Friday, February 29, 2008

Leap Year!


So, my co-worker Eric sends out lovely TGIF emails every week and today's was about the Leap Year. Here's what he enlightened us with:


February 29, 2008

The year 2008 is a leap year. If you look at a 2008 calendar, you will see that February has five Fridays–the month begins and ends on a Friday. Between the years 1904 and 2096, leap years that share the same day of week for each date repeat only every 28 years. The most recent year in which February comprised five Fridays was in 1980, and the next occurrence will be in 2036. February 29, the leap day, has been associated with age-old traditions, superstitions and folklore.


What is a leap year?

A leap year is a year in which one extra day has been inserted, or intercalated, at the end of February. A leap year consists of 366 days, whereas other years, called common years, have 365 days.


Which years are leap years?

In the Gregorian calendar, the calendar used by most modern countries, the following three criteria determine which years will be leap years:


1. Every year that is divisible by four is a leap year;

2. of those years, if it can be divided by 100, it is NOT a leap year, unless

3. the year is divisible by 400.


Then it is a leap year.


According to the above criteria, that means that years 1800, 1900, 2100, 2200, 2300 and 2500 are NOT leap years, while year 2000 and 2400 are leap years.


It is interesting to note that 2000 was somewhat special as it was the first instance when the third criterion was used in most parts of the world.


In the Julian calendar–introduced by Julius Caesar in 46 BC and patterned after the Roman calendar–there was only one rule: any year divisible by four would be a leap year. This calendar was used before the Gregorian calendar was adopted.


Why are leap years needed?

Leap years are needed to keep our calendar in alignment with the earth's revolutions around the sun.

I know, I know!

I haven't posted in over a week now. Slacker am I. But, it's coming. I promise.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Fish and Chips, Fish and Chips

My co-workers finally checked out the English chippie, London Fish and Chips, today. 'Bout time I say! YUMMY YUMMY IN MY TUMMY!

Who doesn't love a basket full of fried goodness drowned in malt vinegar? We all got the cod special (except for Veg Head Mel who had just chips) - half portion of fish with chips. I highly highly highly reccommend.

Cheerio Mate!

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Go Shorty. It's your birthday. We're gonna party like it's your birthday.

Birthday shout out to my girl Anna! Miss Anna is a sweet southern belle that will make you wet your pants laughing. She's a great friend (and new neighbor!) and I'm so glad I've gotten to know her over the past few years!


Bring on the El Dorado!


HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANNA!


Karen, Anna and me at Lake Lure


Monday, February 18, 2008

How 'bout them Demon Deacs?!?!

Yesterday was Sunday Funday for ACC fans! Wake upset Dook 86-73!

HOW 'BOUT THEM DEACS!?!?

I really enjoyed what Carolina Water Cooler had to say about it!

Song of the South

I downloaded the new Jack Johnson CD this weekend. Aloha, great music!


Sunday, February 17, 2008

Go Shorty. It's your birthday. We're gonna party like it's your birthday.

Birthday shout out to my BFF Shelly! You know what the awesome thing about her is? We've none each other for almost 20 years!!! How crazy is that!?!? I feel so blessed that I have a friend that has been such a good friend for so long. We might not talk every single day, but when we do, it's like not one day has passed.

In celebration of her birthday, we had a great time this weekend hanging out with friends, playing with her son and niece, cooking out (Mike's onions and peppers with the swamp dust on them were great!) and playing the Wii. If you haven't played the cow racing game, you sure should try it!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHELLY!

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Happy Valentine's Day

I see Your face in every sunrise
The colors of the morning are inside Your eyes
The world awakens in the light of the day
I look up to the sky and say
You're beautiful

I see Your power in the moonlit night
Where planets are in motion and galaxies are bright
We are amazed in the light of the stars
It's all proclaiming who You are
You're beautiful, You're beautiful

I see you there hanging on a tree
You bled and then you died and then you rose again for me
Now you are sitting on Your heavenly throne
Soon we will be coming home
You're beautiful, you're beautiful

When we arrive at eternity's shore
Where death is just a memory and tears are no more
We'll enter in as the wedding bells ring
Your bride will come together and we'll sing
You're beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful

~Phil Wickham

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Divine Romance

It's Valentine's Day, ya'll!

So, I thought I would get a little personal with this post. Time to get some deep conversation going, ya'll. Do share your grain of sense.

Today, I was thinking about Valentine's Day and listening to co-workers talk about their plans. And, I started thinking about how I would not be getting any flowers from anyone special (for the upteempth year in a row) and having a bit of a pity party for myself.

So, that led me to this past summer. I heard Dee Brestin speak about living passionately for Jesus Christ. She spoke about the Shulammite in the Song of Solomon and how her story is a metaphor for our relationship with Jesus. In the beginning, you're in what she called the first love stage. You're on cloud nine. You want to spend all of your time with Him and you want to hear His voice. Then, you move into the wilderness love stage. You realize life is hard. You realize that there are things in your life that aren't the way you want them and that God can fix those things. But He doesn't and you may doubt His love for you. Like the Shulammite in chapter two, we hide in the cliffs and don't want to step out on faith and follow God. Then, in chapter four, the Shulammite agrees to go. God is the same way with us. He will continue to ask us to follow Him. And, when we learn to trust Him no matter what. When we learn to press into Jesus when things are tough and life doesn't make sense, that's when we will draw closer to Him and that's when we will enter into the invincible love stage.

I was thinking about the Shulammite and my relationship with Jesus and how I'm still in the wilderness stage/tinkering into the invincible love stage. I wonder why things in my life are the way they are. I wonder how much longer I'm going to have to say "no, not right now" when asked if there's anyone special in my life. I wonder why certain things didn't turn out certain ways. And, I've come to realize that it is time for me to press harder into Jesus when I have these uncertainties about what's going on and to know that His will is sovereign. It's time to hold on to His promise in Jeremiah - "For I know the plans that I have for you..." It's time to walk by faith and move into that invincible love stage.

So, it's my prayer this Valentine's Day that my relationship with Him continues to grow and that we hit the invincible love stage. I praise Him that I can be assured that unlike the relationships we may have on Earth, His love will never falter. There will be ups and there will be downs. There will be good times and there will be bad. There will be laughter and there will be tears. But, in the end, it's all for His glory and in the end, He will always send flowers.

The Cookies are Here!



Into a thin mint induced coma, I go.....

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Things that go boom in the night....

So, does anyone else out there live downtown? Has anyone else noticed the two extremely loud booms that have caused my building to shake in the past hour? The last one made me think the rapture had happened and it was time to head to glory! Anybody know what's up? Perhaps I should call Mrs. Peacock and see if she knows...

Thinking of getting some ink?

Might want to read this article from Newsweek first. The ink placements they mention really aren't unheard of in my opinion except for number one. Number one really bothers me. Really? You're going to put a buzzing needle near your eyeball?

Go Shorty. It's your birthday. We're gonna party like it's your birthday.

Birthday shout out to my 'lil bro, Blake. He turned 19 today! He's a super awesome brother, a great uncle and one of the funniest people I've ever met. I love him very very very much and I am extremely proud of him! Happy Birthday Baker Man!


Sunday, February 10, 2008

Brunching

The CYC ladies went a brunching on Saturday. We combined my three favorite things into one - talking, eating and crafting! We had a great time of fellowship, ate some yummy breakfast casserole and made Valentine's Day cards. Oh, arts and crafts are so fun!

Now, this is my kind of camping trip

How awesome does this look? Trapesing around Utah in a Land Rover and staying at a fancy ranch. It's like camping for rich people. I like it.

Saturday, February 9, 2008

N&O Article

The N&O ran an article about christian singles - check it out!

Friday, February 8, 2008

N.Y.B.D.

I made a pit stop at New York Bagels and Deli this morning on my way into work. Stopping there is a treat that I give myself every so often because their bagels are the best! I highly reccomend that you try them! Just as a warning, they do have an annoying $5 minumum purchase in order to use a debit card. But, the bagels are so dee-lish that I am willing to overlook that inconvenience.

Happy Eating!

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Crib Cravings

Here's my crib craving for today. It is sooo cute and soooo perfect for little ol' me. French doors and plantation shutters and exposed brick, oh my! And, let's not forget the super awesome Five Points location. Oh, how I love this house. Oh well. The craving continues.....

I am really upset...

1. The Tar Heels lost to Dook last night.

2. I woke up this morning and thought it was Saturday. It is Thursday. That stinks.

3. I found a gray hair in my hair brush this morning.

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

It's Time for the Rivalry!

Melanie and I really do love iron ons

An excerpt from an email my friend Chad sent out:

Ladies and Gents today is the day we have been waiting for all season. It’s time to put aside the distractions and concentrate on THE game.

Remember only this – We are Carolina.As you settle in to watch tonight's game, no matter where you are, keep in mind that still, as ever, we are but a few that make up many. We are a small part of Tar Heel Nation and we're all in this thing together. We're bound to our brothers and sisters across these many miles by that which outsiders simply do not understand: a deep, profound, fiery, spitting hatred of all things dook and an unwavering love of Tar Heel Basketball.

GO HEELS!

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain....

I tried snowboarding for the first time this past weekend. I spent most of my time on the ground, did not make it off the lift by myself without falling and bit it quite a few times. My definition of bit it is as follows: when one falls face first going 30 mph into the icy snow and has the wind knocked out of them which results in a 15 year old advanced snowboarder asking if they are okay.

I owe a big SHOUT OUT to Brantley, Kara and Dave for their instruction and patience (i.e. Kara was totally calm when I broke down and cried). Now, if only lifting my left arm wouldn't cause me to wince in pain. Here's to Ibuprofen!


Just as a side note: I was super jealous of the super cool snowboarder girls that were in the lift line beside me wearing their super cute snowboarder girl outfits and doing their super awesome snowboarder moves. If I was a super cool snowboarder girl, I would totally rock this jacket from Roxy. This jacket makes me despise the cold weather a little bit less.

Is it 5:00 yet?

I got to work this morning and realized that my socks do not match. Awesome.

Monday, February 4, 2008

And the winner is....

Everybody loves the Super Bowl - great times, great junk food and most importantly, great commercials. Although, this year was a little bit of a let down. Some were stupid (Carmen Electra and some kind of gum) and some were quirky (dancing Thriller lizards), however, most did not accomplish what they were intended to do - make you remember the product! I wish I could tell you how many people I talked to today that remember the dancing lizards but have no idea of what the commercial was for. Fascinating really...

But, then there are those few beacons of light. Those ads that are creative, ingenious and basically, down right super awesome.

Without further ado, here are my Top 5 for 2008:

1. E*Trade Banking Baby


2. E*Trade Trading Baby


3. Tide Talking Stain


4. Budweiser Rocky


5. Diet Pepsi Max