As Long As

I was thinking about my favorite songs the other day. And I realized that out of my top 5 favorite songs of all time, I've seen ALL of them LIVE! That's a pretty good record.

1. All For You - Sister Hazel

2. Counting Crows - Rain King

3. Jewel - Foolish Games

4. Love Song for a Savior - Jars of Clay

5. Let Her Cry - Hootie and the Blowfish

Midnights in Winter

Did I walk away, or was I pushed?

I've Got My Memory

It's really strange how self-aware I have become lately. Maybe it's the book I am reading, or maybe because it's starting to get really cold, either way there is a crispness to how I feel and think. I sometimes feel like I'm watching myself from the outside in. Instead of me being the person sweeping the porch, it's like I'm watching myself sweep the porch. I'm very aware of every action and every movement. I think it might be because I'm finally to a point where that matters. I'm no longer self-absorbed, but more so aware of the fact that every action there is a reaction. And my own personal actions, can cause some strange reactions.

Stephanie's Top 5 Things To Do This Week
5. Get Sadie a bath and a haircut
4. Work out at least once
3. Clean out my work emails so that I have less than 100 in my Inbox (I've deleted 4,000 this week already)
2. Finish The Dive From Clausen's Pier
1. Become less self-aware, and more blissfully ignorant of this crazy world

Chinese Dr Pepper?

From AdAge.com - G N' R delivered the rock, now Dr Pepper has to deliver the pop.

Earlier this year, Dr Pepper promised to give one can of soda to every American if Guns N' Roses delivered its latest album, "Chinese Democracy." It seemed a safe bet to observers at the time. The album had been so long in the making (17 years) that it was more a punch line than a realistic expectation. Now, it's official. The album will be released at the end of November, meaning Dr Pepper's promise is coming due.

The event is already garnering plenty of buzz for both the band and the soda. Then again, from a business point of view, the deal raises as many questions as it answers. The album is being released exclusively at Best Buy on Nov. 23. Dr Pepper just happens to have 23 magical flavors. Further, PR shop Ketchum also represents both Best Buy and Dr Pepper. Numerous calls to Dr Pepper were unreturned. Ketchum directed calls to its client.

Time to honor pledge

"We never thought this day would come," Tony Jacobs, VP-marketing at Dr Pepper, said in a statement. "But now that it's here all we can say is: The Dr Pepper's on us." Dr Pepper plans to give out the soda through a couponing strategy.

Consumers will need to register at the brand's website for a coupon that can then be redeemed at any retailer that sells Dr Pepper. The coupons, which are limited to one per person, will only be available for 24 hours beginning after midnight on Nov. 23. A back-of-the-napkin equation would put 300 million cans of soda (which wholesales in the range of 55 cents a pop) at about $165 million.

They Tell You To Be Patient

Things are clear. Conversations about me and Jason's future together have continued. And they are good. They are great and wonderful. God has a plan, and there is a reason we have waited this long, and there will be reasons for why we continue to wait. But things are clear, and wonderfully moving forward.

All I See

There comes a time
A time in everyone's life
When nothing seems to go the way
When nothing seems to turn out right

There may come a time
You just can't seem to find your place
For every door open
There seems like you get two slam in your face

That's when you need someone
Someone that you, you can call
When all your faith is gone
You feel like you can't go on

Let it be me
Let it be me
If it's a friend that you need
Let it be me...

-- Ray LaMontagne, Let It Be Me

Too Good to Be There

Start over again

So....LSU took a little tumble this weekend, well, a big tumble. But we all fall and I know this will be a wake up call proving to this team that, (and to quote It Never Rains in Tiger Stadium) they "don't walk through the rain drops anymore." And congrats to Florida for being as classless as they claim LSU to be. I hope you sink in your swamp. The end.

Today is Sadie's birthday! Two years ago, she was born, one of 6 to a mother under a fruit stand, and today, she is the spoiled chia pet I call my roomie. She has kept me company through a very lonely summer and a year after that, so here's to more years of frantic hydrogen peroxide nights and Kashi cereal bar-eating days.

Uncommitted Voting

I bought a pumpkin! I haven't decided yet if I am going to carve it or just draw on it. But I like the fall decorations that I've put around my apartment. It adds a little flavor and a lot of calming vibes.

Work has been non-stop lately. It seems like we turn one page and complete a project, you have 20 more waiting for you start, or finish, or work on, etc. It gets a little tiresome, and I'm finding new ways to calm my anxiety -- starting with deleting all 4,000 emails in my inbox. It might be a good start.

I've also decided to get one chore done everyday. Not overwhelm myself with getting it all done on the weeekends, but taking one day at a time, focusing on one task, and slowly cleaning my way through the clutter.

Yesterday, I went to the grocery store. Today, I washed and folded all the mounds of dirty clothes. Tomorrow, schedule Sadie for a grooming appointment. The list can continue, but it doesn't feel as overwhelming if I take it one day at at time.

Ladies and gentlemen, my pumpkin:

Never ends

I love this weather. Cool in the mornings but warm in the afternoons. It's niiiice.

We went to the Jewel/Brad Paisley concert last night and it was great! Jewel was amazing as I thought she would be. But her voice is ten times stronger than you would htink. She's got some pipes. And Paisley was really great too, he played all the good ones. So we had a good time and great seats!

I Suppose I Always Will

Sway with me for one more dance
And holding me closely, meet my eyes
And I would ask for nothing more

I'm asking for another chance
To my own infiinite surprise
I've never moved like this before

It only remains to say I love you
And I suppose I always will...

-- Blues Traveler, What Remains