long time no

I haven't been posting regularly, so for that I apologize. I've been working on writing a few articles for C.I., and work has been ridiculously busy, so I haven't had too much time. Oh! But picture posts are always exciting! I'll update you via picture post. Here goes:

So last week or so, we finished filming for EDOC (eighth day of creation), and here are some back"stage" pictures of the glorious time we had.

He's passionate. I can't help but respect that.


I'm supportive.


It's funny how finding out you're pregnant can make you crave sweet little lolly pops.


AWEsome.


BOOM!


We're missing one of Jennifer. She was glorious, though. Trust me.

---

Thanks to Zach for being a Funslinger/Hoop Troop member, and subsequently Liz for being married to Zach and for inviting me to the Mavs game against the Suns last Friday. Is it wrong to say that it's the most fun to go to the games when they win?

Good gals, good times. We're the new Mavs dancers.


If I was two days overdue to have my baby, I'd be at a mavs game, too.

I remember being in elementary school and winning tickets to a Mavs game for reading a certain number of hours for Book Club or whatever it was called. I went with my dad and there were probably 100 people there, and we definitely left early. I'm glad they've gotten so much better and it's neat to feel like you've "watched" a team grow up.

Plus, my boss knows Don Nelson, and I've had a conversation with him wherein he had NO idea who our precious "funslingers" were. Or maybe because there were so many feet between my head and his he just couldn't make out the words I was saying. *shrug*

I also just finished watching The Baxter. Great.

being in weddings

...takes lots of work! :) It's wonderful. Lot's of planning. I'm learning how to plan. It's a good thing I started using a calendar this year. *scribble scribble scribble*

imogen Cheap

I was iChatting away with Julie this midday, and she sent me this link. Ha ha ha! What an eloquent handler of such situations!!

Oh if only I could be so coquettish!

it's here...

The new Apple MacBook just came out.

I think I might hyperventilate.


I hear that you shouldn't buy 1st generation products (thanks J-Ro), but they immediately discontinued the iBook! Yoink!

*breathe breathe breathe*

In other news, I met with my friend for lunch today to discuss this new magazine opportunity previously mentioned, and I'm totally excited. Now all I need to be a real writer is my own pretty Apple laptop, and the magazine is SURE to be a success!

HOOPA!

called

I've been thinking a lot lately about why people are so afraid to do what they're called to do in life. Or maybe I should say I've been thinking a lot lately about why "I" am so afraid to do what "I'm" called to do. For example, two of the major desires of my heart are to write and to play music. And yet, even when I get opportunities to take advantage of these things, I get really nervous.

When I played violin at UNT, I would never practice enough - PARTLY because I didn't want to spend 4 hours of every day in a practice room - but also partly because I was afraid that even if I practiced for those hours each day, that I wouldn't measure up....so rather than try and fail (or possibly succeed), I just didn't try. It's weird to admit that out loud (read: via the typewritten word), but it's really true. I'm trying to get better at not giving in to this fear, so I guess I think that if I say/type these things where other people can read them, I'll be more apt to change my behavior.

Also, I've got a couple of writing opportunities at hand - I might be able to start writing music reviews for a friend's music magazine he helped launch, and my other friend (who shall remain nameless) is starting up a magazine that he wants me to help get off the ground and write for. Both of these things are jobs/opportunities that I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to be a part of (ending with a preposition), but I've been putting off turning in these music review samples because I'm afraid they won't be good enough or I won't be what they're looking for. I know already that this is a futile fear, and that of course there IS the possibility of not being what they're looking for, just like there are lots of possibilities that I might have a violin audition and not make it, so I just need to work through those fears. There have been SEVERAL things like this that I've been afraid to partake in, but when I went ahead and pushed through the fear, it always turned out well. And even when it hasn't........so what? I could use some toughening up. *WINK*

Jimmy Etheridge, Marti's dad, and an elder of sorts at my church, told me once that everything that the Lord has ever called him to do has always terrified him. Then when Michael had concerns about being the youth pastor and whether or not he would be capable, someone told him that God doesn't call the equipped, he equips the called. And of course being drawn to something that you don't feel competent in lends itself to feeling fearful. I was listening to Jack Hayford this morning, and he was addressing the same issue of fear in regards to a life calling.

When you really break it down, what is it that we have to fear anyway? I mean, truly, if we let the Lord be in control of our lives and decisions.....why fear?

---

Oh! As a quick side bar:

Today when I went to go pick up lunch at St. Pete's Dancing Marlin, I had requested extra ketchup when I called in the order, and when I go back to my car I realized that they had forgotten to oblige my simple request. I walk back in and ask if I could have a couple extra ketchups and the guy says, "Sure," and starts walking away.

Then he looks back and says, "Do you just want a bottle?"

"Are you serious?" I ask, incredulously.

"Yeah, it's just easier," he replied.

"Awesome, yes. Thanks!"

And it was a glass bottle!! Just a little extra silver lining on my already good day.

diet coke

I wish I liked Diet Coke. I don't like it though, and I probably haven't even had a sip of it since I was about.....12-13 or so. I simply can't stand the taste! Maybe my tastes have changed in 11 years or so, but I've been hesitant to test it out. I just figure that if you're going to have a coke at all, why not go all out? I did go look at the back of the can just now to see what the differences were, and Coke has 140 calories and 39g of carbs as opposed to Diet Coke's 0 calories and 0g carbs, but they forgot to include that Diet Coke also has 0g of great tasting flavor whereas Coke has 7,000g.

But it DOES look cool to type about having engaged in Diet Coke drinking activities, as Julie so eloquently does here:


Why do you have to make it sound so fun, julesdwit? Why?!

tabula rosa

I've been meaning to post for a few days now, and I can't really think of what to write. Oh! I just got something! Yesss...

Last night, some folks at my work thought it would be a good idea to have a TractorBeam bonding night, so we all planned to attend this outdoor movie showing of True Romance (one of Quentin Tarantino's earlier films starring Christian Slater, Patricia Arquette, Christopher Walken, Samuel L. Jackson, Dennis Hopper, Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt, and the infamous Bronson Pinchot, better known as "Cousin Balki" from the popular TGIF sitcom "Perfect Strangers".....yes, Balki, we do the dance of joy) projected on a wall near the pool of the Belmont Hotel in Oak Cliff.

I haven't seen this movie in a REALLY long time, and I wanted to participate in this "bonding" time with my peers/co-workers, so I invited Kevin along and off we went! After driving away from downtown for a while (5 minutes or so) and wondering if we were ever going to find this place, we found it. We arrived, excited upon seeing this place, because we both looked it up online and fell in love with it's pictures. It's hard to believe there's a place like this in Dallas that's actually somewhat affordable!

When we got there, we went and selected some seats near (but not too near) to the wall where they were going to project the movie. There wasn't much room for people where we were sitting, so we agreed that as more people showed up, we would move over to the chairs on the grass, or heck! Even the grass itself. I wish I would have taken my camera so I could show you how gorgeous the set up was! AMAZING. There was a beautiful view of the Dallas skyline off to the left, clear as day! (I feel ridiculous saying "clear as day" but it really was! Kevin and I agreed that we felt like we were in California, specifically L.A., though it was an uneducated agreement, as neither of us has ever actually been to L.A.

Eric walked in, so we beckoned him over and he sat with us while we waited for the others to arrive. And waited........and waited. By the time the movie was about halfway over, I had come to the conclusion that MAYBE no one else was coming. I always like to leave a little hope so my disappointment when something/someone doesn't follow through is kept at bay as long as possible.

Despite the low attendance by my co-workers, I had a great time, and Kevin and Eric and I fully enjoyed the movie and ambience. Here are a couple of pictures of the hotel I found online, and you can link to the website above. What what.



(see the soaking tub?!)

what's in a becki?

I've concocted a little quiz about meself that I want you all to take.

If you don't pass, I fear our friendship may cease to be.

I wish you the best of luck. Do not try to contact me if you do not get a "passing" score on this quiz.

Thank you.

decade 3

Josh Briscoe had his 30th birthday party last weekend (thanks to the amazing organizational and planning skills of one Marian Briscoe, his wife) and I've got some pictures. Glorious pictures.

We two (always keep 'em at arm's length, ladies.....arm's length) *WINK*:


We three (where's Dragan?):


Steph and Justin (the most fashionable couple I know - thank you French Connection, Puma, estate sales, et al):


Group pic, and with one look at Marian you can tell that trouble's a-brewin:


Levi & Candiss, my housemates and so much more:


And this one I'm just including because I had forgotten about it, and Elissa included it in the pictures she emailed me this morning. She called it "Becki's Tragedy 3" and it commemorates the day we were on our way to a wedding, I fell down her apartment stairs in my dress, she and Charlie (see: dog in picture) nursed me back to health w/minimal scar tissue:


Good times, good friends.