False Advertising

Last night I stopped by my neighborhood Target to pick up some index cards (and check to see if the Missoni stuff was gone- it was.)  As I was leaving the store I noticed a sign on one of the light posts.  It was advertising "Local Calls $.25".  I kept on walking, and then it hit me, why is there a sign for a pay phone in the middle of a parking lot?  And didn't calls go up to $.35 about 15 years ago?  And we're in Scottsdale, the land of boob jobs, fake tans, Range Rovers, and bedazzled millionaire cowboys.  There aren't random pay phones in this neighborhood!  So I walked over to the sign and couldn't find the phone.  What the heck?!  How long has that sign been there with no phone?  I found the set up hilarious and laughed my head off for 5 minutes. 

Football & Free Cupcakes

Guess what I found this morning???  Thank me later. ;)

Show your support for our Arizona Cardinals by heading over to Sprinkles Cupcakes for a free Cardinals red velvet cupcake. You can score this freebie on Wednesday, September 7 from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. But you do have to prove you are a Cardinals fan in order to get that cupcake. Show up during that time wearing a Cardinals jersey, shirt or hat. It is one free cupcake per fan.


Read more: http://www.abc15.com/dpp/money/consumer/smart_shopper/Freebie-Friday%3A-Have-fun-and-save-your-cash#ixzz1Wo7E4Cnd

Heaven

Several months ago I read the highly debated book, Love Wins by Rob Bell.  It really made me question what I believe about salvation, hell, eternity, etc.  My Sunday school class has also been going through an intense study of the book of Revelation which covers many of the same topics.  I was getting pretty sick of the topic of "hell" and was really happy when we got to the topic of heaven.  

So here's what I've come up with:  What will we do in heaven?  Will we just sit around and sing "Holy Holy Holy" for the rest of eternity?  I hope there is more to it than that.  Isaiah 65:17-25 gives a bit more detail.  I especially like verse 21, "They will build houses and dwell in them, they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit."  I take this to mean we will have jobs or responsibilities of some sort.  In my imagination it goes something like this:  God knows us.  He created us with specific personalities, abilities, etc.  In heaven we'll have jobs that match us, jobs that were made for us.  In heaven we will be the best versions of ourselves, so we'll be working with other people who are the best versions of themselves.  And our boss will be God.  He'll know what projects we're working on, and how our work influences others and how it all works together in His big picture.  And guess what?  This part is my favorite, We can say, "Hey God, I've been trying to do this project this way, but it could probably be done better.  Would you please help?"  And He knows us and knows how we think and He can show us the RIGHT way to do something.  And He won't be demeaning or confusing when He explains.  And since it is heaven, there won't be those rotten Monday mornings where you wake up and think, "Ugh.  Do I really have to start another week of this?  I wonder how much vacation time I have."  My image of heaven isn't a Biblical Truth, it is just my imagination.  But I do know that God really does know the inner workings of me, and when I get to heaven it will be intense to be with the One who knows me like that.

I think this quote says it quite nicely, "I have come home at last! This is my real country! I belong here. This is the land I have been looking for all my life, though I never knew it till now." -Jewel the Unicorn in  C.S. Lewis' The Last Battle

Hats

First off, I'm writing this at the library and there's an old dude at a computer across from me talking on his cell phone.  He's yelling at someone, "You want to go to Flo's for dinner?  You have to show me you have cash first...  WHAT?  Don't show her that!  It's sadistic!  It's witchcraft!...  I can't do that at my house, my ex could show up."  It's gettin' crazy up at the local library!  Wow.  Oh,  he just got up.  He's wearing a baseball cap and has his gray hair in a ponytail. 

Speaking of crazy looks, one of my good friends sent me a link to some extremely entertaining hats seen at this year's Royal Ascot (England's biggest horse race of the year, dating back to 1711).  I highly recommend going through this quick slideshow.  And here is one of my favorites:

Kind of makes me want to get a little more adventerous with my wardrobe.  Hmm...



http://www.amazon.com/Hat-Book-Creating-Every-Occasion/dp/0937274739 

Problem with Hello

This week I have noticed something.  I have a really hard time introducing myself to new people.  I get really nervous and my mind goes blank.  And I get frantic, so then my mind goes really blank, or focuses on something absolutely ridiculous.  Thought process: I could say 'Hi I'm Amanda' and they'd respond with their name, but what do I say after that?  I hate comments on the weather, so I won't comment on that.  I could comment on their clothes, but then I'll seem shallow.  I could comment on last night's baseball game, but they might hate sports and then there will be awkward silence.  The thought process usually ends with me giving up, or the opportunity passes me by. 

I've even asked for advice from some of my charming outgoing friends, who are very encouraging.  Their wisdom really gets me motivated, and I tell myself, "This is so easy!  I can do this.  Just don't get nervous and be your yourself."  Easier said than done.  This morning I had a perfect chance to practice, and I dropped the ball again.  After 5 minutes of sitting next to a person I'd never met and going through my traditional thought process and giving up, someone else introduced us and then we chatted a bit.  So, that one worked out okay in the end.  But still, I needed to be a big girl and introduce myself.  I don't have a problem with conversation post-introduction, it's just that initial "hello".  Maybe tomorrow I'll get the chance to try again. 

Speaking of tomorrow, it is Father's Day tomorrow.  Happy Father's Day to my super terrific wonderful awesome dad who has no problem meeting new people! :) 

Time Management

You might ask why I get to the airport so early? Well, let me tell you a story. One sunny afternoon a wonderful friend dropped me off at Sky Harbor Terminal 4. I checked my bag and the kiosk told me to go to Gate C-something. I glanced at the guy next to me and noticed his kiosk said C11. Cool. Both of us are over at C! So I proceeded upstairs and got a snack, went through security, and made my way to the C gates... To C11. Umm, C11 is really far. 2 moving walkways! And when I got there people were already boarding! Ah! I was late! How could this be?! Wait, the sign says "Chicago" um, was this my gate? In a panic I looked for a bank of tv displays to tell me my gate. I couldn't find a single tv in whole neighborhood! C11 was so far out they didn't have tvs! Nooo! So I got out my trusty iPhone and figured out I was actually C4... 2 moving walkways back. Arg. So I readjusted my bag and purse and voyaged to the correct gate.

I don't know why this happened. I just flew 2,weeks ago and was quite successful. Good thing I got to the airport early :). Appears it is time to get ready to board. Wait, why does the sign say San Jose? I'm going to San Diego!

Starbucks Happy Hour

Starbucks Happy Hour

Friday, May 6 - Sunday, May 15

3:00 - 5:00 PM Everyday

Half-Price Frappuccino (both coffee flavors and non-coffee flavors)

And the summer coconut frap is back

Plus frappuccinos are totally customizable now:

• Milk: 2%, nonfat, or soy
• Coffee: get an extra pump of coffee, shot of espresso, or decaf
• Toppings: whipped cream, chocolate and caramel drizzle, sprinkles, toasted coconut

http://www.starbucks.com/blog/happy-hour-returns/1005