The Big Benford Show

First, let me thank everyone who voted for us in the CBS42 / Rudy’s Bar-B-Q Online Marching Band Challenge because

More ways to contribute to the Book of Good:
My friend Stephanie and her friend Clea, are running a 50 mile trail race in December as a fund raising event for a medical research Foundation. The cause is near and dear to our hearts (and Lungs).

If you are feeling charitable and/or need a tax break, check out the following page:

50 Miles for Smiles

We greatly appreciate any support, be it emotional or financial. Please check with your employer for possible matching funds! Many employers offer 100% matching up to a limit. Stephanie and Clea are doing this, on their own! Stephanie even built the web page. This is a legitimate cause. The LAM Foundation is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, and all of your contribution is tax-deductible. Please share with other that might be interested.

My weekend was quite the adventure. I guess after quite an emotional and stressful fall season, I just needed to let go and well, LET GO! Here’s my long weekend; day by day:

Tuesday: Worked all day. Went out for drinks with Cathy. Made friends with the bartender and doorman and we all had a few shots to close out the night. Thanks to Eric for helping me get home safe!!!
Wednesday: Went home to help mom prep for Thanksgiving. Chopped a lot of veggies and had a great time with my mom!
Thursday: Thanksgiving!!! Went home around noon, cooked the side dishes with my sister. That was a lot of fun. After quite a bit of eating and some sitting back and relaxing, I met up with Josh and Brad (two guys that teaches private lessons at the high school) and hung out with them. Ended up closing down the Elephant Room that night. Pete Rodriguez is an amazing trumpet player, btw.
Friday: Slept in (ah!), did some chores and headed down to South Austin to see Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. EXCELLENT movie!! Even with having to leave a lot of the book out of the movie, it was still very well done. I just wish they could have done a little bit more character development with the three one time characters but since I read the book, I knew who they were already so it didn’t bother me as much.
Saturday: Got up and caught up on a few more chores. Then, I headed out to San Marcos to watch the Bobcats beat the hell out of Georgia Southern. Man, it was a little scary there for a bit but it was a GREAT game overall! We went to The Green Parrot for some celebratory drinks. There were folks there we recognized and Skip and I had a great time. Greg & Steph Dreyer, her brother Tim and my friend Cathy came down and joined us. Skip & I got there at like 6:30 and we finally left around 11:30 that night. It was like college…and so was my hangover on Sunday! Thank goodness Cathy lives in South Austin and I crashed out at her house.
Sunday: Slept in. Went to eat lunch with Cathy. Came home, cleaned up and went to see my mom at Whole Foods. That massage and visit was just what the hang over ordered! From there, I went for my weekly dinner party at Brian & Kelly’s house.

So, that’s it. It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to just act younger than my age and every once in a while, it’s okay. I got it out of my system and I should be good for quite some time now.

It’s been one hell of a weekend…that started Tuesday night! I’m so tired from it all that I’m going to have to write the sordid details another time. I’ll leave you with this:

Go Bobcats all the way
Keep that maroon and gold on high
Fight on for every play
Until you hear that Bobcat battle cry
We’re gonna cheer on for every play
Until the whole world knows your name
There’s no doubt about it
We’re gonna shout it
Bobcats will WIN THIS GAME!!!

The Bobcats played hard this past Saturday. Here are the details!

Next week — Saturday — Jim Wacker Stadium — 3pm
(Southwest) Tx State vs. Cal Poly
It’ll be a great game!
If you can’t be there, watch it on ESPN2.

Tomorrow is the first ever playoff game for the Texas State Bobcats in Division I-AA. We’re very excited and some friends and I are looking to go. It’s been quite warm lately (I’ve worn shorts, t-shirts & flip flops the last two days!) but I’ve heard rain’s a comin’. Here’s the weather forcast for the next few days. Looks like shorts, t-shirt and flip flops for the game again tomorrow. IT’S THE END OF NOVEMBER FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!! What’s going on with this damn weather???

Isolated showers, scattered clouds and temps in the mid 70’s are expected
for today, but rain chances increase through the evening. Thunderstorms are
expected for tomorrow morning and possibly could reach severe levels. Skies
will clear by Saturday afternoon, and sunshine will remain in place through
the week.

Seven Day Forecast

Today
Mostly Cloudy
Isolated Showers
High: 75

Tonight
AM Thunderstorms
Some Possibly Severe
Low: 57

Tomorrow (Saturday)
AM Storms
Afternoon Clearing Skies
High: 78

…

Thank you, Lord for this sink of dirty dishes; we have plenty to eat.
Thank you for this pile of dirty laundry; we have nice clothes to wear.
And thank you, Lord, for these unmade beds; they are so warm and comfortable. (I know that some people have no bed.)
Thank you, Lord for this bathroom, complete with splattered mirrors, soggy towels, and dirty lavatory; it is so convenient.
Thank you for our finger-smudged refrigerator that needs defrosting so badly; it has served us faithfully so many years.
Thank you for this oven that must be cleaned soon; it has baked so many precious family memories.
We are grateful for the tall grass that needs mowing and the leaves that need raking; we enjoy our yard.
Thank you Lord for our slamming screen door. It is a constant reminder that my kids are healthy and able to run and play.
Lord, the presence of these chores awaiting us affirms that You have richly blessed our family.
I shall do them cheerfully and gratefully, all the while, giving thanks to You.

As many of you that read my blog have degrees of some type from a higher learning facility, you may also be “victimed” to calls and emails asking for donations to some scholarship fund or whatever. Today, I received an interesting email.

A few weeks ago, I got a letter in the mail asking me to update my personal information via mail for the Texas State Alumni Association Directory. I’ve gone online a few times looking for old friends and have either experienced frustration or not in trying to find information so I decided that I would go ahead and update all the regular bits of information so people could find me if they were looking. Today, I got an email asking me to call and verify that they had all the correct information. The opening message basically told me the same thing as well as “You will also have the opportunity to reserve YOUR copy of the Texas State Alumni Association Directory at the end of the call!”. Okay, cool. I can deal with having this information right on hand.

So, the calls goes just as I imagined. The nice young lady on the other end of the line tells me what information she has and if it’s correct and if there’s anything else that’s been left off. “No, it all sounds right.” I say. So, she gets to “And would you like to go ahead and reserve your copy of the Alumni Directory now? The Directory includes Texas State University history and pictures and is a wonderful addition to anyone’s Texas State memorabilia collection. It’s available in either book form or on CD. The CD also includes pictures that can be emailed as well as the school song and fight song…”. I had to cut her off. I was in the band and played the fight song and school song so many times over 8 years that the soundtrack lulls me to sleep some nights.

So I ask, “How much?”. “Just two installments of $30.00….” I cut her off again. It cost me over $23,000.00 to go to school there. I am NOT paying $60+ for a CD of things I already have or can access online or by calling the Alumni House!!! I know what you’re thinking. “She’s cut this nice young lady off twice now. She must be getting irritated enough to be rude to this person, who’s just trying to do her job!” No worries. I was nice about saying no thank you. In fact, my $23,000 comment made her laugh.

At least they didn’t ask me to BUY a replacement diploma again since the name change….