch up on completing this project.

"Our value is not dependent on our ability to earn the fickle acceptance of people, but rather, its true source is the love and acceptance of God." - Robert S. McGee